Page 7 of The Billionaire Dating Dad (The Holidates #18)

Dimitri

“ Y ou didn’t have to wash the dishes,” May said, walking into the kitchen.

He would have gone crazy if he sat idly while waiting for May to return from putting Maddison to bed. Doing dishes, a mundane task he hadn’t performed in years, was a small price to pay to keep his sanity. “How’s Maddison — Maddie?” he corrected.

“She’s asleep.”

His hands clenched around the dish towel. Dimitri didn’t know what today’s celebration was really about, but he had to let May know where he stood. Now that he knew about Maddison, he wouldn’t let anything stand between them. “You know there is no turning back, don’t you?”

“Believe me, if there was any other way, I would save my daughter the heartache.” May hugged herself. “Nothing would make me part with Maddie. She’s my entire world.”

He frowned. “Then what on earth would make you give up custody of her?”

“I’m sick.”

Dimitri jerked. Many scenarios had run through his mind — a shake-down, manipulation, or hearing she no longer wanted to care for their daughter — before he’d remembered that jumping to conclusions wasn’t how he got ahead in business, however, illness hadn’t crossed his mind once.

He swept his hand roughly through his hair, willing to hear what she had to say. “How bad is it?”

“Pretty bad.” Her rapid blinking didn’t sweep away the cloudiness from her eyes. “There’s a possibility I won’t survive the treatment.”

A chill raced up his spine. He recalled his mother suffering in silence. By the time he and his brothers returned home, it was too late. Death kept his mother from her children. He wouldn’t let sickness rob his daughter of a mother.

He walked around the table. “Let me help. I can get the best doctors—”

She shook her head. “I didn’t call you because I wanted your money! I called you because my… our daughter needs her father.”

“Let me help you.”

“This isn’t one of those situations you can buy my way out of.”

“I’m only suggesting a second opinion.”

“I’m not disillusioned, Dimitri. I’ve already put off treatment for a year because I didn’t want Maddie to forget who I am. But it’s time. There are days I can barely get out of bed.”

He was powerless if May didn’t set aside her pride and let him pay for the best care. What good was wealth if he could use it to do his bidding? “What about Maddison? What am I supposed to tell her? How am I supposed to explain why her mother left?”

“She knows I’m going away to get better,” May said quietly. “She knows I love her.”

“Doesn’t she get to say goodbye?” Dimitri pressed. He would have given anything to say goodbye to his mother and spend a few minutes longer.

“I don’t want her to see me frail. A shell of the person she remembers. I want her to remember us happily. Laughing.”

Dimitri swallowed. Was that why his mother didn’t tell them she was unwell, because she didn’t want them worrying? He’d replayed that night a million times. Every second before he’d left to watch his brother’s boxing match.

“Promise me you’ll take care of my baby,” May said, dragging his mind back to the present.

“I’ll take Maddison back to Wheelcaster as you wish, but this conversation isn’t over, May,” he said instead.

She had that faraway look in her eyes that was filled with so much anguish his heart ached.

As much as he wanted to abide by her wishes, he couldn’t sit back and do nothing. “Once she’s settled I’m coming back.”

“Dimitri.” She shook her head.

She looked frail standing next to him and he hardened his resolve.

“I don’t care whether you want my money or not.

I’ll get you the best treatment if it means you’ll have even a sliver of a chance at surviving.

” He’d spare no expense in flying in experts from around the world because he wouldn't be able to look Maddie in the eye if anything happened to May.