The Don's Mistake: Loving Me Cost Him His Family Novel - Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Raina and Hayden's wedding took place on a clear spring day in San Francisco. It wasn't a circus but everyone who mattered was there. A union between the White and Griffin families was still news, even the second time around. The ceremony was held at a seaside estate owned by the Griffins. Sunshine, flowers, champagne. The bride and groom smiling like they meant it. Everything picture-perfect. Cole hadn't been invited. He came anyway. He stood at the edge of the property, half-hidden behind a hedge of flowering bushes. His suit was gray and ill-fitting.

He'd lost more weight. His hair had gone completely white. One hand pressed against his chest, where the pain had become constant now. He barely noticed it anymore. His eyes were locked on Raina. She looked beautiful. Not the way she'd looked at their wedding-young and reckless and burning bright. This was different. Calmer. Like she'd been through a storm and come out the other side stronger for it. She held Hayden's arm, listening to the officiant, smiling genuinely. Peacefully. Hayden looked at her like she was the only person in the world.

When the groom kissed the bride, applause erupted. Cole stood in his corner, watching Raina close her eyes and an into the kiss, her smile soft and real. He was smiling too. Tears streaming down his face. The pain in his chest peaked, sharp enough to steal his breath. But he was glad. She's happy. Without me, she's finally happy. 12:03 The Don's Mistake: Loving Me Cost Him His Family 17.20 Chapter 29 That's good. That's enough. His phone buzzed in his pocket. Cole ignored it.

He took one last long look at Raina-radiant in her white dress, surrounded by people who loved her-and committed the image to memory. Then he turned and walked away. His shadow stretched long and thin across the grass behind him. Cole knew he was dying. Not from any disease the doctors had diagnosed. This was something else. Something that had started the day he'd opened those files and realized what he'd done. His heart had stopped that day. Everything since had just been his body going through the motions. He'd thrown himself into work with single-minded obsession.

Expanded Quin Corp into new markets, closed impossible deals, pushed the company to unprecedented heights. Not because he cared about success anymore. Because he wanted to leave Raina with enough money that she'd never have to worry about anything again. It was the only thing he could still give her. The only form of repentance he had left. The overwork, combined with the constant chest pain he refused to treat, was destroying him quickly. He coughed up blood regularly now. Had dizzy spells. Could barely eat. He hid it from everyone and kept working.