The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical
Chapter 120

Dominic

Not once in my life have I ever missed out on such an important investor and I would have never thought that I would replace myself in such a situation.

Despite my entire body facing the door because I want to leave, I can't seem to turn my neck and face the exit as I keep looking at Vanessa, who curls up even more.

I clench my jaw with a sigh, take out my phone, send a message, then turn it off and close the door behind me.

I don't even question whether I've made the right decision or not as I approach the bed. It seems my will to stay is just that much stronger.

I take off my shoes and slowly get on top, aligning myself on my side right behind her.

Placing my hand on her trembling shoulder, I quietly say, "Come here."

She instantly turns to face me, once again burying her facing my chest. Judging by how she clings to me, she needs me right now.

Her tears soak part of my shirt in only a few seconds but right now, that doesn't even matter.

"I don't want to lose him!" She sniffles.

"I know," I say to her, wondering what else to say but I have nothing. Instead I keep rubbing her back, resting my chin right on top of her head.

It takes a long time for her to stop crying and for as long as he does, she doesn't let go of me, just as I don't let go of her. I even lose track of time as I don't check my wristwatch. My hold on her trembling body is fixed, leaving it up to her to get away from me when she no longer wants to cry in my arms.

A few hours after comforting her, she stops crying and falls asleep right in my arms. I give it some more time just so I don't wake her up and when I'm certain that she won't, I gently let her go, placing her head on the pillow.

After I get off the bed, I put on my shoes and gently close the door behind me to go back downstairs. I don't even bother turning on my phone since I'm certain of how much the potential investor is probably lashing out at me for canceling on him at the last moment.

Even though I come downstairs to be alone and process everything I've witnessed this evening, I replace my father-in-law in the same seat that I left him in a few hours ago.

"You're still awake," I say to him as I approach. "It's almost midnight."

"I don't think I can sleep tonight," he says with sadness. "How's my daughter doing?"

"It took a while, but she fell asleep in my arms."

He smiles at me. "Thank you for taking care of her. I don't know what it would've been like had you not been here."

I lean back in my seat as I think about it, wondering what would've happened to Vanessa had I decided to leave and have those drinks.

Even though my father-in-law and I sit in silence for a few seconds, the air isn't thick with tension and I lean forward, realizing something as I look at him.

"There was that time you invited me for breakfast here and asked me to take care of Vanessa. I couldn't understand it before, but I do now."

He nods. "I've seen how my daughter is loved by all of you. That's why I'm not afraid to leave her behind. I still hope I'll be around long enough to see my grandchild. After thinking about it, part of me actually regrets revealing this now."

"Why?"

"The last thing I want is for my daughter to be stressed out about this when she's pregnant."

"I thought of that, too but you know what? It doesn't matter when you would have said it. Her reaction wouldn't have been any different and it's like you said, you were waiting for this. You should've seen her in my arms. She doesn't want to lose you and I'll do what I can to make sure that it doesn't happen."

"There's no need for that, my son. I've already accepted it."

"She hasn't."

"I know it'll take a while for her and it hurts."

"After what I saw, you're right about that. Have you already told my parents?"

"I'll tell them in the morning and here's what I want." He sounds a little enthusiastic. "No one should be sad about this. I'm still here, aren't I? In the last few hours, I've been deeply thinking about something. I want to live my life to the fullest and make the best memories that I possibly can while I'm still here."

He smiles painfully and my heart actually breaks for him.

"Well, how about a drink?" he says with enthusiasm.

"Are you sure that's okay?" I ask.

He chuckles. "Of course!"

He leads me to the mini bar where we sit together and he completely seems different as he becomes more expressive with his gestures.

"So, have you already thought of names for my grandchild?"

I smile a little, despite the sadness. "Vanessa and I couldn't agree on a single name. She had her own suggestions and I had mine."

"Just give it more time." He pats me on the back. "Are you ready for what's to come in the months leading up to the delivery?"

I sigh. "I haven't really thought about that."

"When my late wife was pregnant with Vanessa, there were times I had to wake up in the middle of the night to buy specific snacks she wanted to eat. It was overwhelming sometimes, but I loved every moment of it. I hope you cherish it all."

As he tells me all about his experience during those months, we replace ourselves talking for a few hours more and it doesn't even feel like he gave us some bad news earlier.

While talking to him, I also come to the realization that there's something important that needs to change between Vanessa and me.

After he finally goes off to bed, I come back to Vanessa's bedroom, quietly closing the door behind me and she's still fast asleep and well covered up just as I left her.

I watch her sleeping face for a moment as I take off my shoes, then get on the bed and rest my head on the other pillow while keeping a distance between us.

My father-in-law has gone to sleep, which should make it easy for me to sleep in any of the other bedrooms, yet I've chosen to be here.

Vanessa

Even before I open my eyes, I can hear the birds outside in the tree that's always been next to my bedroom window.

My vision slowly adjusts as I look to my left and my eyes widen at the sight of Dominic, resting his back against the headboard while on his phone. "Good morning," he says, looking at me.

I instantly sit up, furrowing my eyebrows at him. "When did you get here?"

"I've been here since last night."

"What? You slept here?"

"I did."

"But I didn't feel a thing."

"I'm glad you didn't. Actually, I only slept for about two hours since I was up almost all night having a chat with my father-in-law."

As soon as he mentions him, my heart breaks. First, it was my mom and now it's him.

Just as I look away and frown, he holds my hand and says, "While I was up with him, I could see so much by having those conversations with him. He needs you and he's trying to be strong by looking on the bright side."

I sigh. "This isn't easy for me because I just found out."

"I know. He actually talked about his dream to live long enough to hold his grandchild and go to amusement parks and stuff like that."

As he continues to talk about the conversation he had with my father, I can tell that he actually seems hurt by this and it warms my broken heart to see that he cares.

Right when he's in the middle of talking about the name suggestions my father had, I gasp, pulling my hand away from his.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"How come you spent the night here when you had to meet up with that investor?"

He smiles. "I decided not to go."

"What?"

"I thought you figured that out when I got on this bed."

"I assumed you were going to leave afterwards."

"No. I didn't want to leave you alone."

Realizing that he chose to stay because of me puts a small smile on my face as I remember how he was my only source of comfort and I desperately needed him. Only a few seconds later, my smile fades as I think of something.

"I have a question," I say to him.

"Go ahead."

"I need you to be honest with me. Did you mainly stay because you didn't want anything to happen to the life growing inside of me?"