Chapter 6 Your ex is back

At San Raffaele Gruppo San Donato Hospital, Justine's son had been shot at point-blank range and was between life and death due to severe bleeding.

"Miss Delacroix!" Dr. Spina called out.

Justine lifted her downcast face before asking, "How is my son?"

The doctor on duty, with a heavy look on her face, explained the situation coldly but without hiding her pain. The .38 caliber revolver had caused devastating damage.

The doctor paused before continuing, the weight of her words like a blow.

"We removed the bullet and cleaned the wound, but his chances of survival are practically nil." The neurosurgeon said. "The injury is extremely serious, because when it hit the bone, it fragmented into three pieces. One piece lodged in the left side of the brain. Another pierced the jugular vein, and the third tore the skin on his neck as it exited."

"Please save my son, doctor!" Justine pleaded in desperation.

The neurosurgeon looked at Justine, who was sobbing and crying, but the doctor had to be realistic, even if it dashed her hopes: "Even if he survives, the brain damage may be irreparable. The brain connections are seriously compromised."

Justine, her eyes fixed on the floor, felt a complete emptiness take over her chest. But the doctor's words still echoed in her mind. "Practically nil..." She couldn't understand, and something inside her broke.

"No." Justine's voice came out shaky, as if she were trying to speak, but her throat was too tight. "No... this can't be happening. My son can't die, doctor. Please, no..."

She approached the doctor, as if a gesture of closeness could change the course of events. Despair was etched on her face, but she still tried, somehow, to cling to a thread of hope, however tenuous it might be.

"No... please, doctor, don't let my son die." Justine begged, crying. "He has to stay with me. He has to come home."

The doctor took a deep breath before giving him another piece of fateful news: "Your son needs a transfusion, and we don't have any RH-negative blood bags. I checked to see if I could get some from other hospitals or collection centers, but it's a rare blood type."

"Are you sure, doctor?" Asked Justine, nervous.

"I've already checked, Mrs. Delacroix." Sighing, Dr. Spinha reiterated.

Persistent, Justine asked, "Can't he receive a different blood type?"

"Mrs. Delacroix, golden blood has red blood cells that do not have any type of RhD antigen, which makes it very special and dangerous for your son," the doctor explained. "Bryan can only receive blood transfusions from the same blood type," Dr. Spina patiently explained. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, doctor!" replied Justine, choked with tears.

"Do you know anyone in your family who has that blood type, Mrs. Delacroix?"

Nodding, Justine wiped her tears with her hand. Only fifty people in the world had that blood type, and one of them was the man who had rejected Justine when she was pregnant.

Despite her suffering, Justine was willing to do anything to save her son's life.

❛ ━━━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━━❜

In front of the imposing building in the center of Milan, Justine stared at the huge golden sign and read it again: "Harrison Giordano Group." She had been trying to get in for over two hours, but the security guard had stopped her at the entrance. She had no choice but to wait until she saw her ex-husband.

A light rain began to fall, but a mother's desperation was stronger. Justine tried to find shelter under the roof of the small corridor leading to the revolving door at the entrance to the building. The executives looked at her with contempt, both at the exit and at the entrance.

"That's the ex-wife of the CEO of the Harrison Giordano Group," one woman whispered as she shared the gossip with another. "She's the traitor," the nasal voice said with disdain.

Even in the face of all the condemning looks, Justine remained steadfast in her purpose. She would not leave until she found Kevin. Tired, she looked up at the top of the building; she knew her ex-husband was there, and at some point, someone would report the presence of the CEO's ex.

In the company's boardroom, the tall man adjusted his slim-fit blazer and smoothed the black fabric over his chest and abdominal muscles.

He had an authoritative posture. Despite his handsome jawline and well-defined chin, he maintained a stern expression. Picking up his cell phone, he opened the messaging app and listened to the audio from his fiancée: "Honey, don't be late for our wedding rehearsal dinner."

"I'm on my way, Beatrice," he replied and pressed the button to send the voice message.

Kevin ran his hands through his brown hair with blond highlights, throwing the straight strands back. He adjusted the collar of his white linen shirt and loosened the knot of his tie, which seemed to be suffocating him. Getting married again was the last thing he wanted, but to expand the family business, he would go all the way.

The loud knocks on the door made him frown even more. Turning around, he strode to the door and opened it.

"What is it this time, Alessandro?" His inquisitive gaze glared at his assistant.

"Mr. Harrison, your ex is back."

"How dare she?" His forehead wrinkled even more.

"The security guard told Justine to leave, but she's still standing in front of the building. I'm going to call the police."

"No!" Kevin raised his right hand, interrupting him. "I'm going to resolve this situation once and for all."

Closing his fists at his sides, Kevin left his spacious office decorated with classic furniture.

In the private elevator, he stared at the frown of the red-faced man reflected in the mirror. The veins in his forehead and neck were bulging. Mentally, he cursed the day he fell in love and did everything for the woman who betrayed him. When he stepped out into the lobby, the employees moved aside, making room for their boss to pass.

Some of the executives greeted him, but in that moment of rage, Kevin didn't want to talk to any of his company's employees; the heavy footsteps of his loafers on the vinyl floor echoed until he crossed the main entrance of the building.

Outside, Justine looked up. Her heart beat fiercely when their golden and blue eyes met. Justine gripped the strap of her purse tightly the second she faced her ex-husband's grim expression.

"What are you doing here?" He shouted the question. "I hope you came to pay me the money you owe me.

Bryan... you had Bryan shot to get revenge on me."

"Who is that?" Kevin interrupted her. "And why would I kill your new lover?"

Justine's face burned with embarrassment. Some of the passersby watched the scene curiously. Quickly, the assistant approached Kevin, who towered over the woman of average height.

"Sir, your driver is waiting for you. "you." Alessandro pointed to the Lamborghini parked on the sidewalk.

Running his hands over his face, Kevin tried to regain his composure.

"Bryan is my son, and he's dying because you sent one of your henchmen to shoot him."

"Listen carefully, because I'm only going to say this once." Kevin hissed the words through clenched teeth. "I didn't send anyone to shoot your son, and I would never be capable of such a thing." He turned on his heel, turning his back on her before shouting, "Please pay me the money you owe me."

The driver opened the back door of the luxury car for his boss. Kevin sat down in the seat, adjusting his posture on the soft upholstery.

"Wait, please!" She ran and stopped beside the car, kneeling before he closed the door. "Help my son!"

"You owe me seventy thousand euros, and you still want more money?" A spark of hatred flashed across the man's face as he glared at her. "How dare you?"

"Please donate some of your blood to my son," Justine replied, her voice trembling.

"Get out of here, you crazy woman," the assistant ordered, then touched her shoulder to push her away. "The boy isn't my boss's son."

"Wait." Kevin's hoarse voice commanded, while his blue eyes disapproved of the assistant's attitude. "Why are you asking me this?" Kevin's inquisitive gaze rested on Justine.

"I, I..." The terrible lump in her throat almost prevented her from continuing. After a short pause, Justine continued: "I don't know what to do; my son is dying." She burst into tears as she tried to explain. "He has your blood type."

Kevin's expression softened. The boy had rare blood like his.

"How can you insist on this lie? Everyone knows you had a child with your lover." Alessandro replied incredulously. "Stop bothering Mr. Harrison."

"I'm telling the truth!" She stood up from the floor and justified herself.

Passing by her ex's assistant, Justine got into the car without being invited.

"Kevin, I'll do anything... I'll even work for you for the rest of my life if you save my son's life." She made the promise as she struggled with the assistant, who pulled her out.

"Get out; you're getting the boss's car seat wet." Alessandro intervened, pulling her out of the car and leaving her in the rain.

Justine didn't know what to do anymore. Kevin could use this to get revenge. For a moment, she feared that her ex would take his anger out on his own son.

Alessandro got into the Lamborghini, closing the passenger door behind him. The driver started the car. Outside, Justine followed the car, banging on the window.

"Please help my son," Justine begged as the luxury car sped away. In tears, she watched the car drive away.

"What if the boy really is my son?" The question hammered at Kevin's subconscious.

"Mr. Harrison, this woman is trying to deceive you again," Alessandro replied as if he had heard his boss's thoughts. "Justine is a liar!"

"Shut up!" Annoyed, Kevin broke the silence.

Running his hand over his clenched jaw, he looked back the same way he had years ago, after discovering the betrayal. The memories slowly came back. He had been betrayed and robbed by the woman he loved so much. He felt nothing for his ex-wife, but he was shaken to learn that the boy was dying.