A couple of months had passed, and Helen was working tirelessly, sacrificing her own well-being to make sure her son never lacked anything.
To Helen, Luke was her reason for living, her light in the midst of darkness. Every laugh of his lit up her world; every hug brought her hope back. Watching him run, hearing his little voice call her "Mom," and feeling his tiny hands clutching hers gave her strength to carry on. No matter the hardships or exhaustion—while he was by her side, everything was worth it.
One night, Luke's fever wouldn't break. His little body burned in Helen's arms as she frantically tried to cool him with wet cloths, whispering words of comfort. His breathing was shallow and weak, his skin pale and covered in a cold sweat that terrified her.
Desperate, with her heart pounding in her throat, Helen arrived at the hospital with Luke in her arms. Her bare feet ached, her clothes were soaked in sweat, but none of that mattered. Only her son. Only saving him.
—Please, help me!— she begged the receptionist.
A nurse rushed over immediately, but her face tensed as she looked over the documents.
—Ma'am, we need an initial payment before we can admit him.
Helen felt the world collapse around her. Her hands trembled as she dug through her bag, but all she found were a few coins. Her breathing grew erratic, and a knot of panic tightened in her chest.
Heart racing, she pulled out her phone and dialed Alex's number. Each ring echoed like an eternity. She pressed the phone tightly to her ear, hoping, silently pleading for him to answer.
But silence was her only reply.
Elsewhere, Alex stared at the phone vibrating on his desk. His jaw clenched, fingers tapping impatiently against the wood. He didn't answer. Not because he didn't want to—but because something inside him wouldn't let him.
Natalie, seated beside him, glanced at the screen glowing with Helen's name. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and irritation.
—Don't pick up. She's probably going to ask for money,— she said, leaning in slightly.
Alex remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Natalie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She had seen Alex make ruthless decisions in business and life without hesitation. But now, before a simple phone call, he hesitated—caught in something she couldn't understand.
—Do you still care?— she pressed, her voice sharp as a knife.
Alex exhaled slowly but said nothing.
A doctor adjusted his glasses and looked at Helen with seriousness, his tone firm yet compassionate.
—Ma'am, your son can't wait any longer. We need you to resolve the payment situation to proceed with treatment. Every minute counts.
Helen felt her knees weaken. She gripped the back of a chair, trying to steady her trembling hands. The helplessness was suffocating.
—But...— she swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper, —I don't have the money yet...
The doctor sighed, understanding her pain.
—You have to make a decision now. There's no more time.
Desperate, she dialed Alex's number again and again, but it just kept ringing. Her heart pounded as the minutes passed, each one weighing heavier than the last.
The doctor walked away while Luke lay on the gurney, his small face pale, his breathing faint.
Finally, Alex's voice answered—cold, distant.
—What do you want now, Helen?
—Alex, please...—her voice broke.—Luke is very sick. I need help. I need to get him into the hospital.
He sighed with frustration.
—Don't come at me with more lies, Helen. I'm not giving you any money.
—Alex, for God's sake!— she sobbed. —It's not a lie! He's our son—he's dying!
There was silence on the line. For a moment, she thought he might soften, that he'd put his resentment aside... but then his voice returned, colder than ever.
—No more manipulations, Helen. I won't fall for your games.
And he hung up.
Alex let out a heavy sigh and placed the phone on the table. He rubbed his face, trying to convince himself he'd done the right thing.
—Good job, love,— Natalie whispered, wrapping her arms around him from behind. —No more manipulations. I knew you wouldn't fall for her tricks.
Alex didn't reply. Something in his chest felt off—like an icy shadow creeping down his spine. But he forced himself to ignore it. He told himself he'd made the best choice.
Natalie, oblivious to the unease in his eyes, smiled with satisfaction and kissed his cheek, thinking:
—Now everything's in place.
Helen stood frozen, staring at her phone screen, unable to believe it. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, but she couldn't allow herself to break. She clutched Luke tightly to her chest and, with a mother's determination, ran down the hospital hallway.
—Help! —she cried out, desperate.
Amid stifled cries, compassionate looks, and distant voices, doctors rushed toward her and took Luke from her arms.
—We'll do everything we can,— they assured her, but she saw the shadow of the truth in their eyes.
She waited in the hallway, hugging herself, trembling. Her heart pounded with a cruel mixture of fear and hope—hope that crumbled more with each passing minute.
Finally, a nurse appeared, her face grim.
—We're so sorry...
The world stopped.
Helen felt something inside her shatter into a thousand pieces. Her body shook with a silent sob as she collapsed to her knees. She heard nothing else. Felt nothing else. Only the void. A void that would never be filled.
Helen couldn't bear it. Her body, overwhelmed by grief and unbearable pain, simply gave out. Her legs buckled, her vision blurred, and without a sound, she collapsed onto the hospital's cold floor.
—We need help here!— a nurse shouted, running to her.
As they tried to revive her, one nurse picked up the phone that had fallen from her trembling hands. The screen still showed the last dialed number. With a heavy heart, she tapped the recent call.
It rang once. Twice. Then a cold male voice answered:
—What do you want now, Helen?
The nurse took a breath, feeling the weight of what she was about to say.
—Mr. Alex Acton? I'm calling from Central Hospital… There's a woman named Helen here, and her son has passed away.
A deathly silence filled the line. Then, a faint, almost imperceptible whisper:
—No… it can't be…
But it already was.
He rushed to the hospital and found Helen with their son's lifeless body in her arms, her gaze empty.
—No… God, no!— Alex screamed, falling to his knees.
Helen looked at him with pure hatred.
—You killed him!
Then, as if the weight of the pain was too much, her eyes went dark and she lost consciousness once more.
Alex felt his soul tear apart.
He had made the worst mistake of his life.