Chapter 16 | Unexpected Paths| I Will Never Forget You

The days passed quickly after the dramatic confrontation between William, Ash, and the new professor. Life returned to a semblance of normalcy, but soon, a new wave of emotions was set into motion.Hera's boyfriend, Alex, received a frantic phone call from Germany. His father had suffered a heart attack, and Alex needed to return home immediately. Desperate and without sufficient funds, Alex paced their apartment, talking urgently with his mother on the phone. Hera overheard the conversation and, without thinking, offered him the money he needed."Here, take this," she said, pressing a check into his hand. "You need it more than I do."Alex glanced at the check, his face darkening. "What do you think of me? A beggar?" he snapped. "I don't love you for your money, Hera."Hera's eyes widened in shock. "I didn't mean it that way, Alex! I just wanted to help—"But Alex, feeling his pride wounded and his dignity questioned, stormed out of the apartment, leaving Hera standing there, stunned and heartbroken.That night, Hera was alone, feeling the weight of her actions and Alex's reaction pressing down on her. In her despair, she called the one person she knew she could rely on: William.Within an hour, William and Ash arrived at her apartment. Seeing Hera's tear-streaked face, Ash immediately understood the situation."Ash," Hera sobbed, "I didn't mean to insult him. I just wanted to help."Ash sat beside her and gently took her hand. "Hera, it's a common reaction. When someone offers financial help, it can make a person feel inadequate, especially if they're already stressed. Alex probably felt like he was losing his dignity. He might have thought, 'If I can't even handle this, how can I build a future with her?' It's not about you or your intentions. He's just confused and hurt."Hera nodded, wiping her tears. "I want to support him. I need to be there for him."William and Ash exchanged a glance, impressed by her determination. "Then let's get you to Germany," William said decisively. "Do you know his flight details?"Hera checked her phone. "His flight leaves in 15 minutes!"Without wasting another second, they rushed to the car. William drove like a man on a mission, while Hera tried calling Alex repeatedly, but he didn't answer. They arrived at the airport just as Alex's flight took off. Hera watched the plane ascend, her heart sinking."I need to book a flight," she said, heading to the ticket counter.William checked his schedule. "I have a business trip to Germany in a few days. I can come with you, Hera."Ash, excited at the prospect of a trip, said, "I'll come too!"William shook his head. "You have classes, Ash. You need to stay here."Ash's face fell, but he nodded, trying to act mature. While William and Hera made the necessary arrangements with the help of William's secretary, Ash sat in the corner, feeling a mix of sadness and pride.Finally, everything was set. William's business trip was expedited, and they were ready to leave. As they headed toward the boarding gate, William turned back to Ash, who was waving with a sad face.William walked over, cupping Ash's face gently. "Is this how you send your husband off?" he teased, kissing Ash on the cheek. "I'll miss you."Ash smiled through his tears. "I'll miss you more."William grinned. "Miss me more. When I get back, we'll make up for all the lost time, okay?"Ash nodded. "Goodbye."William and Hera boarded the plane. They landed in Germany and immediately headed to the hospital where Alex's father was admitted. As they entered, they saw Alex running through the hallways, his face etched with worry and exhaustion.Alex's father lay in a hospital bed, his mother by his side, tears streaming down her face. "Don't worry, child. It's nothing," his father tried to reassure him weakly.Alex met with the doctor, who explained the critical condition. "He needs surgery, but there's only a 15% chance of survival. We'll do our best, but you need to pay the bill upfront."Alex's heart sank as he saw the bill: $200,000. Checking his pockets and bank account, he realized he didn't have enough to cover even a fraction of the cost. Desperation clawed at him as he approached the counter to plead for more time.When he handed the bill to the nurse, she smiled kindly. "The bill has already been paid."Alex stared at her in disbelief. "Are you sure? There must be a mistake.""No mistake," the nurse assured him. "The total amount was paid in full."Confused and overwhelmed, Alex turned to his mother. "Did you manage to get the money?"His mother shook her head, equally puzzled. Then, at the end of the hallway, Alex saw Hera standing, looking at him with a mixture of hope and fear. She had done this for him, despite their argument.Tears filled Alex's eyes as he walked over to her. Hera opened her arms, and Alex collapsed into them, sobbing. They stood there for a long time, holding each other, the weight of the situation finally lifting.After some time, they sat down to talk. Hera explained everything—her intentions, her fears, and her love for him. Alex listened, his heart softening with each word."I'm sorry, Hera. I was too proud to see that you were just trying to help," he said, his voice trembling. "I don't care about the money. I care about you."Hera cupped his face, wiping away his tears. "We're a team, Alex. We support each other. That's what love is about."William, who had been standing nearby, gave them a reassuring smile. "You two have something special. Don't let pride get in the way of that."Alex nodded, holding Hera's hand tightly. "Thank you, William. And thank you, Hera. For everything."