The Five Years He Missed Chapter 14

The Five Years He Missed Chapter 14

Elena’s POV

I had a very, very long dream.

In the dream, Luca was four years old, wearing his hospital gown. The flesh on his cheeks had all melted away, but his voice was still bright and sweet. “Mommy, Daddy said he’d always protect me. Once I get better, Daddy will take us out together, right?”

By then, I was utterly exhausted, body and soul. But I still forced out a smile and held my son in my arms. “Of course. Luca will get better very soon.”

Suddenly, Luca grew serious. “Mommy—what if… Luca is just saying what if… what if Luca can’t stay with Mommy anymore? Then Mommy shouldn’t miss Luca too much. Mommy should keep living happily with Daddy! Even—even without Daddy, Mommy still has to be happy, all by herself!”

I was stunned by my son’s maturity. Later, when I looked back, it broke my heart to realize that Luca must have sensed something. He had always been such a clever child.

When I woke from the dream, the corners of my eyes were wet. I lifted my head, and what met my eyes was a face that was cool and detached, yet undeniably handsome. The man before me wore a white coat, his figure tall and upright.

My lips moved. “Dr. Aidan Ashford…”

Aidan answered with a faint sound, flipping through the report in his hands. “Your emotions have been unstable lately. I’ll prescribe you something.”

I twisted the bedsheets nervously. Five years ago, my emotions had spiraled beyond my control. Though I fought desperately to suppress the suicidal thoughts, when I’d sunk to begging on the streets, I had an episode—and collapsed rigid right in front of Aidan.

Aidan looked unapproachable, but he was a good man who saved lives. Without hesitation, he got me to the hospital immediately. When he realized I couldn’t afford the medical bills, he quietly paid them himself. I couldn’t bear such kindness. I cried and said I would pay him back. He only said, “Fine. But you have to come see a psychiatrist every month.” “Stay alive—then you can pay me back.”

With Aidan’s help, I barely managed to survive that dark period. Aside from medical expenses, Aidan never forced other money on me. But by the third month after meeting Aidan, I’d found the flower shop job and secured a steady income. The shop manager was very good to me, and my coworkers were kind. I didn’t believe my luck was that good, so I could only guess that Aidan had helped behind the scenes.

Aidan had put so much care into looking after me, and yet here I was, landing myself back in the hospital. Now, facing Aidan—whose eyes held a faint trace of displeasure—I hung my head in guilt.

Aidan studied me for a long moment, then sighed as if surrendering. He spoke to comfort me. “It’s alright. As long as I’m here, you’ll get better.” I nodded, then suddenly remembered to ask, “Who brought me here?”

“Your ex-husband. He carried you into the hospital like a madman. I happened to run into him.” Aidan’s voice was still cool, but if you listened closely, there was a hint of probing in it. “After everything he did to you… are you thinking of reconciling?”

I reacted as if struck. “How could I?!”

Aidan said nothing, but the cool lines of his brow softened a fraction.