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The second I saw her in that hospital bed, I knew I’d been lying to myself for years. I was certain I didn’t love this woman anymore–at least, that’s what I’d told myself every day since she left. But now? Warching her lying there, pale and unmoving? I felt a stab of something so raw, it made my pulse skip
Maybe it was just the desperation, the knowledge that she was Liam’s only hope. I told myself that was the reason. And yet, some deep part of me knew that wasn’t the full truth. Somewhere in the pit of my mind, the thought crept up that maybe, just maybe, I’d never really stopped loving her. I quickly countered it, as always did, the photos I’d seen that made everything unravel.
I shifted my gaze to Dominic as he steered the car. The ride was silent, and I was grateful. I was in po mood for words, especially not with him. Watching him fuss over her the way he did, watching his barely contained panic, made my stomach twist. He was utterly devoted, I could see that. Maybe even in love. And for some infuriating reason, that realization clawed at me, a pang of jealousy seating through my chest. What business did I have feeling that? I reminded myself that whatever feelings I had for her were buried deep, far beneath the rubble of betrayal and hurt. Yet it was impossible to ignore how much this guycared, the resources he seemed willing to pull just to save her. More than ever could or had
The smug certainty I had about her breaking our deal that look of hurt that had crept over her face when I accused her–I’d been so wrong about her. Again. 1 hated how that made me feel, the sense that maybe I never really understood her at all.
But then we got to the hospital, and Dominic had the nerve to suggest that Liam–my son–be moved, “You want to keep your lover here? Pine,” stapped, my tone Ice. “But there’s no way you’re moving Liam. He’s been at that hospital for years, and he’s not going anywhere.”
Dominic’s face hardened, his eyes narrowing to angry slits. He grabbed me by the collar, yanking me dose. “Use your head for once, Sullivan. Stop thinking like, Insinuman.” He practically spat the words at me. “Raina was taken from that hospital. Someone is after her, and if they’re after her, they could be after Liam
top.”
I shrugged him off, pushing him back. “Or maybe,” I replied with biting sarcasm, “it’s your own mess catching up with you. She’s your lover. Maybe this is an attack on you or your family,‘
But Dominic didn’t budge, not even an inch. His face was stone. “It doesn’t change the fact that she’s not safe there, and neither is Liam. Here, I know the owner Here, they’ll be protected. If you want Liam saved, you’ll have to agree.”
1 hated them both in that moment. Dominic and Raina–always pulling my strings, always using my son to twist my hand. The feeling of being comered by them, of being forced into choices I’d never make on my own, made my blood buil
My phone buzzed, cutting through the tension in the air. I glanced at the screen my mother’s name lit up like an unwelcome beacon. Thesitated but eventually answered
ssful yet?
“Alexander,” ber voice came through, clipped and demanding, “is the surgery successful yet?”
I felt my imitation boil over. They hadn’t bothered to show their faces at the hospital, but now they wanted to know the outcome? I took a deep breath, trying to mask my frustration. “Something came up,” I muttered, disconnecting the call before she could ask more questions. I didn’t want to deal with her apathy, her
emotional distance
As i slid my phone back into my pocket, I felt the weight of it all settling heavily on thy shoulders. Raina was fighting for her life, and Liam was still in the dark about his own health. I glanced at Dominic, who looked tense, his fingers tapping against his leg in agitation. Whatever was happening, it felt like a storm was brewing, and I was stuck right in the middle of It.
“Fine,” I said, shaking my head. “But as soon as Raina wakes up, we’ll be doing the surgery. I hated the feeling of giving in, of being forced into a decision that Tel like it was out of my control. But I also knew I needed to do whatever it took to save my son.
We arranged for Liam to be transferred to the new hospital, and I could feel the tension in the air as the doctor began to try and persuade me not to move him.” This could affect Liam,” he wamed, his brow furrowed in concerti. His eyes lingered as if he wanted to say more. The man had been Liam’s doctor for years, and his reluctance struck me as odd. But what choice did I have? I swallowed down the unease growing at me, tousting that this was best for Liam. At least for now.
“Just do what you have to do,” I snapped, pushing the frustration from my mind. I needed to focus on my son, not this doctor’s doubts.
but things look another strange tu wan we arrived at the new hospital. As soon as Liam was settled, a doctor, one who clearly knew Dominic, approached and insisted they run their own exam on both Raina anda. I could barely keep from rolling my eyes. “Of course, “I thought sarcastically, “let’s add more delays. Why not?” I was ready to argue, but with Haina still unconscious, there wasn’t much point. Besides, it this doctor insisted, it wouldn’t hurt to let them check. It’s not like they’d find anything different.
Hours later, when the results came back, I stared at the doctor as he delivered his findings. His words sank into my brain, each one burning like acid. “There will be Do need for a bone marrow transplant,” he said calmly. “Because Llam doesn’t have a bone marrow disease.”
My initial shock morphed into anger. “Aar you joking?” I demanded. “Liam’s been treated for years! He has a disease one that I’ve paid for him to fight! And now you’re saying it doesn’t ex?”
Dominie’s voice broke in, fin but restrained. “Shut up, Sullivan. Let the doctor finish
Iclenched my jaw, wanting to argue, but there was something in Dominic’s tone–something I couldn’t quite read—that stopped me. He gestured for the doctor to contunie, and the man, after a pause, explained, “What I’m saying, Mr. Sullivan, Is that your son has been poisoned. For years. He was induced into this. coma artificially to make his symptoms mimic a disease. That’s why we need to find the doctor responsible. There’s a lie buried here, and it’s caused Liam years of
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For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, roisoned? My son had been polsoned? I’d been so close to having him back, to saving him, and now this? Now I was faced with a reality that sounded like something out of a nightmare. Shockmixed with a sickening dead, the kind that left me hollow and trembling.
“Why?” 1 whispered, the question slipping out in disbelief, “Wing would anyone do this?”
Dominic’s eyes were fixed on me, his expression unreadable. “I asked myself the same thing when you first came in me with this request. When I found out you wanted Raina to give her marrow, I consulted with a specialist who suggested bringing her bere. She refused, of course.”
The restraint in his voice grated on me, a tension couldn’t quite place. But why hadn’t I ever questioned it before? I could’ve reviewed Liam’s medical charts, done my own research. Why hadn’t I? Had I really just been that stupid, that trusting of a single doctor? The feeling of betrayal simmered, and I clenched my fists
Lexcused myself, needing to clear my bead, though there was nothing calming about the storm raging inside me. This was my fault. I should’ve questioned everything sooner, should’ve been more vigilant. I’d trusted the wrong person, and now, my son had paid the price, cauilt clawed at me, the weight of it crushing
When I returned to Dominic, I made a firm decision. “I’ll handle this myself. I’ll have the doctor questioned.” But as I headed back to the original hospital, that surgency grew, 1 needed answers. Needed to loow who had done this and win.
But when I got there, I found out the doctor was gone. Not a single soul knew where he’d gone—if he’d resigned, or if he’d run.
Had he known we’d find out? Or was he just another pawn in a twisted game someone else was playing? The questions circled, mocking me with no answers in sight
And all I could do was wonder–how many more lies had 1 believed? How many mu
more truths had I missed, buried under assumptions and trust in the wrong people?
