Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Lucian's face changed, and in an instant he was out of the estate.

When I got to the hospital, the doctor was just coming out of the ER.

He looked at Lucian gravely. "Ms. Lane's condition can't wait. We have to move the kidney transplant up to half an hour from now."

"Could you contact the donor and ask if they're available now?"

Before Lucian could answer, I spoke up from behind him. "I'm available! Doctor, I'm ready."

I held my swollen cheek. There was nothing left in my heart for him.

All I wanted was to get away from him, away from the Morettis, as fast as I could, and never have anything to do with them again.

He turned to look at me. Something complicated flashed across his face, but he still said, "Thank you."

I didn't answer. I just opened my phone and changed my flight to this afternoon.

Thirty minutes later, I was lying on the operating table.

I wasn't afraid. I only felt relief, and freedom.

I'd just lain down when a nurse rushed in, panicked. "We have a problem. We're almost out of anesthesia. There's only enough left for one person!"

The doctor pulled off his gloves, frowning, and went out to talk to Lucian.

The next second, I heard his firm voice. "Bianca's weak. She can't go without anesthesia."

...

After a while, the doctor came back in. He looked at me with pity in his eyes.

"Ms. Rossi, you'll have to go through this surgery without anesthesia. If you can't handle it, you can still back out now."

"No. I can handle it."

It was the answer I'd expected, but it still chilled me to the bone.

My dear Zio, the only family I had, could make the same choice every time, without fail.

Even though I'd never hurt anyone, not once.

The doctor didn't say anything else. He just kept murmuring comfort in my ear.

The surgery was torture. Without anesthesia, you can imagine the pain. The veins stood out on my skin, and cold sweat poured down my forehead. Even with my teeth clenched, I couldn't hold it in. I screamed.

By the time the surgery was over, I had long since passed out from the pain.

When I woke up again, the space beside my bed was empty. There was only a nurse who'd come in to change my dressing and looked at me with concern.

"Ms. Rossi, you're awake."

"Your guardian is really something. For his girlfriend, he made you go through surgery without anesthesia."

I didn't answer. I just gave her a pale smile. When she left, I took out my phone and checked the time.

Two hours left. If I took a cab back to get my luggage and then went to the airport, I'd make it just in time.

I let out a breath. I'd just started to get out of bed when a tearing pain surged through me, wave after wave.

It was a pain that pierced the bone and struck the soul, as if countless blades were slicing me up from the inside, every heartbeat bringing an agony that ripped me apart.

But the thought of getting away from him made me grit my teeth, brace myself against the bed, and get up.

I struggled into my clothes, took out the Declaration of Severance I'd been carrying with me for a long time, and walked step by step to Bianca's room.

Inside, Lucian was watching Bianca sleep, his eyes fixed on her. He didn't even notice me come in.

He didn't react until I held the document out in front of him.

When he saw what it said, his face darkened.

He asked in a low voice, "What does this mean? You're really going to cut ties with me? I told you, there's nothing between us. Why are you still pulling this?"

The pain made sweat break out on my forehead. I clenched my teeth and said stubbornly, "You promised me."

He looked at my white face, and something seemed to irritate him.

After a long moment, he took the pen from my hand and signed his name on the declaration.

Once I had his signature, I could finally breathe. I turned and limped away.

But he frowned and asked, "You just had surgery. You're so weak. Instead of resting in your hospital gown, you've changed into your own clothes. Where are you going?"

My throat was dry. My thin body looked like it could collapse at any moment.

"It's stuffy in here. I'm going for a walk."

He looked at me and, for once, said something caring. "It's windy outside. Come back soon."

I said, "Mm," but inside, I whispered:

Lucian, I'm never coming back.

I got my luggage and, dragging my battered body, boarded the plane to Anchorage.

Before I got on, I turned around and took one last long look at the city.

"Goodbye. Lucian."