Chapter 4

I spent the rest of the day looking into the admission requirements for other schools while figuring out how to get Luca transferred out of Hollybrook Elementary as quickly as possible.

But things took an unexpected turn sooner than I'd anticipated.

That afternoon, I was in the middle of a meeting at the office when my phone started vibrating nonstop.

It was Hollybrook Elementary School.

"Is this Luca's mother? There's been a problem with lunch at school. A lot of the children are vomiting and having diarrhea, and Luca's condition is pretty serious. You need to come right away."

I barely remembered how I'd driven to the school.

Parents crowded around the entrance, and ambulances sat outside with their lights flashing.

Luca had been moved onto a school bus to rest temporarily. His face was deathly pale, and there wasn't a trace of color in his lips.

The moment he saw me, tears welled in his eyes.

"Mama, my stomach hurts so bad…" he said, his voice barely audible. "And my whole body itches."

I lifted his shirt and saw that his chest and stomach were already covered in red hives. He hadn't just suffered from food poisoning. He was also having a severe allergic reaction.

Every hospital nearby was packed, so Alessio had to pull some strings just to find an available bed at a private hospital.

But the moment we stepped into the hallway, Mia came rushing in with Elio in her arms and shoved Luca and me aside.

"Alessio!" she cried out, her voice shrill and trembling. "Elio hit his head, and I couldn't wake him up earlier. I was so scared…"

She sounded as though the world were ending, but when I looked at the boy in her arms, his eyes were wide open, and his cheeks were rosy. There was a faint red mark on his forehead, barely noticeable.

"He's already awake," I said quietly. "Luca's having a severe allergic reaction. This bed—"

"Lilia, Elio hit his head. He could have a concussion," Alessio cut me off, his voice laced with impatience. "Luca only has an allergic reaction. It's not that serious. Don't make a scene right now. Let Elio get treated first."

"But Luca can barely stand," I cried, practically begging him. "Alessio, just look at him."

He didn't.

Instead, he waved over a nurse and had Elio placed in the only available hospital bed. Then he started making calls to neurologists and pediatric specialists, rushing around like the devoted father he wanted everyone to see.

Mia sat beside the bed, holding Elio's hand as she looked up at me.

It was only a brief glance, but I understood exactly what she was saying. She wanted me to see how Alessio would always choose them over Luca and me.

Luca leaned against me, his breathing growing more labored. Cold sweat covered his forehead.

"Mama… I can't breathe."

I felt the hives on his wrist spreading until they had merged into one angry red rash. His lips were beginning to turn blue.

I needed a doctor, but the pediatric department at this private hospital was already full.

Meanwhile, Alessio was still trying to find a specialist for Elio, making one call after another.

"Yes, a specialist in concussions. Make him come as soon as possible."

Just as I was about to beg him again, Mia began crying beside Elio's bed.

"Maybe I should take Elio to another hospital," she sobbed. "You don't have to worry about us anymore, Alessio. Lilia must be angry with me… I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

Alessio's expression darkened.

"No," he said, pulling Mia into his arms and comforting her. "I told you, Elio's the more urgent case."

I held Luca against my chest, tears finally spilling over my cheeks the moment I heard Alessio's words.

With one trembling hand, I reached for my phone while the other held Luca as tightly as I could.

I hadn't dared to dial that number in four years, but now, I did.

The phone rang for what felt like forever. After three rings, a voice finally came through.

"Hello?"

It was Papa's voice. It was low and slightly unfamiliar, yet hearing it again was enough to make my nose sting.

I opened my mouth, but my throat felt as though someone had closed a hand around it. For ten years, I had never once asked my family for anything.

"Papa," I choked out, my voice trembling so badly I could hardly get the words out. "It's me, Lilia."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"Luca's sick, and I can't find a doctor," I cried, struggling to form a sentence as I held Luca close to me. "He's barely hanging on… Please help us!"

"Which hospital are you at now?" Papa immediately asked.

I gave him the address, stumbling over the words in my panic.

"Don't hang up yet," Papa suddenly said.

I heard him giving a few short, urgent orders in the background, followed by Mama asking what happened in a panicked voice.

Hearing her voice again after ten years broke whatever composure I had left. I burst into tears.

Less than 20 minutes later, hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hospital hallway.

Papa was the first to appear, hurrying toward us. More than half of his hair had turned gray. Mama followed close behind.

The moment she saw me, she rushed over and wrapped her arms around both Luca and me, tears streaming down her face and onto my shoulder.

Papa took one look at us, his eyes reddening as well.

"Come on. I'm taking you both home."