Chapter 3

Soon after I hung up, dozens of top-of-the-line ambulances, loaded with advanced equipment, swarmed into the abandoned warehouse.

Medics in sterile gowns rushed to my son’s side, their movements swift and professional.

I saw a glimmer of hope and immediately grabbed one of the doctors by his white coat, crying incoherently, “Save him! Please, save my son!”

But the doctor just shook his head gravely, his cold gaze falling on me.

“Hope is slim. His injuries are too severe – ruptured internal organs, massive blood loss. He’s missed the optimal rescue window.”

His voice was devoid of emotion, like he was pronouncing a death sentence.

“Ma’am, you should notify your husband. Prepare for the worst.”

Husband… Damian…

Those words stabbed me like poisoned darts, leaving me bleeding internally.

Tears of regret blurred my vision.

I remembered years ago, how I was forced to marry Damian to pay off my father’s massive company debts.

Back then, we seemed affectionate in public, but behind closed doors, we were just polite strangers.

Only with the birth of our son did a flicker of warmth enter our cold, business arrangement.

Damian held the tiny infant, a rare, genuine smile gracing his face, and our relationship slowly warmed.

I naively thought things would continue to be good.

But then, his first love, Serena, returned to the country, and everything changed.

Damian’s tenderness and patience vanished overnight, given entirely to another woman.

I had thought about divorce, about leaving this suffocating home with my son.

But my selfish father had pointed a finger at me, roaring, “Chloe! If you dare divorce, I’ll jump off this building! Our whole family will be ruined because of you!”

I retreated. For my family, I silently accepted Serena’s presence.

I thought my forbearance would buy me peace, but she only grew more brazen.

One day, she even tried to push me down the stairs. It was my son who fiercely protected me.

And it was because of that intervention that my poor son suffered this terrible calamity!

The red light of the emergency room went out.

My son’s heartbeat stopped.

Like a puppet drained of its soul, I numbly pulled out my phone.

Clinging to a final shred of hope, I dialed Damian’s number.

The phone was noisy on his end, party music blaring.

My voice trembled uncontrollably: “Damian, our son… he’s gone. Can you come back, just to see him one last time?”

“Chloe, what game are you playing now?”

His voice was utterly cold, laced with impatience.

“To get me to come back, you’d even lie about something like this? How pathetic are you?”

I pleaded humbly: “I’m not lying, Damian, please, just a glance, a final glance!”

“Ha, if I believe a single word you say today, I’m an idiot!”

“Serena’s birthday party just started. I don’t have time to play along with your drama. Don’t call me again!”

“If you dare disturb us again, your father’s company can expect to go bankrupt!”

*Beep… beep… beep…*

The call was mercilessly disconnected.

I clutched my phone, the world instantly quiet, leaving only an endless roaring in my ears.