The Blind Billionaire

Lisa could not wait to get off the airplane to breathe fresh air and stretch her legs. They had been on the flight for several hours now. She and her little sister were going to Rome for their vacation. Looking out of the window, Lisa saw Rome moving closer. When she looked at Lilani, she could not help but think about their parents.

The car accident had claimed both of their lives one year ago, after they returned from one of their friends' weddings. Lisa remembered the call from the hospital, informing her to go to the emergency room—news that had changed their lives forever.

Lilani was so young; she still needed their parents. When the tooth fairy came to visit, she used to run up to their mother and shout, "Look, the tooth fairy was here." On her first day of school, their parents stood watching her. When she fell in love, she couldn't wait to run to their mother and tell her about the boy, and after her first heartbreak, their mother would have brought ice cream and said everything would be okay. Their father would have wanted to break the boy's neck for hurting his little girl. But now Lilani would never get to experience any of that. At only five years old, she still didn't understand why their parents didn't come home every night.

Lisa had planned this vacation to Rome, hoping to take her sister's thoughts away from the sadness and from the place that reminded her of their parents every day. She had asked for a three-week leave of absence from her law firm, and her boss was kind enough to grant it. She had planned the trip so that they could be elsewhere on the first anniversary of their parents' deaths. Since then, Lisa had become like a mother to Lilani. She had used all her savings to make the holiday possible.

At last, they reached their destination. As the plane approached Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, the radiant lights above gently prompted passengers to fasten their seatbelts, signaling that their arrival was close at hand.

We've arrived, Lisa thought as the plane landed.

"Excuse me, Miss, but maybe I can help?" an air hostess said, noticing her struggling to catch a taxi. "Here, let me get one." She called a cab for them.

"Thank you so much," Lisa said gratefully.

Soon they were on their way to the hotel where they would stay. To Lisa's relief, the manager spoke English, and after they completed the formalities, a porter accompanied them to their second-floor suite.

"I think you should rest a little," Lisa suggested to Lilani once they were alone again.

Lilani nodded and moved toward the bed. Lisa helped her settle in. "Sleep tight. I love you," she said, kissing her forehead.

Lisa walked over to the window where the Tiber River flowed by. She wished her parents were there with them. When she turned around, Lilani was already asleep. Lisa decided to lie down for a while as well.

She woke when she heard her sister singing. "Lisa..." Then there was a knock on the nightstand as Lilani sang, "Do you want to build a snowman? Let's go and play!" She giggled as she climbed onto the bed.

"I'm awake; now stop singing," Lisa laughed at her sister's silliness and felt Lilani snuggle onto the bed.

"How are you feeling, Lily?" Lisa asked, holding her in her arms.

"Better, thank you, Lizzy. Can we do something fun, please?" Lilani asked.

"Yes, let's walk to the park," Lisa decided, getting out of bed.

They left the room, Lisa with her purse strap over her shoulder. She could hardly wait to explore the city.

They walked around the corner, toward the Tiber River and the bridge. There they stood for a while, watching the water flow through the city. Then they strolled on to the Villa Borghese Gardens.

"I recommend that we get a bike," Lisa suggested.

"Yes, then we could eat something after that," Lilani said eagerly.

"Okay, let's go grab a bicycle." Lisa walked over to where they could rent bikes. "Excuse me, I would like to hire two, please," she told the man, handing him the money.

Soon, Lisa and Lilani were riding through the garden.

"Let's rest for a while," Lilani asked after half an hour.

"There's a fountain where you can make a wish," Lisa proposed.

Taking Lilani's hand, she walked with her to where several people stood ready to toss coins. Lisa handed Lilani a coin. "Take this," she said. Lilani closed her eyes and prepared to make a wish.

Two guys stood nearby, staring at Lisa from head to toe with smirks. Lisa's temper flared.

Before she could react, Lilani shouted, "Why are you looking at my sister like that? Don't you know it's rude? She's not a meal you can eat! Stop staring at her!"

The men looked at Lilani, surprised that she had spoken to them that way. Then they glanced at Lisa and stepped away. Lisa smiled at her little sister, and together they rode their bikes back before strolling to the hotel.

"Let's go for dinner in the dining area," Lisa suggested.

Lilani ate a little, then complained about a headache. "I have pain again," she told Lisa.

"Let's get you to bed," Lisa replied, leading her to the suite.

"Good night, Lilani," she said, kissing her head. Lilani closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep while Lisa stroked her hair and stared at her.

"She never complained about this before three weeks ago," Lisa thought.

That night, Lisa couldn't sleep. The room felt different, and the noises from the window were strange. It was past midnight before she finally drifted off.

The next morning, when Lisa woke up, she noticed her sister missing from bed. She sat up, glancing around the room, and found Lilani happily drawing at the table.

"You seem better today," Lisa remarked.

"It's because I don't have pain today, Lizzy," Lilani smiled.

"I'm glad you feel better," Lisa said. "So tell me, do you want to go on an outing this morning?"

"Yes, can we go to the park again, please?" Lilani asked, eyes wide with hope.

It looks like she really enjoyed the park yesterday, Lisa thought.

They got ready for another outing.

But as they walked through the garden, Lilani began complaining of a headache again. Lisa picked her up and carried her back to the room. "That's it; I'm taking you to the doctor," she said sternly.

"Go and take a bath," she told Lilani.

A few minutes later, Lisa heard a noise from the bathroom. Worried, she rushed in—only to find her sister unconscious on the floor.

Shocked, Lisa knelt beside her, sighing with relief when she realized Lilani still had a pulse.

She hurried to call the hotel manager. "Please help me; we need to get a doctor for my sister," she pleaded in English.

"I will call a doctor immediately," the manager promised before hanging up.

Lisa sponged her sister's face with a damp cloth until the manager knocked on the door and entered at her invitation.

"I called Doctor Rossi," he informed her.

"Thank you so much for calling the doctor, Mr. Romano," Lisa said gratefully, relieved he spoke English. Just as the manager turned to leave, Lisa stopped him.

"Wait—how will the doctor and I communicate? Does he speak English?" she asked anxiously.

"You do not have to worry about the doctor, Signorina," Mr. Romano assured her. "The doctor speaks English very well."

"I honestly don't know how to thank you, Mr. Romano," Lisa said. "I just hope this isn't serious."

"I understand, Signorin