CHAPTER FIVE: THE WEIGHT OF HOPE

“I’ll drop you off.”

Damian stood behind me, carefully pulling up the zip of my dress.

“Okay. Thank you.”

I picked up the bag of money, and we walked towards his car.

Just before getting in, I felt something strange. It was as though someone was watching me.

I turned around, scanning the surroundings, but there was nobody suspicious in sight.

“Is something wrong?” Damian asked.

“No. Nothing.”

I got into the car.

Throughout the drive, Damian remained unusually quiet. In his mind, he had finally settled the matter. Whatever scheme Evelyn had been involved in, the money should put an end to it. He expected the press stories and the orphanage opposite his office to disappear.

I, on the other hand, could hardly contain my excitement.

Sab would finally get help. I only needed to find the right researchers, fund the necessary studies, and get my son to one of the best hospitals.

“In no time, he’ll be back on his feet,” I whispered.

Damian glanced at me but said nothing.

When we arrived, he helped me out of the car and gave me a gentle peck on the forehead.

“Thank you for today,” he said.

I smiled. “Thank you for the money.”

He returned to his car and drove away.

From the window, I could see Sab and Andrain watching me approach the house.

“Mommy!” Sab shouted as I entered.

He ran into my arms.

“Mr. Damian looks like a very rich man, Mom.”

Andrain laughed. “We’re talking billions, little man.”

I smiled, unable to find the right words.

“How are you, darling?”

“I’m fine, Mommy.”

I kissed his forehead.

“Andrain, in no time, Sab will become a conqueror. I’m sure of it.”

Andrain glanced at the bag in my hand. He understood what it meant.

He had never been prouder of me. Even in my weakest moments, I refused to stop fighting for my son.

The following morning, I battled with two conflicting thoughts.

One part of me wanted to take the money straight to Antonio. He was the mastermind behind the entire arrangement, and I believed he knew the right people to contact.

The other part of me wanted to act immediately. Every hour mattered. Sab couldn’t afford another delay.

After much deliberation, I decided to visit Mr. Russell’s research laboratory.

I arrived to find Mr. Russell shouting at his secretary.

“Get them all out! I want everyone out of this building!”

His secretary stood in front of him, refusing to move.

“Sir, you cannot just abandon everything.”

“The laboratory is closing in a week. I cannot afford to disappoint these people again. I’m not anybody’s last hope. God is!”

“They cannot leave,” I interrupted.

Both of them turned towards me.

I walked into the office.

“This is a second chance, Mr. Russell. Not just for the patients, but for you and this laboratory.”

“I don’t want a second chance. I want to be left alone.”

“More people are falling sick every day. People are dying while we stand here arguing about whether you want to continue.”

He sank into his chair.

“I can’t do this again, Ms. Evelyn.”

“Why?”

“Because I lost my entire family to this disease!”

His voice shook.

“I couldn’t save my wife. I couldn’t save my children. And now you expect me to save the world?”

I moved closer.

“Here is $250 million. Find a way to use it to advance the research. Find a cure!”

“At what price?” he asked bitterly. “I couldn’t save the people I loved. What makes you think I can save anybody else?”

“Your family didn’t die because you didn’t care. You tried to save them. Nobody can blame you for what happened.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then help me understand! But don’t sit here and allow more people to die when you have the knowledge and resources to do something.”

He turned to his secretary.

“Send everyone away.”

His secretary looked at him in disbelief.

“Really, sir?”

“I’m not repeating myself.”

She stepped forward, anger written all over her face.

“You go out there and tell them yourself, you selfish man!”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You’re brilliant, Mr. Russell, and that brilliant mind comes with a responsibility to humanity. Have you forgotten your own words?”

He stared at her.

“Service to humanity is one of the greatest assets of life. Isn’t that what you’ve always preached?”

He lowered his head.

“I have served you for twenty-three years because I believe in your greatness. But today, I’m ashamed of you.”

“That’s enough,” he muttered.

“No, it’s not. You’re afraid of failure, so you’ve decided to abandon everyone who still believes in you. I expected better.”

She removed her identification card and placed it on his desk.

“I’m done.”

Then she walked out.

I followed her.

Behind us, Mr. Russell remained seated, staring at the card.

For the first time in years, his office felt unbearably empty.

At exactly 11:30 a.m., journalist Angelo arrived at Damian’s office.

“I visited the orphanage yesterday,” he began, bringing out his notebook. “I need to know who this woman is and why you’re involved with her.”

He placed a photograph of Damian and me together on the desk.

Damian’s expression hardened.

“Evelyn and I are friends.”

Angelo laughed.

“Friends? What does a billionaire have in common with a nail technician?”

“I’m a businessman, Angelo. Nothing more.”

“Then why are you giving her $250 million?”

Damian’s jaw tightened.

“I don’t remember inviting you here to interrogate me.”

“You can avoid my questions, but you can’t stop me from investigating. Something doesn’t add up.”

Damian leaned forward.

“Your problem, Angelo, is that you always approach a story aggressively before understanding what you’re investigating.”

“Perhaps because people like you enjoy hiding the truth.”

“Be careful. Your reputation as a journalist isn’t exactly built on successful investigations.”

Angelo stood, smiling unpleasantly.

“Keep laughing, Damian. I’ll find out what’s happening. And when I return, you won’t find it funny.”

He walked out.

Damian stared at the photograph.

Something about the entire situation was becoming more complicated than he had anticipated.

At 2:00 p.m., I arrived at the orphanage carrying the bag of money.

“Where is Antonio?” I asked one of the workers.

“He’s in his office.”

I walked straight in.

“Good afternoon, Antonio.”

He looked up and smiled.

“Evelyn! My Superwoman. So you finally remembered that you have an orphanage to manage?”

I ignored his sarcasm.

“I brought the money. The $250 million. Please, can we start making arrangements immediately? Do you know any good research laboratories, here or abroad? We need to find a way to save my son.”

Antonio opened the bag.

His eyes briefly lit up at the sight of the money, but he quickly composed himself.

“Damian gave you this?”

“Yes. Now, please, let’s get to work.”

“Calm down, my beautiful Evelyn.”

He approached me and tried to touch my waist.

I stepped away.

“Antonio, please. My son.”

He smiled.

“One last time, darling. Just one more time.”

“Stop it. I don’t want this.”

He ignored my protest and grabbed me.

I struggled, but he refused to listen. My eyes landed on a glass flower decoration on his desk. For a moment, I considered grabbing it and striking him.

But I stopped.

If I attacked him, what would happen to the money? Who would help me find treatment for Sab?

That hesitation gave him the opportunity to hurt me again.

When he was finally done, I sat silently, struggling to hold myself together.

I dressed without looking at him.

“When are you going to find a researcher?” I asked.

Antonio checked the money again.

“When the money is complete.”

I turned sharply.

“What do you mean?”

“We need another $500 million.”

“Another what?”

“Five hundred million dollars. There’s a brilliant scientist in Oman. His services won’t come cheap, and we need enough money to secure his involvement.”

I stared at him.

“Antonio, I can’t do this anymore.”

He said nothing.

“I don’t have another $500 million! Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?”

I began trembling.

“I’m tired. I would rather die than watch my son die in my arms. What’s the point of living if I can’t save the only person I have?”

Antonio remained unmoved.

I looked at the bag of money.

For the first time, the $250 million felt completely worthless.

I picked up my handbag and walked out, leaving the money behind.

“Who’s there?” Andrain called as someone knocked.

He opened the door and froze.

The woman standing before him looked nothing like the Evelyn who had left earlier that day.

Her clothes were dishevelled, her eyes swollen, and her face was covered in tears.

“Evelyn, what’s wrong?”

He pulled me inside.

“Don’t pretend you’re okay. Talk to me.”

I collapsed onto the couch.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“What’s happened?”

I struggled to speak.

“Mr. Russell refused the money. He says he can’t continue researching the disease because he believes he’s responsible for his family’s death.”

Andrain sat beside me.

“I tried to convince him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

I wiped my face.

“And Antonio says the money isn’t enough. He wants another $500 million. He mentioned a scientist in Oman. Where am I supposed to find that kind of money, Andrain?”

My voice broke.

“Where?”

He held my hands.

“Evelyn…”

“I’m tired. I don’t know what else to do.”

Andrain looked towards Sab’s bedroom.

“I’ll speak to Mr. Russell. I’ll find a way to convince him to reopen the laboratory.”

I shook my head.

“You don’t understand how stubborn he is.”

“Then I’ll find another way.”

He looked at me with determination.

“I won’t sit here and watch you lose your son.”

Mr. Russell walked through his laboratory, but nothing felt familiar anymore.

His secretary’s resignation letter remained on his desk.

Twenty-three years.

She had stood beside him through everything, especially the darkest period of his life.

He remembered how she had become his cook, his personal assistant, his companion, and sometimes the only person who could persuade him to leave his office.

After losing his family, she had practically kept him alive.

But now she was gone.

He sat down and closed his eyes.

The memories returned.

Two years earlier, his children had fallen ill with Bubonic disease. He had spent countless hours in his laboratory trying to find a treatment while his wife struggled to cope with their suffering.

He had flown his wife abroad for treatment, hoping to save her.

But she died before they could reach the hospital.

That same night, his son died.

His daughter survived for another two weeks before the disease claimed her too.

He had lost his entire family while desperately trying to discover a cure.

And he had never forgiven himself.

His phone vibrated.

He answered without checking the caller.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mr. Russell.”

It was a child’s voice.

“Who is this?”

“My name is Sab. My mommy says you can save me.”

Mr. Russell went still.

“Son, it’s not that simple…”

“She says you have the power to help me. She says you know how to make people better.”

The little boy paused, then continued.

“Please, sir. I want to grow old. I want to take care of my mommy. I want to get married and live in a big house. I want to drive nice cars too.”

Mr. Russell stared at his trembling hands.

He could hear the hope in the child’s voice.

“I’m sorry, son,” he whispered.

He wanted to explain that he couldn’t promise anything. That he had already failed the people he loved.

But the words wouldn’t come.

“Hello, sir?”

Mr. Russell remained silent.

“Are you there?”

The little boy called out again.

“Mommy! I think Mr. Russell can’t hear me!”

Mr. Russell slowly lowered the phone.

For the first time in two years, he wondered whether walking away from the laboratory had been another way of giving up.

And somewhere, a little boy was waiting for him to answer.

Could he find the courage to try again before another child lost his life?