WARMING THE BILLIONAIRE COLD HEART

Arthur Rayder stared intently at Kimberly, who was sitting beside him. He struggled to restrain himself, but it was evident that it was difficult. A single tear rolled down his cheek, moistening the wrinkled skin that showed the signs of age.

Whose heart wouldn’t ache upon hearing that the person they loved was suffering from a serious illness? Yes, Kimberly had just informed Arthur about the illness she had recently been diagnosed with.

After Kimberly’s parents had passed away, it was Arthur who took care of her all by himself, providing her with the best. He always fulfilled Kimberly’s wishes, making her a smart, graceful, yet humble woman.

Arthur felt deeply guilty, considering himself a failure for not being able to protect his only grandchild. He couldn’t find the right words, so he could only hold Kimberly tightly.

“Forgive me, Kimmy,” the old man whispered. “I feel like I’ve failed to protect you,” he continued, his face reflecting profound sadness.

Kimberly offered a smile, signaling that she was okay.

“Grandpa, why be sad? It’s not your fault that Kimmy is sick like this. Kimmy should be the one apologizing to you. I’ve been selfish, leaving you alone here.”

Arthur loosened his embrace and shook his head before responding to Kimberly’s words.

“I’ve forgiven you a long time ago. Besides, there’s Mario who has been taking care of me.”

Kimberly smiled back.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Kimmy is also very grateful to Mario. If he wasn’t here, I don’t know who else I could rely on.”

Arthur took a deep breath and returned Kimberly’s smile. “That’s why I arranged for you to be with Mario. He’s the right man to take care of you when I’m gone.”

“Kimmy…” Arthur’s gaze shifted to Mario, who had been silently present throughout Kimberly’s explanation of her illness.

“Mario, I’m asking you to take care of Kimberly’s medical treatment. Find the best hospital and doctor for my granddaughter,” Arthur instructed.

Mario obediently nodded. “Certainly, sir.”

“Well, grandpa. What Kimmy wants to say is…” Kimberly’s forehead creased in slight worry, anticipating Arthur’s request.

“What does grandpa want?” Arthur let out a deep sigh.

“I want, after you’re healthy, for you to assist Mario in managing the company. I can’t handle everything on my own anymore.”

Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief. In the past, she had no interest in dealing with anything related to Rayder Corp. However, considering Arthur’s condition and the fact that she was the sole heir of the Rayder family, she saw no harm in agreeing this time to help Arthur manage and develop the family business. After all, she was competent in this field.

“Of course, grandpa. This time, Kimmy won’t refuse. I’ll do my best to help you with the company.”

Arthur smiled in relief. There would be no more refusals like before, and the worried look faded from his face. He could finally feel at ease.

“Mario, I also want you to teach and oversee Kimberly in handling the company. I entrust Kimberly and Rayder Corp to you,” Arthur issued another command.

***

Nicholas entered his office and saw that Edward was already seated.

“Why are you here? Isn’t there work to discuss?” Nicholas said calmly, taking off his jacket and draping it over the back of his chair.

“Do I need a reason to meet with you? It’s not always about work when I want to see you, Nick,” Edward replied sarcastically.

Nicholas didn’t respond. He began to review the documents arranged in front of him one by one. Nicholas’s face remained neutral, but his expression was icy. However, his eyes couldn’t hide the sadness. Edward had seen this look before, a few years ago when Nicholas was going through a tough time. It felt like déjà vu.

Edward didn’t divert his gaze from Nicholas. He kept observing his friend’s every move. Nicholas tried to appear strong, but it was evident that he was fragile. Edward thought, why was Nicholas so stubborn about admitting it? Edward was always there to listen if Nicholas wanted to talk.

“You’re not doing okay, Nick. I’m sure of it,” Edward finally spoke, unable to bear the silence.

Nicholas remained silent, choosing to ignore what Edward had said. He really didn’t want to argue with him right now, as their conversations often ended in arguments.

“It’s up to you, Nick. You know I care about you the most. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to talk to me, but I just want to make sure that if you need Kimberly, you find her. Not just sit here in silence. How long will you keep mourning? Remember, your mistake was significant in her life.”

Nicholas let out a deep, frustrated breath.

“I’ve been trying to find her!” Nicholas finally responded to Edward’s words. “Do you think I’ve just been sitting around these past few days? I’ve been trying to locate her. I’ve lost track of her, Ed,” he said with visible frustration.

Edward, who had initially been sitting casually, now straightened up. “Are you foolish or what? That’s why they say a broken heart often leads to the loss of reason, and the brain doesn’t function properly, making one appear foolish.”

Nicholas looked puzzled. “Oh my, where did you get that saying from?”

Of course, Nicholas had never heard it before; Edward had just made it up.

“Let’s forget about the saying. You’re wealthy; what’s the use of your wealth? Why not hire a detective to find Kimberly? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just contact Kenzi. Ask him to send Hans to investigate Kimberly.”

Nicholas was momentarily stunned. Why had he been so foolish not to think of hiring a detective to locate Kimberly? Where had his genius mind been all this time? Maybe Edward was right; heartbreak had clouded his judgment.

A faint smile appeared on Nicholas’s lips. He seemed to have found a glimmer of hope in Edward’s suggestion. Apparently, Edward had his uses after all. No, Edward was always useful; it was Nicholas who was reluctant to admit it.

“This time, I’ll follow your advice,” Nicholas said suddenly.

“Which advice?” Edward asked.

“About the detective. I’ll hire a detective right away to find Kimberly. I have to resolve all of this. I don’t want to lose her.”

Edward smiled. “Well, I prefer seeing you optimistic like this rather than being so mopey as before.”

Nicholas glared sharply. “Who are you calling mopey?”

Edward shrugged nonchalantly. He then got up from his seat, intending to leave.

“It doesn’t matter who’s mopey. I’m going back to my room. Don’t forget that there’s a dinner reception at Pacific Place tonight. I’ll pick you up. We’ll go together.” Edward then walked away, leaving Nicholas’s office.