Chapter 5 HOPE IS NOT FOR HIM

THE NIGHT DEEPENED as Spade emerged from his bathroom, fresh from a shower. He had arrived home late from his office due to the numerous documents he needed to sign for the launch of their new product.

Spade, clad only in a towel, walked into his room and headed straight to his bar counter, where he opened a bottle of whiskey and poured it into a glass.

Ever since learning about his limited lifespan, Spade had acted as if he didn't have a terminal illness. He continued his usual routine, trying not to dwell on his tumor. He was focused on how to spend his remaining five years before he died.

Spade knew his parents, especially his mother, would be devastated, so he kept it a secret. And even though marrying a woman he barely knew, except for her struggles, wasn't ideal, he had no choice. He wanted to fulfill his promise to his parents to start a family.

"A loveless marriage isn't bad since I can make my parents happy. Why would I find love when my life already has a fucking limit?" Spade said to himself before drinking the whiskey in his glass.

Moments later, Spade's phone rang. Seeing that his father wanted to FaceTime, he immediately answered.

"Hey, Dad, you called?"

"Your mom told me that you already have a woman you will introduce to us, is that correct?" his father asked.

Spade held his father in high esteem, viewing him with profound respect. He once yearned to emulate his father's path, aspiring to follow in his very footsteps. However, due to the events of the past, Spade forged his own unique destiny, carving out a path distinct from that of his father.

Yet, death already give him a time limit, he didn't expected but he easily accepted.

"You will like her, Dad," Spade said with a slight smile.

"Are you sure the woman you'll introduce to us is the one you want for the rest of your life?"

For the rest of my life? Spade thought to himself when his life is about to end.

"Yes, Dad. I hid the fact of having a relationship since I am busy with my business. But, I decided to tie the knot with her since life is too short to waste," Spade answered, wincing slightly as he felt a throbbing pain in his head.

"You did a good job hiding your love interest, son. But loving someone is supposed to being proud of having her in your life, I'm sure your girl is a bit lonely for making your relationship with her hidden."

"We talked about that, Dad, but she's a bit shy being with me since I fell in love with a single mom," Spade said, noticing his father's silence on the other end of the line.

"Does your mother know?"

"Not yet."

"You love her, right, Spade?" his father asked seriously, and Spade nodded.

"I am."

"I'm curious to meet your girl."

"Soon, Dad, I will introduce her to you and Mom," Spade said, feeling the headache intensify, more painful than before.

"I have to end this call, Dad. I have things I need to finish tonight. Tell Mom I missed her, and tell Amara to stop giving you both a headache for being brat and stubborn," Spade said, hanging up without waiting for his father's reply.

"Fuck!" Spade cursed, clutching his head.

"Damn this fucking headache! Shit!"

Spade walked back to his room to get his pain reliever, but the headache worsened, causing him to kneel and place his right hand on the floor.

Spade winced in pain, unable to move as he felt his feet gradually go numb.

"Mr. Vasile!"

Spade heard hurried footsteps. Sandro, arriving at his penthouse, quickly helped him.

"G-Get m-my medicine..." Spade said, and Sandro rushed to his room to get his medication.

Spade was starting to feel dizzy when Sandro returned with the medicine, which Spade immediately took.

"Excuse me for doing this, Mr. Vasile," Sandro said, lifting Spade and carrying him to the sofa, gently placing him there.

"Should I prepare the car so we can go to the hosp—"

"—I-I'm fine. Th-The pain will subside now that I to-took my medicine," Spade interrupted, closing his eyes and trying to calm himself.

Spade still felt the throbbing, but the medicine was gradually easing the pain.

"Mr. Vasile, this is getting serious. I'm not in the right place to tell you this, but why don't you consider surgery?" Sandro asked, and Spade smiled bitterly before opening his eyes.

Only Sandro, his secretary, knew his condition. He hadn't told anyone else.

"Surgery won't erase the fact that this illness I have has no cure. Surgery can hasten my death, Sandro. I can endure this kind of pain for five years," Spade said, taking a deep breath before straightening up.

"How's the schedule for Isabella's daughter's heart transplant?" Spade asked, changing the subject, and Sandro just sighed.

Sandro is the adopted son of his Uncle Mihai, before he became his secretary, he was Spade's friend.

"Doctor Yshara El Diente will handle the surgery of the young miss. The heart is on its way to HIH as of this moment."

"Good. Prepare anything that Isabella's daughter needs for her operation," Spade said when they heard Spade's phone ringing.

"It's your phone, Mr. Vasile."

"Bring it to me," Spade said, and Sandro went to the bar counter, got Spade's phone, and brought it to him.

Taking the phone, Spade frowned slightly when he saw Isabella's contact number calling him.

"You can leave and rest now, Sandro."

"Spade, don't make things too hard for yourself. Just because there's no cure for your illness doesn't mean you should just give up. That's not the Spade I've known for so many years," Sandro said before bowing and walking out of Spade's penthouse.

"Does he want me to raise my hopes up when death is still the end of my path," Spade said plainly before answering Isabella's call.

"Your call is a bit late, Isa—"

"—Tatay?"

Spade paused at the sound of a young girl's voice and what she called him. Spade had an idea who he was talking to at that moment.

"If I'm not mistaken, Alina is your name, right?"

"Yes, do you remember my name?"

"I remembered your name, why are you still awake at this hour? Staying up late isn't good for your condition," Spade said.

"I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Why?"

"Because you're going to be my father. Nay is already asleep, and I can't sleep because I'm excited to have a whole family," Alina said on the other end of the line, and Spade remembered that Isabella wasn't her real mother.

"Where are your real parents?" Spade couldn't help but ask, not knowing why he needed to ask that.

"My real Mama died when I was born, and I don't know my real father. Nay said he left us before Mama gave birth to me. My real mother is Nay's sister. I'm Nay's niece, but she treated me like her real daughter. Nay focused her attention on me, so I was happy when I found out she was getting married."

Spade paused slightly, realizing the responsibility Isabella had taken on as Alina's guardian.

"And I know that once Nay marries you, she won't work at the restobar anymore."

"Your mother is working at a restobar?" Spade asked, frowning.

"Yes. She does that so I can have medicine," Alina said.

"You're lucky to have her as your mother."

"Very. By the way, is it okay if I call you Tatay?" Alina asked.

"You can call me anything you want since I'm marrying your mother," Spade answered, though he didn't know how to be a father to a child who wasn't his, yet he needed to do it.

"Thank you, Tatay! I have more reason to get better."

"Aren't you scared? Your operation might b—sorry, don't mind what I said," Spade said, stopping himself from saying more since Alina was still young, and he didn't want to scare her.

"Honestly, I'm scared. My operation might not be okay, but I have hope that I will be with Nay for a long time. Hope is for everyone," Alina said.

"Not to all, Alina. Hope is not for all. I think you should rest now."

"Good night, Tatay..."

"Good night." When Alina was no longer on the line, Spade placed his phone on the sofa.

"Hope is not for someone like me who's death is nearby," Spade said coldly before standing up to get dressed and rest.