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Chapter 8

Author: Gemma
Three years passed. My work at the closed medical research program in Zurich had finally ended.

No contact with the outside world was allowed during the project. That was Professor Luciano's rule, but it was also my choice. I needed a place to hide, to shut out everything connected to the Vitale family.

The day the project ended, I received the first letter from outside in three years. It was from Professor Luciano. He wrote that his health was failing and he might not make it through the winter
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  • Ninety-Nine Calls to Goodbye   Chapter 9

    Perhaps afraid I would refuse, he added quickly, "Think of it as a final goodbye. Tomorrow you will leave, and you may never come back."I was silent for a long time. Then I nodded.The estate doors opened to reveal everything exactly as I had left it. Lights glowed in the living room. The air smelled faintly of wood. Nothing had moved.Rosalina stood at the bottom of the stairs. Her eyes reddened the moment she saw me. Alberto came out from the study and stood behind her. His hair had turned almost white. He had lost weight, and deep lines marked his face. He looked at me and opened his mouth, but no words came out."I am back," I said.Rosalina walked toward me and raised a hand. She stopped it in midair and did not touch me. "You have lost weight," she said. Her voice was rough."I am fine." She nodded and lowered her hand.Enzo stayed by the door. I walked into the living room and sat down. A servant brought coffee. Everything looked the same as three years ago. But nothing felt th

  • Ninety-Nine Calls to Goodbye   Chapter 8

    Three years passed. My work at the closed medical research program in Zurich had finally ended.No contact with the outside world was allowed during the project. That was Professor Luciano's rule, but it was also my choice. I needed a place to hide, to shut out everything connected to the Vitale family.The day the project ended, I received the first letter from outside in three years. It was from Professor Luciano. He wrote that his health was failing and he might not make it through the winter. He wanted to see me one last time.I was on a plane the next day.I was calmer now than when I had left. When the plane landed, the skyline of the family's city appeared outside the window. The same buildings. The same streets. Everything looked the same as three years ago. But I was no longer the same person.I told no one I was coming. I went straight to the hospital where Professor Luciano was staying. His room was on the top floor. When I walked in, he was propped up in bed with an old new

  • Ninety-Nine Calls to Goodbye   Chapter 7

    Enzo picked up a pen to write to Alessia. He held it for a long time without putting down a single word. He wanted to explain that he had not ignored her calls on purpose. Chiara had said her heart was bothering her, so he could not leave. He wanted to tell her that he thought she was just upset. He wanted to tell her that he did not know she was pregnant. There was so much he wanted to say. But every explanation felt empty now.In the end, he wrote only one sentence. "Alessia, I will wait for you to come back. Always."He put copies of the miscarriage report and the divorce papers in an envelope with the letter and sealed it. He did not know where to send it. He left it on her dresser, hoping that one day she would come back for it.After that, he fell onto the bed and drifted into sleep without realizing it.When he opened his eyes again, it was late. He lay there staring at the ceiling. Alessia's words kept running through his head. "She is not dying. She has been lying to all of yo

  • Ninety-Nine Calls to Goodbye   Chapter 6

    Enzo sat in Alessia’s room the whole night. At dawn, he mobilized every contact the family had. He called their people in every city. He pulled every resource he could reach. Then he picked up the phone and called Alessia’s parents.“Alessia is gone,” he said. “She signed the divorce papers. She is not coming back.”“What did you say?” Alberto’s voice changed. “What do you mean she is gone?”Enzo closed his eyes. “She left a divorce agreement and a medical report confirming a miscarriage. The date was the day of the crash. She was pregnant. She never told anyone. She called all of us while she was bleeding in that car. No one answered.”In the background, Rosalina’s voice cut through, sharp and distant. “What are you talking about? What child?”“Alessia lost the baby in the crash,” Enzo said. “None of us knew. None of us picked up her calls. We were all with Chiara.”A long silence followed.Alberto’s voice came back, low and hollow. “Where is she now?”“I do not know. I have used ever

  • Ninety-Nine Calls to Goodbye   Chapter 5

    Enzo had been distracted all day.Chiara wanted to go out. Her heart condition meant she could not stay in her hospital room all the time, so he agreed without thinking.Halfway there, a strange heaviness settled in his chest. He did not know why."Enzo," Chiara said, leaning back in her seat. Her voice was soft. "Look, a new jewelry store. Let's go in."He meant to say no, but she was already pulling on his arm: “Just for a little while. You are not in a hurry to get back, are you?"He did not answer. Chiara took his silence as agreement. She looped her arm through his and walked him inside.She leaned over the display case, her eyes fixed on the diamonds. "Enzo, look at this one. It is beautiful."Enzo stood there, and something about the scene felt familiar. He thought of Alessia. She never asked him for anything like this. He used to think she was just being sensible. Now he wondered if she had only been trying not to owe him anything."Enzo, I want this watch." Chiara's voice pull

  • Ninety-Nine Calls to Goodbye   Chapter 4

    Just like that, years of marriage turned into a signature he could not even be bothered to read.I put the document away. There would be no future for us.His phone rang, and he glanced at the screen. “Chiara? What happened? I am on my way.”He turned and left, and the door closed behind him.I stood there with the signed document in my hand and the suitcase half packed. I thought about the baby. About the ultrasound in the box. About the fact that no one would ever know.Then the door opened again. My mother stood there. “Why are you still here? Chiara needs you. Her condition is getting worse. Are you going to sit with her or not?”I looked at her quietly. “Is her private care not enough?” I asked.My mother stared at me. For a moment, something soft passed over her face." I know this has been hard for you, " she said. " But Chiara won't be here much longer. After she's gone, things will go back to normal. You are still our only daughter. Just be patient. Don't fight with her. Let h

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