The Billionaire’s Pretend Fiancée

Roman’s POV

“Nana, Sofie is here to see you.” I announced as I walked into Nana’s hospital room with Sofie.

I willed the despondence that threatened to hitch my throat as Nana tried but unfortunately failed to sit up by herself away, and went over to help her up after propping two pillows behind her back, to make her comfortable.

“Thank you, mio figlio.” She smiled weakly as she rubbed my cheeks.

I sighed heavily as I watched her frail hands beckon Sofie over for a hug; She had really emaciated a lot.

I badly wanted to get mad at her for conspiring with her butler, and servants to withhold the fact that she’d been collapsing frequently from me.

She had claimed she didn’t want to make me worry over something intangible.

She looked so thin and weak, and her extremely sickly appearance worried me so much but at least, she could still breathe on her own, to my utter relief which made me hopeful that she’d be fine again.

“Oh, my darling Sofie, how have you been? I hate that we’re meeting in an hospital after being apart for so long, pay me a visit when I get out of this place, okay?” She said to Sofie who smiled and nodded before sitting down on a chair next to the bed.

I was too pumped up on adrenaline to calmly sit down, so I decided to pace around the room, hoping to release my pent-up stress and nervousness.

“Romano, why are you being so restless like a man whose wife is in the labour room? Come take a seat.” She scoffed, to which I shook my head.

“No, I’m good, Nana. I’m not restless, I’m just really infuriated with both you and Daniel right now. I mean, even if you decided to hide it from me, why couldn’t he call to tell me about it? What if something worse than this had happened, huh? Would he have given me that bullshit of an excuse that you asked him not to tell me?” I gritted out, my hands balling into fists just at the thought of something terrible happening to my grandmother.

The thought of losing the only family I had left instilled extreme fear in me, I couldn’t deal with that at the moment or ever.

I wished Nana could live forever, I didn’t want her to leave me without warning like my parents did, I wouldn’t allow that. I would force her to get whatever treatments the doctors prescribed if she didn’t want to.

I just hoped whatever ailment she had could be quickly cured and she’d go back to being my nagging but caring grandmother.

Nana sighed and shook her head, “You shouldn’t be mad at him, Romano. Direct all your frustrations toward your grandmother not that poor, old man. I didn’t train you to be so ill-mannered toward a person older than you.” She chided softly which made me huff but I apologized anyway.

“Fine, I’m sorry for speaking like that.”

“Good. You shouldn’t get mad at me either because I’m not mad at you for faking your engagement.” She casually said, darting me an accusatory stare which made me freeze in shock as Sofie and I exchanged terrified glances.

I ran out of words as my mouth closed and open wordlessly like a fish out of water.

“Why do you seem shocked? Did you think you could easily fool this old woman, huh? I’ve known you since you were born, my dear. Your acting was really superb though, you could have easily tricked me into believing you.” She chuckled, shaking her head.

I shifted my gaze to Sofie and it seemed like she was about to cry as she stared at the floor. The sight made my heart lurch with guilt and before I could stop myself, I moved beside her and gave her a firm shoulder squeeze, “I-I’m sorry, madam, please forgive me. I rea-”

“Now, amore, there’s no need to get all serious and teary, okay?” Nana sounded alarmed as her eyes rested on Sofie who heaved a sigh that I presumed was of relief.

“Yes, madam.”

Nana gasped, “Where’s that coming from? Why am I your madam? Aren’t I your Nana anymore or did you disown me?”

Sofie laughed, gazing up at me before averting her stare to Nana, “Never, Nana. I just thought you wouldn’t want me to call you that anymore.”

“That would be petty for no damn reason plus you both aren’t pretending you’re in love anymore, so that makes it significantly better because you’re truly in love with each other now and it’s always beautiful to witness young love.” She explained, darting me a smile.

I looked down at Sofie but her gaze remained fixed on the floor as she fiddled with her fingers.

Her plain demeanor made me feel like I was punched in the heart, but I took it without qualms because I still blamed myself for everything bad that happened between us.

If only I had flung Lana out of my office immediately I saw her, Sofie and I would still be living in peace and harmony.

The atmosphere was quite awkward until a nurse walked in to inform me that the doctor had important information to give me.

Sofie kept Nana company while I went with the nurse to the doctor’s office.

“President Giovanni.” A woman clad in navy scrubs and a ward coat beamed as I strolled into the office.

I stretched my hand out for a courteous handshake, “Good day, doctor-” I motioned for her name.

“Tiffany Perkins. Doctor Perkins.” She said, shaking hands with me.

“Please have your seat.” She gestured and I obliged as she did the same thing.

“So what’s wrong with my grandmother?” I asked, clasping my hands on the table.

She sighed, skimming through some paperwork, “She has cancer. Ovarian cancer which has now metastisized to her liver.”

My hands shuddered with shock and I struggled to form words for a split moment before I finally registered what the doctor had just said to me.

Nana had cancer. Nana may die, she didn’t tell me the latter but I figured from her melancholic yet sympathetic demeanor.

My worst nightmare could really come to pass.

I heaved a deep inhale, “What will happen now? Will she need chemotherapy or surgery? Or is it terminal?” My voice almost broke at the end.

“We don’t know if it’s terminal or not yet. After the surgery and a few chemotherapy sessions, we should be able to tell. The cancer cells has really eaten deep into both organs but we’ll do our best to destroy them.”

My breath hitched my throat as I gazed at the doctor. I suddenly felt sick.

“So it may be terminal?” I whispered, feeling anxiety clog my throat.

“I can’t say yet, sir.”

I nodded as I got up, “Alright. Thanks, doctor.”

“You’re welcome, sir.” She said as we shook hands before I exited her office.

I had to sit for a moment before I toppled over my legs and fell down, so I went to the waiting area but to my utter surprise, Sofie was already seated there.

I sat down beside her and she interlaced our hands together, her affectionate actions were really confusing the hell out of me because one minute, she acted like she was not in love with me and the next, she acted like we were a couple.

“What did the doctor say?” She whispered, her doe, brown eyes peering at me.

“Nana has cancer.” I muttered and she squeezed my hand, “And from the look of things, it may never be cured.” I added before sighing deeply.

“Oh, Roman. I’m so sorry to hear that.” She said, pulling me into a warm embrace.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I could only nod as I dug my nose into the crook of her neck, inhaling her gentle, homey scent while inwardly hoping everything the doctor told me was a lie, even though I knew it definitely wasn’t.