Chapter 2 Decision to meet the man from her ONS

RILEY

I wasn’t sure how I made it out of the doctor’s office and down the hall toward Domi’s room. My body seemed to move on autopilot, carrying me forward while my mind struggled to process everything I had just learned.

When I finally reached the doorway, Domi’s voice called out to me.

“Mommy!”

His familiar bright tone pulled me back to the present.

“Auntie Hannah promised she’d take me to Wonderland once I’m better!” he continued happily, practically bouncing with excitement.

“Only if it’s okay with your mommy,” Hannah added with a grin.

Domi looked at me expectantly.

“Sounds great, baby,” I murmured, offering the biggest smile I could manage.

Hannah’s brows furrowed as she studied me. She knew me too well not to notice my distress.

After a moment, she turned to Domi.

“We’ll be right back, Domi,” she said, handing him the mammoth plushie. “Why don’t you play with your friend for a bit?”

Domi took the toy back into his arms and nodded.

Before I could protest, Hannah pulled me out of the room. We stopped in the hallway, close enough to keep Domi in sight but far enough away that he couldn’t hear us.

“What happened?” she asked seriously. “What did the doctor want to talk to you about?”

A lump formed in my throat.

 I bit the inside of my cheek before finally telling her what Dr. Ward had said.

“T-they said I…” I stammered, struggling to find the right words. “If it really is leukemia… and if it’s high-risk, Domi may need a transplant. The best matches would probably be either me or… his father.”

Hannah pulled me into her arms.

“Oh, Riles…” she murmured, devastation coloring her tone. “Oh, goodness…”

I closed my eyes and leaned into the comfort of my best friend’s embrace. I did my best to blink back the tears threatening to fall.

I couldn’t cry. Not now. I didn’t want Dominic to see my red eyes and frightened expression.

 We stood there for a moment, waiting until we had both regained control. Then Hannah pulled back slightly.

“Are you going to contact that bastard?” she asked, her lips twisting into a frown.

That bastard.

Otherwise known as Domi’s father.

I glanced back at my son.

“If he’s important to Domi’s treatment… then I have to.” I said. “I’ll do anything if it means making him better.”

Hannah nodded, solemnly.

“I think I need to go see him in person,” I continued, already regretting the idea despite knowing it was probably the best option. “This isn’t something I can explain over the phone, especially since he doesn’t even know about Dominic. And… I can’t exactly call him anyway.”

Another tense nod.

“Do you know where he lives?” Hannah asked.

“There’s an address on the business card he gave me.” I hesitated. “I think I need to find him there. Sometime after the biopsy. But—”

Hannah placed a hand on my shoulder.

I looked at her.

“No. You can’t wait on this.” she said firmly with a serious frown. “Time is of the essence, Riles. Go tomorrow, after the biopsy. I can take care of Domi and stay with him.”

I tried to argue. “I can find a caregiver – ”

“No way.” She cut me off, her expression stern. “You’re not doing this alone. Let me help. Please.”

My protest died on my tongue. Her expression was too serious to argue with. Like it or not, she was right.

This couldn’t wait.

***

The next morning, Dominic was taken in for a bone marrow biopsy.

Overnight, his condition had begun to worsen. His temperature continued to fluctuate, and despite my attempts to explain what the doctors would be doing, he didn’t truly understand what was happening.

His little frame looked so frail.

As the doctors prepared him for the procedure, terror filled his blue eyes.

“Mommy?” he asked in a tiny voice. “Am I going to die?”

My heart plummeted.

“No, baby,” I reassured him, keeping my voice as steady and soothing as possible. “Everything is going to be okay. You’re going to get better, and when you do, we’ll go to Wonderland together. You, me, and Auntie Hannah. Okay?”

Domi sniffled, and I held my pinky out.

After a moment of hesitation, he hooked his tiny finger around mine.

“Okay,” he whispered.

***

I left the hospital shortly after Hannah arrived and Domi had fallen asleep.

Watching him go through the procedure had only strengthened my resolve. I would go to the ends of the earth if that was what it took to save him.

I practically ran into my apartment and began searching for the business card that I had kept tucked away for years.

I found it in the bottom drawer of my closet, buried beneath a pile of old clothes.

At one point, I had considered throwing it away. I had thought it was stupid to hold on to something so meaningless. But now, I was grateful I hadn’t.

I stared at the card. There was his name. The name I had tried and failed to forget.

Killian Bryce.

My stomach tightened as memories of him rose unbidden in my mind.

Five years ago, I had been devastated by my breakup with Gareth, my “perfect” ex-boyfriend—a married man who had lied to me from the moment we started dating.

One night, tired of being alone in my apartment, I decided to go to a pub.

That was where I’d met Killian.

Ethereally handsome, charismatic, he was alluring in every possible way. Our chemistry had been undeniable, and our conversation soon led to the most passionate night of my life.

The next morning, I woke up alone.

The only thing I found on the nightstand was a business card with his name on it  

Later, when I discovered I was pregnant, I used the number on the card to call him.

A woman answered.

I didn’t tell her what had happened between Killian and me. I was terrified that I had somehow landed myself in the exact same situation as I had with Gareth.

But the woman seemed to understand immediately.

“Oh, dear.” Her voice dripped with venom. “Do you know how many whores have called claiming they have urgent business with him?”

Her words were humiliating, but I tried to explain myself.

“Listen,” she cut me off. “I don’t care who you are – whore, slut, or whatever – and I’m not interested in what you have to say. Let me make this clear. He won’t see you, so don’t call again!”

Then she hung up.

A moment later, I discovered that my number had been blocked.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Even five years later, the humiliation still stung, but I forced it down.

Humiliation was nothing compared to my son.

No matter what it took, I would find Killian Bryce. And I would save Domi’s life.