Page 62 of BillionHeir
“Only the ones I love the very most,” I respond, leaning down and wrapping her in a gentle hug.
She chuckles softly as she wraps her thin arms around my neck.
“Oh, my darling,” she says, still holding me. “I have missed this.”
Tears spring to my eyes. “Me, too. I love you, mum.”
“I love you, too.”
I can feel the warmth of her hug long after her eyes drift closed and the quiet sound of her steady breathing is the only sound in the room. Once visiting hours are over, I am forced to retreat to my bland hotel room across the street.
It is weird to be back here with her after so long. It has been a heavy day, and the limited results we got back from all the laboratory tests were not the best. I was optimistic that the doctors would have a hopeful course of action, but that isn’t the case so far. With my mother’s age and the fact that the cancer is back for the second time, I am afraid there aren’t all that many options for her. And the ones that are available are quite pricey. But I can afford the treatments after the fortune Maxwell paid me.
If it comes to it, I will spend it all for her.
Chapter 23
_______________________
Maxwell
“Barnaby, what is this building used for?”
Chloe has only just entered the automatic doors before I am quizzing my driver.
“Hospital, sir.”
Hospital?
Is Chloe ill?
I immediately discard that thought. I vaguely remember her telling me about her mother being sick while she was in college. Could that bewhat is going on?
Unfortunately, the only clue I have is Chloe’s last name, and I am not even sure if that is her mother’s surname or not. I have told her about my parents, but I haven’t really heard much about hers. In fact, she has never even mentioned her father. He could be dead for all I know.
I pull out my phone and dial Ethan’s number as Barnaby steers us in the direction of my hotel. I have avoided this for as long as I can, but now I need to know everything.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Banks.”
“Ethan, how many times do I have to say it?” I bark, not in the mood for this formal bullshit.
“Uh, sorry, Maxwell,” he says hurriedly.
“I need you to find out everything you can about Chloe. Her parents, possible siblings, past marriages, the whole nine yards.”
“Done. But do you care to explain?”
“I am just realizing that I didn’t do a very thorough background check on her when she was hired. I would like to remedy that.” It is a lie, and an obvious one at that, but Ethan is not going to call me on it.
“If that is what you are worried about, I have already done a pretty deep dive on her. She is clean as a whistle. No kids, no marriages, no criminal activity. She is about as good as they come these days.”
That sparks my interest. “When did you do that?”
“Before I extended the initial offer. Did you really think I was just going to let some random woman take over your care? Seriously, Maxwell, I am not just going to ship you up to Maine with a psychopath.”
“Chloe is not a psychopath.”
“Well, we didn’t know that at the time, now did we?”
