Chapter 9 - THE ULTIMATE GIFT
In mid-February, two days before Caprice’s twenty-seventh birthday, Diamond called Levi into his private study.
"I need a full transfer of funds," Diamond said, handing Levi a sealed document. "Ten million dollars from the offshore Cayman account."
Levi blinked, looking at the astronomical figure on the paper. "Ten million? Dom, what are we buying? A new shipping dock?"
"We're buying a facility," Diamond said, his dark eyes firm and immovable. "The St. Jude Memory Care Manor in Oakbrook. I want the entire property bought out through a private holding company by four o'clock today."
Levi stared at his boss in disbelief. "The luxury memory facility? Dom... that's where high-society people send their parents. Why the hell are we buying a nursing home?"
"Because Caprice’s mother is moving into the master penthouse suite there tomorrow morning," Diamond said simply. "And I am establishing an endowment fund that guarantees her full medical care, private doctors, and thirty-four-hour nursing staff for the rest of her life."
Levi looked at Diamond, then a slow, genuine smile broke across his tough, scarred face.
"Consider it done, boss," Levi said softly.
The next evening, Caprice arrived at the estate after spending her morning visiting her mother. She looked exhausted, her small shoulders slumped as she walked up the grand staircase to Diamond’s study.
She pushed the door open.
Diamond was sitting by the window, wearing a tailored charcoal suit, looking remarkably handsome and sharp.
"Come here, Caprice," he said softly.
She walked over, stopping beside his chair. "Is something wrong, Diamond? Mrs. Higgins said you wanted to see me immediately."
Diamond reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an elegant, cream-colored leather envelope with a golden wax seal. He held it out to her.
"Happy Birthday, Caprice," he said softly.
Caprice froze. "My birthday isn't until tomorrow... how did you know?"
"I know everything about you," he murmured gently. "Open it."
With trembling hands, Caprice broke the wax seal and pulled out the legal documents inside.
She scanned the first page: Transfer of Ownership & Lifetime Medical Trust – St. Jude Memory Care Manor. Her mother’s name was printed in dark, elegant ink at the top, declaring that all medical bills, room fees, private nursing costs, and specialized treatments had been paid in full for life.
The document fell from her fingers, fluttering onto the rug.
She stared at him, her lips trembling, her wide gray eyes filling with overwhelming, breathless shock.
"This... this is millions of dollars," she stammered out, her voice cracking violently. "Diamond... I can't accept this. I can't—"
"It's already done, Caprice," Diamond interrupted softly, reaching out to take both of her hands into his. "The deed is signed. Your mother was moved into her new room two hours ago. She has a private garden, a sunroom, and the best neurological doctors in the country."
He looked up into her eyes, his grip on her hands tightening. "You spent your whole life carrying a mountain on your back, little bird. You bled yourself dry to save her. Now... let me carry it for you."
Caprice choked out a sob, covering her mouth with her trembling hand. Tears spilled over her lashes, streaming down her face like rain.
She sank to her knees in front of his wheelchair, burying her face into his lap, weeping hysterically—not from pain, not from fear, but from the overwhelming, crushing weight of ten years of desperate struggle suddenly lifting off her soul.
Diamond leaned forward, wrapping his massive arms around her, pulling her small body tightly against his chest, kissing her hair over and over again.
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"Thank you," she sobbed into his shirt. "Thank you... thank you, Diamond..."
"Don't thank me," he whispered rasply into her hair, his own eyes burning with tears. "You saved my life first."
