Chapter 3: The Last Bargain
Elena's POV
I burst through the ICU doors like a woman possessed.
Elian lay in the bed, so small he barely made a dent in the white sheets. Tubes snaked from his tiny arms, machines beeping their mechanical heartbeat beside him.
"How long does he have?" I asked Dr. Martinez, my voice cracking.
The doctor's face was grim behind his wire-rimmed glasses. "Ms. Cross, I need to be direct. If Elian doesn't get a kidney transplant in the next few days, he won't make it."
"Take mine." The words shot out before I could think. "Whatever he needs—kidney, liver, bone marrow. Take it all."
Dr. Martinez shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry, but you're not a match. The compatibility tests came back negative." He paused, choosing his words. "Maybe reach out to the child's biological father? Sometimes paternal relatives—"
"I'll find him," I whispered, staring at my baby's face. I'll crawl through broken glass if I have to.
Julian sat behind his massive desk, not even looking up when I walked in.
"Please," I started, but he cut me off with a laugh.
"Jesus, Elena. Why are you still in Gray City?"
"I need you to save Elian." My voice broke on his name. "He needs a kidney. You're his father. You could—"
"I could what?" Julian finally looked up, his eyes ice-cold. "Give that little bastard my kidney? You completely fucking insane?"
"He's your son!"
That's when I heard her. Vanessa emerged from the private bathroom off Julian's office, smoothing down her silk blouse.
"Julian, darling," she purred, her voice sweet as poisoned honey. "Let's hear what this poor woman has to say."
"Vanessa, sweetheart," I said. "How lovely to see you here. In Julian's private office. Again."
She moved to his side, her manicured hand resting on his shoulder like she owned him. "Elena, I get you're desperate. As a mom myself, I can only imagine—"
"Cut the bullshit," I snapped. "What do you want?"
She smiled, tilting her head. "Well, since you asked... I've been having kidney issues myself. Docs say I might need a transplant soon." She paused, letting it sink in. "Maybe we could help each other."
"You want my kidney," I said slowly.
"And part of your liver," she added cheerfully. "Nothing major—just enough to get me back in top shape. In return, Julian'll make sure little Elian gets the best care money can buy."
I looked between them—Julian leaning back like this was just another deal, Vanessa glowing with satisfaction.
"You sick fucks planned this, didn't you?"
Julian shrugged. "Business is business, Elena. You want to save the kid? This is the price."
I thought of Elian's pale face against those white sheets.
"I'll do it."
The surgery consent forms felt like signing my own death warrant. Dr. Martinez kept glancing at me with concern, his pen hovering over the paperwork.
"Ms. Cross, I have to warn you—donating a kidney and partial liver at once is high-risk. The mortality rate—"
"I don't give a fuck about the mortality rate," I cut him off. "Just do it."
Julian watched from the corner, arms crossed, smirking. "Don't be so dramatic, Elena. It's not like you were using those organs for anything important."
I wanted to spit in his face. Instead, I signed with shaking hands.
As the anesthesia kicked in, my last thought was of Elian's real smile—the one from before the hospital, when I'd tickle his ribs and he'd laugh like crazy.
Hold on, baby. Mommy's coming.
I woke up in a private room, my abdomen wrapped in bandages that felt like they were cutting me in half. Every breath was agony.
"Elian," I croaked to the first nurse I saw. "How's my son?"
She gave a reassuring smile. "He's doing well, Ms. Cross. Stable and improving."
Julian appeared in the doorway, his expression blank. "Yeah, the kid's hanging in there. But ICU rules—no visitors. You know how it is."
I pushed myself up, ignoring the searing pain. "Please, Julian. Just let me see him one last time. I swear, after that, I'll leave Gray City for good. You'll never hear from me again."
He chuckled coldly, shaking his head. "Not happening, Elena. Deal with it."
He turned and left, leaving me alone with my desperation. But each day, a nurse would pop in with updates that kept me going: "Elian's eating better!" "His color's improving!" "Should be discharged soon!" I clung to those words, blind to the lie, counting down until I could hold him.
On the fifth day, angry voices erupted in the hallway. Mrs. Gables' voice cut through like a whip: "Elian's being cremated tomorrow! How dare you keep Elena from saying goodbye!"
My blood froze. Cremated? That couldn't be right. The nurses said—
I rolled out of bed and hit the floor hard, crawling toward the door on hands and knees. My stitches screamed, but I kept going.
I clawed at the doorframe, dragging myself into the hallway. There he was, in his expensive coat, checking his watch like he had better places to be. I crawled to his feet, grabbing his pant leg. "The nurses said he was getting better," I whispered, my voice barely human. "They said he'd be discharged soon... How could he be dead?"
"The little shit died three days ago." Julian looked down at me like I was roadkill. "I told the staff to prioritize Vanessa's surgery. She couldn't risk complications. Your kidney's already keeping her alive."
Laughter bubbled up from my throat, sounding insane even to me. Of course. He'd tricked me into donating for his mistress—at the cost of his own son's life.
They let me hold him one last time in that cold, sterile room. Elian looked like he was sleeping, finally at peace. I pressed my lips to his forehead and whispered every "I love you" I'd never said.
Back in my room, I clutched the small wooden urn to my chest, feeling the weight of what was left of my world.
The wind whipped my hair across my tear-streaked face as I stepped onto the ledge. Far below, someone screamed: "There's someone on the roof!"
I looked down at the urn one last time. My beautiful boy. My everything.
"I'm sorry, baby. Mommy tried. I really fucking tried."
"You know what my biggest regret is, Julian?" I called to the night sky. "Ever meeting you. Goodbye, you piece of shit."
I pulled Elian's urn tight against my chest and jumped.
