When a workaholic businessman receives devastating news about his health, he meets a young boy in the hospital who changes his outlook on life. Their bond grows through unexpected friendship and small acts of kindness, teaching him what truly matters—until a heartbreaking twist reshapes everything.
Andrew, 50, sat at his desk, shuffling through papers while juggling scheduling meetings with his partners.
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He didn’t hear Michael, his assistant, enter the room. Michael stood there, waiting. After a few moments, he cleared his throat.
No response. Andrew kept working, his focus sharp. Michael tried again. “Mr. Smith.” Still no answer. He repeated his name three more times.
Finally, Andrew slammed his hands on the desk and snapped, “What?”
Michael didn’t flinch. “You asked me to tell you if your ex-wife called.”
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Andrew groaned and rubbed his temples. “How many times do I have to tell you? Ignore her calls. What now?”
Michael held a notepad. “She left a message. I should warn you—it’s a direct quote. Her words, not mine.” He read from the note. “‘You pompous jerk, I will never forgive you for wasting so many years of my life. If you don’t give me back my painting, I’ll smash your car.’ That’s the message.”
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Andrew’s face turned red. “We’ve been divorced for two years! Does she not have anything better to do?”
Michael looked at him, waiting for further instructions. “Should I respond to her?”
“No! And stop taking her calls,” Andrew said. Then he paused. “Actually, tell her I threw that painting in the trash!”
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Andrew grabbed a pen and hurled it toward the wall. Michael ducked slightly, gave a polite nod, and left the room.
Moments later, Andrew’s phone rang. He frowned, picking it up.
“Andrew Smith?” a voice asked.
“Yes. Who’s calling?”
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“This is the hospital. Your test results are ready. The doctor wants to see you.”
“Can’t you just tell me now?” Andrew said, irritated. “I’m busy.”
“Sorry, sir. The doctor will explain in person.”
Andrew sighed heavily. “Fine. I’ll come in.” He hung up, shaking his head.
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Andrew rarely allowed himself the luxury of a lunch break, but this time was different. The doctor’s office was quiet, the ticking clock on the wall the only sound.
Andrew sat stiffly in a chair, his fingers tapping against the armrest. When the door opened, the doctor stepped in, his face serious. Andrew frowned, sensing bad news.
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The doctor sat across from him and spoke in a steady, measured tone, using terms Andrew didn’t understand.
Then came the word—cancer. “We need to act fast,” the doctor said.
“Is this some kind of joke?” Andrew asked, his voice sharp. “I own a company. I can’t just check into a hospital.”
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The doctor met his eyes. “Your health should come first. The company can wait.”
Andrew leaned forward. “What are my chances of getting better?”
“I can’t promise anything,” the doctor said. “Starting treatment right away is critical.”
Andrew’s voice rose. “Can I still work while I’m here?”
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“Treatment affects everyone differently,” the doctor explained. “You will stay in the hospital so we can monitor you. Someone can bring you a computer.”
Andrew frowned and stood up. “Fine. I’ll sort it out.”
The doctor watched him leave. “We’ll see you tomorrow with your things,” he said before Andrew reached the door.
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As Andrew walked through the hospital’s pediatric wing, he noticed a boy, about eight years old, tossing a ball back and forth with a nurse.
The sound of their laughter echoed in the corridor. The ball suddenly rolled across the floor and stopped near Andrew’s feet.
“Excuse me, sir!” the boy called out, smiling. “Can you please throw the ball back?”
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Andrew picked up the ball, his face tense. Without a word, he hurled it down the hall, far from the boy and nurse, then turned and walked away.
“That was mean, sir!” the boy shouted.
Andrew had been in the hospital for days that felt like weeks. He tried to keep working, setting up his laptop and pushing through meetings.
But the treatment was draining. Each session left him weaker. The nausea was constant, and sleep was nearly impossible.
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One afternoon, during another long chemotherapy session, Andrew leaned back, his eyes half-closed. He felt miserable.
Suddenly, a small voice broke through his fog. He opened his eyes to see a boy standing in front of him. Startled, Andrew flinched. The boy giggled. It was the same boy from the corridor.
“What do you want, kid?” Andrew mumbled, not even lifting his head.
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“I’ve been walking around the hospital looking for someone to play with. It’s boring here.”
Andrew glanced at him, annoyed. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Tommy,” the boy replied with a wide grin.
Andrew sighed. “Listen, Tommy. I’m not in the mood to play. Go bother someone else before I start feeling worse.”
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Tommy didn’t move. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small peppermint candy. He held it out to Andrew. “This helps with nausea. You should try it.”
Andrew hesitated, then snatched the candy and set it on the table.
“You’re really grumpy!” Tommy said, laughing. “I’m going to call you Mr. Grouch. Are you mad because you’re scared of needles?” He pointed at the IV attached to Andrew’s arm.
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Andrew frowned. “I’m not scared of anything.”
Tommy nodded. “That’s fine. I was scared at first too, but then I stopped. My mom says I’m a superhero. Do you have a superpower?”
“No,” Andrew said, his voice flat.
“That’s because you’re too sad,” Tommy replied, his tone serious now.
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Andrew looked at the boy, surprised by the honesty in his big, bright eyes. “Is there anything you want?” Andrew asked.
Tommy grinned. “Yeah. I want to buy flowers for my mom. She works really hard, but I don’t have any money.”
Andrew sighed again, reached for his wallet, and pulled out a few bills. “Here. Get your flowers. Maybe buy yourself something too. But leave me alone.”
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Tommy’s face lit up. “Thanks, Mr. Grouch!” He ran out, clutching the money, while Andrew stared at the peppermint candy on the table.
With a sigh, he picked it up, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. To his surprise, the sharp sweetness helped ease the nausea. It wasn’t much, but it made a difference for a while.
That evening, as Andrew stared at his laptop, a nurse knocked on his door.
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She carried a small paper bag. “This is for you,” she said, placing it on the table. “Tommy sent it.”
Andrew opened the bag and found it full of peppermint candies. He shook his head, unsure whether to feel amused or moved.
The next morning, he decided to find Tommy. He needed to make one thing clear: the money wasn’t a gift.
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As he approached Tommy’s room, he saw a woman leaning against the wall, her shoulders shaking. She was crying.
“Are you okay?” Andrew asked, his voice low.
The woman wiped her eyes quickly and looked up. “Yes… Did you need something?”
“Tommy gave me some candies yesterday,” Andrew said.
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The woman’s lips curved into a small smile. “Oh, so you’re Mr. Grouch,” she said.
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “My name’s Andrew,” he replied.
“I’m Sara,” she said. “Are you here for treatment too?”
Andrew nodded.
“Then you understand,” Sara said quietly. “The bills, the stress. I can’t even pay rent right now. They told me we’ll be evicted in two months.”
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Andrew nodded again, unsure of what to say. Before he could respond, the door burst open. Tommy ran out, his face lighting up when he saw Andrew. “Hey, Mr. Grouch!” he called, grinning ear to ear.
From that day forward, Tommy became a constant presence in Andrew’s life.
The boy would wander into Andrew’s room with a big grin and endless energy. At first, Andrew found it annoying, but Tommy’s persistence wore him down.
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Soon, Andrew began looking forward to the visits. Tommy taught him to notice the simple joys in life.
They sat by the window, watching the sunset, guessing the colors in the sky. They played harmless pranks on nurses, earning scolding looks and stifled smiles.
Sometimes, they “borrowed” wheelchairs and raced down the halls, laughing until their sides hurt.
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Andrew didn’t ask about Tommy’s illness. He wasn’t sure how to bring it up. One afternoon, Tommy mentioned Sara had been crying again. “She’s worried about money,” Tommy said. “We might lose our house.”
Andrew quietly gave Tommy an envelope of cash. “Tell her it’s from a magician,” he said.
When Sara tried to return the money, Andrew waved her off. “I’m not a magician,” he said. “I don’t know where it came from.”
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Weeks passed. Andrew’s treatments worked, and the day came when the doctor gave him the news—he was cancer-free.
Ecstatic, Andrew rushed to share it with Tommy. But when he arrived, Tommy was unconscious, Sara sitting beside him, tears streaming down her face.
“What happened?” Andrew asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
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Sara wiped her eyes and shook her head. “The doctors said there’s nothing more they can do.”
Andrew stared at her, struggling to process the words. “But… he seemed so happy. He always smiled. I thought he was improving.”
Sara looked at him, her face full of pain. “He didn’t want you to see how sick he was. He wanted to be strong for you. He thought he was a superhero.”
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Andrew’s chest tightened. “I’m so sorry.”
Sara managed a faint smile through her tears. “Don’t be. He said you saved him. These months, you gave him laughter and hope. You made him forget about being sick.”
Andrew shook his head slowly. “No. He’s the one who saved me.”
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He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. She cried quietly against his shoulder, and though Andrew wished he could take her pain away, he knew nothing would ever truly ease it.
That night, Tommy passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his mother and the memories he had made.
Andrew sat alone in his room afterward, overwhelmed by the loss. Andrew couldn’t bear the thought of such a bright soul being forgotten.
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Determined, he started a foundation in Tommy’s name to help sick children, ensuring his kindness would live on.
He also stayed in touch with Sara, offering her support in every way he could.
One afternoon, Andrew stood at his ex-wife’s door, holding the painting she had demanded for so long. She opened the door, her mouth ready to hurl accusations, but Andrew silently handed her the painting.
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“I’m not here to argue,” Andrew said, his tone calm as he held out the painting.
His ex-wife frowned, puzzled. “What is this supposed to mean?” she asked.
“Nothing important,” Andrew replied, a small smile forming. “I’m just making sure I keep my superpowers.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Taking care of Mom was hard enough without the tension with my sister. Accusations flew when precious things started disappearing. I thought I knew who was to blame, but the truth shattered my world. Betrayal came from where I least expected, leaving me questioning everything—and everyone—I trusted.
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Once One of the Most Handsome Men, This Hollywood Legend, 88, Lives Reclusively after a Stroke amid His Kids’ Bitter Feud
Following a stroke, a well-known Hollywood celebrity who was formerly regarded as one of the most attractive men leads a reclusive existence. His children had been at odds for a long time during his health scare.
This attractive French actor,88, who was once praised as one of the most beautiful men in the world, leads a very different life now that he is no longer in the limelight of Hollywood.
After sadly suffering a stroke in 2019, the “Flic Story” artist, who is aware of how “handsome” he is, lives a reclusive life at his house. This happened a few weeks following his honorary Palme d’Or acceptance in Cannes, France.
His mansion is situated behind a magnificent stone wall that stretches 2.4 miles (2.3 km) and is part of the expansive estate known as La Brûlerie. It is situated in the Loreit department of central France, close to the Douchy-Montcorbon commune, at a distance of 86.99 miles (140 km) southeast of Paris.
Sources claim that this is not just the actor’s house but also the location of his dream burial, next to a chapel on the grounds of a cemetery he constructed. More than thirty of his cherished hounds are laid to rest in this cemetery.
Despite having France as his home base, sources indicate that the reclusive divides his time between his Douchy home, his apartment in Geneva, and his workstation in Paris.
The French sensation has been handling a tense family matter in addition to choosing his final resting place. His three children are at conflict with one another.
Based on their father and his possessions, his two sons and daughter have engaged in public arguments, leveled allegations, and pursued legal actions. The public nature of their arguments has brought the actor’s kids a lot of media attention.
So much so that Christophe Ayela, their father’s attorney, has made an effort to mediate a ceasefire between them. “It must end, and everyone must become calm. That’s enough for now, reprimanded Christopher.
The fact that the “Purple Noon” actor, whose kids attest to this, is aware of their argument and has made it quite evident that he has a favorite child adds even more nuance to the family conflict.
He had earlier said, “I have a daughter who is the love of my life, maybe a little too much in comparison to the others.”
In 2008, he claimed, “I have said I love you to no other woman so often.” Observant viewers speculate that the father may see his sons as competitors, which could explain their tense relationship. This theory is supported by the father’s own remarks and other observations.
The actress’s kid has made public her intense affection for her father, much like her devoted father. She recently sent a heartfelt homage to him on Instagram, providing followers with an update on the actor’s health.
She wrote a touching note in French and included it with a photo of her father. That caption says, “Friday morning I took a picture of my dad,” in English. for myself. A remembrance of our times. Breakfast with him fills me with unending gratitude. A singularly lovely moment.
She continued by praising his looks, describing him as “handsome” and emphasizing his “vivid” and “fighting” attitude. “My personal eternal,” she penned.
“I showed the image to him. As his audience who is interested in him, I asked him if I may share it with you. Thus, it is here with his consent. “Don’t worry,” he responds to your concerns. #love,” the actor’s daughter said.
It’s none other than Alain Delon, the legendary French casanova about whom admirers have been worrying and who has been leading a secluded life. Many of Alain’s admirers responded to his daughter Anouchka Delon’s Instagram photo by leaving comments on the platform.
As always, he is stunning and gorgeous. Please remain by his side; he needs you more than anybody. I know you adore your father and are very protective of him, a fan exclaimed. Actor Gilles Marini, who is also French, said, “Remain near.brimming with affection. Nothing more is important.
Even though Anouchka and her brothers, Anthony and Alain-Fabien Delon, have not always agreed on everything, they both agree that their father’s financial and medical needs must be met.
According to a French news source earlier this month, Alain’s children banded together in March to demand that their father be put under a “reinforced curatorship.” Alain was previously placed under judicial protection for “medical monitoring” prior to this action.
According to the article, their request was granted as of April 4. This implies that a “curator” will be designated to supervise Alain’s finances and act, effectively, on his behalf with regard to matters pertaining to his possessions and, occasionally, his healthcare needs.
Nobody has confirmed the identity of this curator as of yet. It’s unclear if it will be Hiromi Rollin—who the news source called Alain’s “lady in waiting”—or one of his children.
What will happen to Alain’s business, Alain Delon International Diffusion SA, of which he is the President and Anouchka is the Vice President, is another concern. As the curatorship request has been approved, Alain will no longer be able to make decisions in that role.
Nevertheless, Alain is more concerned with the here and now than the minutiae. He revealed in a 2021 interview that he wanted to make one last picture, which he believes has the potential to be his best to date.
The “Borsalino” actor said, “In my life what I loved most was being Alain Delon, the actor Alain Delon,” to end the conversation.
“Observe Purple Noon and Rocco [And His Brothers]!Every woman was enamored with me. Alain described himself as an attractive performer in a prior statement. “From when I was 18 till when I was 50.”
Alain is said to have discovered his attraction to women in the 1950s when on a trip to Saint-Germain-des-Prés with a buddy. “I became aware that everybody was staring at me. Women started to inspire me. To them, I owe everything. Alain said, “They were the ones who motivated me to look better than everyone else.”
Alain made it his mission to “look better than anyone else,” going so far as to claim the title of “most seductive man in cinema” at the age of 25, and he was even compared to Brigitte Bardot in terms of appearance. One of the biggest “It” girls in the history of film, the French star is widely recognized.
Her famous roles in many silver-screen movies have earned her recognition and admiration. Playboy, a popular platform for showcasing stunning celebrities, had elevated the French blonde beauty to the top of the list of the 20th century’s most attractive female stars.
She is even regarded by certain media sources as the greatest “It” girl of all time. In addition to her attractive appearance, Brigitte is well-known for her pouffy lips. She ranked fourth on Playboy’s list of the sexiest female stars.
Her seductive confidence and alluring personality also earned her the title of most watched star in her native nation. In addition to her accomplishments as an actor and general entertainment, Brigitte has developed a strong reputation as an enthusiastic supporter of animal rights.
Regarding her private life, the well-liked celebrity, better known by her stage as BB, is a mother of one child and has been wed to Bernard d’Ormale for 31 years. Media sources claim that the pair married in secret in August 1992, inviting just a small number of friends to share in their big day.
Since then, the couple has been happily married. When Brigitte and Bernard got married for the first time, acquaintances of the “Contempt” singer informed a news outlet that the abrupt and covert marriage had made her happier than she had been in a long time.
It’s interesting to note that Brigitte’s friends weren’t sure she would get married again after her first spouse died. Nevertheless, the couple lived together in Brigitte’s opulent ten-bedroom mansion in Saint-Tropez after being married in a charming tiny wooden chapel in Norway.
Bernard has supported Brigitte ever since they first met, particularly during her health problems. Brigitte’s knight in shining armor promptly reassured the extremely alarmed audience that she was okay when French newspapers announced for the first time in 1992 that their adored celebrity had supposedly overdosed on sedatives while at home.
“Brigitte was overwhelmed with fatigue and took too much medication to go to sleep,” he clarified.After a few hours, she was fine and had not had her stomach pumped.”
Bernard’s claim that his wife was okay was further corroborated by a representative for the clinic where Brigitte was brought. Years after her sedative scare, Brigitte was confronted with yet another health issue.
Bernard attested to Brigitte’s breathing difficulties earlier this year. Fortunately, first responders came to her aid right away, gave her oxygen, and stayed with her to make sure everything was alright.
Bernard cited an intense heatwave that was sweeping through Europe at the time to support his explanation that his wife’s respiratory issues were age- and weather-related. It seems that their La Madrague home’s air conditioning system was not operating at its best.
Brigitte had assured the public that she was fine, but a news source had said that she had remained in the intensive care unit. But in a handwritten message, the “A Very Private Affair” star corrected the record, saying, “I want to reassure everyone.” I’m doing great right now. The disease that I contracted was a source of scandal for the press.
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