The Five Years He Missed Chapter 08

The Five Years He Missed Chapter 08

Dominic looked me up and down. “Fine. I’ll donate. As long as you kneel and bow your head to the ground a hundred times right here, I’ll save your son.”

I went rigid for a few seconds. Dominic’s expression softened a little. “If you’re not willing, that’s fine too. As long as you give up that bastard and never contact your little lover again…”

The next second, my head crashed heavily against the ground. One, two… Blood soon seeped from my forehead, and the whole world spun around me. But I didn’t stop. I had only one thought: save Luca. I had to save Luca!

I don’t know how long I knelt and bowed—maybe hours, maybe a full day—until I finally counted to one hundred. Everything blurred before my eyes, and I passed out. The last scene in my consciousness was Dominic, his face ashen, dialing the emergency number.

…

I lay unconscious in the hospital bed for what felt like forever. The moment I woke, I received a call from the doctor. I rushed frantically to Luca’s side, only to find his face already ashen. That once lively, round little face had been ravaged by illness, emaciated beyond recognition, his breathing growing weaker and weaker.

The doctor’s voice was urgent. “Where is the donor? The child needs surgery immediately!” The donor, the donor… Dominic had said—one hundred bows, and he would save Luca! I’d done it!

Trembling, I called Dominic. After two rings, the call connected, and a ray of hope instantly blazed in my eyes. But from the other end came a sharp, piercing female voice: “Elena? Can’t you just die somewhere far away? Dominic has been mine for a long time now! And he won’t save your son. To him, that would be the ultimate humiliation!”

The call was disconnected. I stood there frozen, my hands and feet icecold. I dialed again and again, over and over, but no one answered.

“Critical alert—Patient Bed 59 has stopped breathing—” The doctor’s voice rang out, and my entire world dissolved into a blank void.

I’ve forgotten what exactly happened after that. I only remember the hospital bustling with people coming and going, and a nurse lifting a white cloth for me. On the stretcher lay a handsome little boy—only he would never open his eyes again.

…

Human beings are remarkably adaptable. It took me five years to adapt to that immense grief, to accept Luca’s departure. I wanted revenge against Brianna and Dominic more than anyone. But life is no fairy tale. For five years, the people who destroyed me remained high above, while I struggled desperately in poverty and pain. I did menial, repetitive physical labor. I swallowed countless antidepressants. Night after night, I was dragged back into that moment in my dreams. But I still fought to stay alive. Because the nurse told me that Luca’s last words were—”Mommy, be okay.”

Now, five years later. Dominic actually stood before me, saying he wanted to see Luca. I suddenly laughed, laughed until tears welled at the corners of my eyes.

Dominic frowned. “What are you laughing at?”

“At you, of course.” I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and said softly, “Mr. Gambino, Luca is dead. He died five years ago.”