Chapter 47: Sometimes dealing with reality is too hard.

Dylan hardly knew how to react to the news, since he and his father were not very sentimental, but he made his concern and disappointment very clear:

“Dad, you’re getting treatment, aren’t you?”

“Of course you’re an idiot. Do you think I’m going to die that easily? Finally, the years of debauchery are taking their toll on me through my once strong and healthy body, now fragile and tired.”

“What an irony of fate, Mr. Kicher.”

“Be quiet, Bella. You have no right to give your opinion here.”

“Are you crazy, Dylan? I know you’re in shock because of your father’s illness, but let’s maintain a minimum of respect between us.”

“Otherwise, you’re going to try to kill me or, better yet, kill my father?”

“Shut up, Dylan!”

Bella approaches her ex-boyfriend, raising her head to look at him, because he is taller than her, and says: “You are so immature, and if I really wanted to kill your father like you say, I would have done it a long time ago. I have had plenty of opportunities, but my father taught me to have principles and not to spit in the plate of the person who is feeding you. Right now we are allies, but from the moment I leave this house, we will go back to being enemies and we both might even forget that we once loved each other.”

Dylan falls silent, because he doesn’t know how to argue. The words are harsh, and he feels his heart racing. His urge was to grab Bella’s body and tell her not to talk so much nonsense, but before that could happen, Alexander, observing the mood between the two, interrupts:

“Dylan, stay away from the girl, that’s an order.”

“Dad, is it true that this woman tried to kill you?”

“She really had opportunities, but she didn’t do it. Quite the opposite, she helped me when I was fallen on the floor, when I felt sick.”

“And when was that?”

“One dawn, while you and your girlfriend were having fun.”

“How do you know that? Were you listening behind the door?” DK scoffs.

“Everyone heard it, while Rebecca and I were helping your father, your slut of a girlfriend was moaning so loudly that it could be heard throughout the entire floor.”

“Are you jealous?”

“I don’t have to stay here listening to this. Mr. Kicher, we’ll talk later.”

While Dylan smiled because he was bragging about having irritated Bella, Alexander looked at him completely irritated, banging hard on the table to get his son’s attention:

“Dylan, what’s happening to you? I thought you were ruthless when it came to our family's enemies, but what you're showing is weakness. You fall in love with my greatest enemy's daughter and have a child with her. Then you're disappointed with her because she tried to kill you because she thought you killed her father. To try to forget her, you bring the daughter of the guy who stole your family that you had to kill She tells you a sad story, and you pretend you agreed because you're hurt, and in the end you insist on marrying a woman without any limits. Do you know what this Deane wants? Power and money, and you're the fool who's paying for all of that for her. Is that how you're going to lead the Kicher family?"

“Why are you talking like that? Don’t you think you’re exaggerating?”

“Because my son, I’m dying, fucking!” Alexander screams and Dylan just stares, listening to his father vent, “How am I going to leave my leadership to you if you always act out of emotion? I never thought I’d say this, but Bela Hahn will be a much better leader than you, because she always put her family first, and proof of that was when she put aside the love she felt for you and thought she killed you to avenge her father. Dylan, I’m asking you as your father, don’t marry that girl Deanne, she’s not a good person.”

“I understand your concern, but I’ve already made my decision.”

“Oh your… Aaah!” Alexander suddenly feels short of breath and while he’s being rescued in his office, not only Rebecca comes in to help, but Oliver also comes in with his cell phone to his ear, already talking about the situation to Dr. Chase, and that’s how DK found out that many knew about his father’s illness, but he didn’t, and a bad feeling took over him.

“How long has my father been sick, Oliver?

“A little over a month.”

“And why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because your father threatened me. But the important thing now is to take Mr. Kicher to the hospital.” DK agrees and follows his subordinate.

At the hospital, the doctor and a team were already prepared to receive Alexander, who underwent several tests, including an MRI, where they discovered that the Kicher family leader’s illness had spread and he would have to be hospitalized from that moment on.

“Mr. Dylan, you will have to be strong because even if I perform several procedures on your father, he will still only have momentary relief.”

“But what about the surgery, the chemotherapy?”

“We have done all these procedures in the last month, and as for the surgery, he is too weak and will not be able to handle it.”

“How long does my father have to live, Doctor?”

“We don’t know for sure, maybe a few weeks.”

“Weeks?” Dylan feels the bitterness of his tears touch his lips.

“I’m sorry, Dylan!” The doctor touches the desolate man's shoulder and leaves. At that moment, Oliver approaches.

"What else are you hiding from me?"

"Maybe Deanne really isn't who she seems to be and I have proof."

"Oliver, my father is dying and you want to badmouth my fiancée? That can wait. Let's find the infiltrators and get the goods back."

"Okay! What do you want me to do?"

"Go get Bella and take her to the Kicher Hotel. I need to get back the 10 million dollars that was stolen from me."

In the meantime, in the room where Théo was waiting for his mother, she arrives and asks her son for his cell phone because she needs to make an important call. The boy obeys.

"Hello! Mrs. Hahn, it's so good to hear your voice."

"Same thing, Susan. How and where are you?"

"I'm doing very well. I woke up from the coma in two weeks, recovered quickly and without any after-effects. Just the shame of being caught off guard by Johnny's henchmen.”

“I'm glad you're recovered and well. As for what happened, you'll definitely have a chance to redeem yourself.”

“Where are you right now? And why did it take you so long to call me?”

“I also had some problems after Theo and I were rescued by the Dylan.”

“Is Dylan Kicher alive? How?”

“That doesn’t matter. I need you to go to New York and prepare the territory for me before Johnny takes over there too.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am, that won’t happen because I’ve been in New York for a week and a half.”

“Very well, Susan. I’ll fulfill an agreement I made and then I will join you soon. Schedule a meeting with my allies for next week.”

“But be careful, Johnny is dying to get you and Theo again, I’m worried about your safety.”

“That bastard Johnny Iverson wants to pick a fight with me? Let him come and he will get what he deserves. One more thing, file for divorce urgently.”

“Okay.”

While Bella was talking on the phone, Théo left the room to go to the kitchen to eat something. However, at the top of the stairs he met Deanne who was climbing them. The boy ignored her, but she waited for the boy to pass her and threw her body lightly against him. He lost his balance and fell, rolling down the stairs and hitting his head. Bella and other people, upon hearing the noise, went to see what was happening and when the brunette saw the blood coming out of her son's head, she despaired:

“Théo!”