The Heiress' Revenge-Chapter 85

A R I A N A

I stood like a statue outside the ICU It had been two days. Two long, terrible days and Asher’s condition was getting worse.

The doctors said his heart was working too hard, he was getting weaker day by day, his condition was worsening.

I hadn’t figured a way out I had called every charity, every organization I could find and the answers were all the same: waiting lists, or not enough funding.

There was no time.

Just an hour ago, a nurse had rushed out.

Asher’s heart rate had dropped dangerously low and they had to take him for an emergency procedure to stabilize him.

They told me to wait outside.

I stood there alone in the cold bright hallway as different thoughts on how to go about this ran through my head.

I didn’t want to lose Asher but right now I was on the verge of losing him, I hated that I was helpesss.

Then I heard a voice a deep, familiar voice that sent a jolt of ice through my veins.

"Ariana."

I turned slowly.

Dante stood there.

He was still in his suit, looking devilishly handsome and completely out of place in the hospital corridor.

My heart dropped to my feet.

What was he doing here? How did he find us? Did Sarah tell him after all?

My mouth opened but no sound came out. I was too shocked, too scared.

Just then the door to the ICU swung open before I could say anthing Asher’s doctor stepped out.

He looked tired and serious.

"Ms. Melendez," he said, his voice grave. "We’ve stabilized him for now but it’s temporary. We cannot wait any longer the surgery has to happen tonight If we don’t operate, I’m afraid... we could lose him. His body is giving up."

The world tilted.

Tonight.

It was happening.

My son was going to die tonight if I didn’t find the money.

The doctor’s eyes then shifted to Dante, who was standing tall and imposing next to me.

He saw a well-dressed man a man who looked like he could solve problems.

"Are you the father?" the doctor asked Dante directly.

I froze.

My breath caught in my throat unable to speak.

I couldn’t confirm it or deny it.

Before I could form a single word the doctor seeing my distress and assuming the answer turned fully to Dante.

"Sir we need to proceed immediately. We need payment for the surgery upfront It’s eighty thousand pounds we can’t schedule the operating theatre without it."

I waited for Dante to deny it I waited for him to say, "I’m not the father," and walk away but he didn’t.

He looked from the doctor’s desperate face to my terrified one his own expression was unreadable.

"Where do I pay?" Dante asked his voice calm and sure.

The doctor looked immensely relieved almost like he was the one responsible for Asher. "Right this way sir the finance office is just down the hall."

And just like that Dante turned and followed the doctor not even looking back at me.

I stood glued to the spot my legs unable to move.

I couldn’t process what had just happened, why on earth did Dante just agree to paying up Asher’s hospital bills.

He had just taken the weight of eighty thousand pounds onto his shoulders without a single question.

My thought come to a halt as i heard footsteps approach yet again.

I looked up.

Dante was standing in front of me he was back.

The transaction was complete my son’s life was purchased.

But the man who had looked calm and sure for the doctor was gone the man standing before me now was different.

His face was like a mask of stone his eyes... his eyes were a raging fire.

He had taken off his suit jacket and slung it over his shoulder, his tie was loosened, and the first few buttons of his white shirt were open.

He looked wild.

He just stood there staring down at me the silence between us was heavy and loud.

"Dante," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I... I don’t know how to thank you..."

"Get up," he orders his voice was low a quiet rumble that held more threat than a shout.

"What?"

"I said get up." He didn’t raise his voice but the command in it was absolute.

I pushed myself up on shaky legs he was so close I could smell his cologne, the same scent he’d worn all those years ago.

"Where are we going?" I asked my voice small.

He didn’t answer.

He just turned and started walking expecting me to follow and somehow I did, I followed like a lost puppy.

I followed him down the hallway away from the ICU around a corner into a more private dimly lit corridor near a fire exit.

The moment we were alone he spun around.

"You have a son." He said it not as a question, but as an accusation.

A crime I had committed.

I wrapped my arms around myself feeling small and exposed. "Yes."

"How old is he?" he demanded.

I swallowed, my throat tight. "He’s eight."

I saw him do the math.

His eyes widened for a fraction of a second before his anger came back.

He took a step closer looming over me.

"Eight?" he repeated, the word a poison on his tongue. "So when you were with me...when you told me you loved me... you were already had another man’s child?"

"No! Dante, it’s not like that—"

"Or was it right after?" he cut me off his voice rising. "Did you run from my bed right into his? Was it that easy for you Ariana? To replace me?"

"There was no other man!" I cried, tears starting to stream down my face.

The truth was right there on the tip of my tongue but the words were stuck I couldn’t say them

"Don’t lie to me!" he roared, and the sound echoed in the empty hall.

He slammed his hand against the wall next to my head, making me flinch. "I saw the birth certificate in his file when I was paying his last name is Melendez your last name. No father listed so where is he? This man who gave you a child? Did he leave you? Did he not want you? Or did you just use him to get what you wanted and then throw him away like you threw me away?"

His words were like knives, each one cutting deeper than the last.

I was sobbing now my body shaking as I tried to speak to form the words that would explain everything but all that came out were broken gasps.

"All this time," he seethed his face inches from mine.

His eyes were filled with jealousy so raw it was terrifying. "All this time I thought you just didn’t want me I thought I wasn’t enough I spent years wondering what I did wrong to deserve such betrayal from you... the whole time you were having some other man’s baby."

He laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. "I was such a fool... the biggest fool in the world."

"You have to listen to me please," I begged, reaching a hand out to him.

He slapped my hand away disgustingly "Don’t touch me! Do not touch me."

He stopped pacing and stared at me his chest heaving.

He walked right up to me, his eyes sweeping over my tear-streaked face one last time.

There was no love there.

No warmth.

Only hatred and bitter disappointment.

"We are done," he said each word a final nail in a coffin.

And with that he turned and walked away.