You Abandoned Me, Now Suffer in Regret

“You’re going to die,” Dr. Bernard said, his voice calm, yet his words shattered every defense Eleanor had built around herself. “If you don’t find an organ donor soon and your liver fails completely, there will be very little more we can do.”

Eleanor froze in the examination chair, her gaze fixed on the laboratory results spread across the desk. The alarming figures indicated that her liver damage had reached a critical stage. She clasped her fingers tightly in her lap, trying to suppress the trembling in her body.

“This is why I asked you to have your legal guardian or a family representative here, Mrs. Tores,” Dr. Bernard continued, straightening the medical files in front of him. “Your condition requires prompt medical intervention and a decision from your family.”

Eleanor lowered her head. An unbearable bitterness rose in her throat. It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried. Before entering the consultation room, she had already called Sebastian. But her husband had refused to listen and instead accused her of pretending to be sick just to ruin his trip to Italy with Claudia.

“How much time do I have, Doctor?” Eleanor asked. Her voice was hoarse, almost drowned out by the hum of the air conditioner.

Dr. Bernard sighed softly. “I can’t give you a definite answer. Every patient’s physical condition is different. However, without proper treatment and a potential donor ready, we’re racing against time.”

Eleanor nodded slowly. She rose from her chair and left the consultation room, pushing her IV stand with her left hand. Every step felt heavy, as though all the strength had suddenly drained from her legs.

She sank onto one of the benches in the deserted hospital corridor. Eleanor leaned her head against the cold wall and covered her face with both hands. The sobs she had been holding back finally broke free.

Amid her fear of death, the image of her little daughter suddenly flashed through her mind.

What will happen to Valentina if I’m gone? Who will take care of her? Eleanor wondered, her heart aching.

A few patients and nurses passing by glanced at her with pity. But Eleanor was too exhausted to care or even try to hide her distress. Gathering what little strength she had left, she staggered toward her hospital room and lay down on the unfamiliar bed.

In the quiet darkness of the room, Eleanor reached for her phone again. Anxiety drove her to try calling Sebastian one more time. She hoped her husband would set aside his arrogance long enough to listen to her explanation.

However, before her fingers could touch the call button, a social media notification appeared on the screen.

Claudia had just uploaded a new photo.

Eleanor tapped on it. In the picture, Sebastian was gazing at Claudia from the side, warmth shining in his eyes—a look Eleanor hadn’t received from him in years. Claudia had her arm wrapped around Sebastian’s as she rested her head against his shoulder.

The caption was brief:

“Thank you for always being there for me and spoiling me.”

Eleanor squeezed her eyes shut. A deep ache spread through her chest, a suffocating pain that had nothing to do with the physical illness ravaging her body.

With trembling fingers, Eleanor pressed the call button beside her husband’s number.

The call connected on the third ring.

“Hello?” Claudia answered from the other end, her tone casual.

“Where’s Sebastian?” Eleanor asked flatly, trying to keep her voice steady.

“He’s in the restroom. What is it?”

“I need to talk to him,” Eleanor replied. “Please give him the phone.”

“Can you stop bothering him?” Claudia’s voice turned mocking. “We just got here, and we’re exhausted. He’ll come back to you once he’s finished with his business here.”

“Claudia, I’m not joking. Please give him the phone,” Eleanor insisted, gripping the hospital blanket tightly.

“What is it, Clau?” Sebastian’s voice called from somewhere in the background.

“Here, Eleanor’s calling again. I already told her you were in the restroom, but she keeps pushing and making all sorts of accusations against me,” Claudia complained, deliberately making herself sound like the victim.

“What is it this time, Eleanor?” Sebastian’s voice took over the call, filled with irritation and exhaustion. “Haven’t I already told you I have important things to take care of here? Can’t you stop making a scene and pretending to be sick just to get my attention?”

“Sebastian, please listen to me first... The doctor said my condition—”

“I’ll be back in five days! Stop acting like a child and bothering Claudia!” Sebastian cut in coldly.

Beep.

He ended the call without giving Eleanor even a moment to explain what was really happening.

At a luxurious restaurant in Milan, Claudia watched as Sebastian slammed his phone onto the table.

“You hung up on her?” Claudia asked, feigning concern.

“Just leave her alone,” Sebastian replied curtly, picking up his knife and fork to cut into the food on his plate. “She’s just jealous and wants to ruin our trip.”

Claudia lowered her head, concealing the satisfied smile tugging at the corners of her lips. When Sebastian stood up to pay the bill, she took out her own phone and sent Eleanor a brief message, attaching a photo of the lavish meal on their table.

“Sebastian took me out to dinner here. Don’t ruin his mood again, Eleanor.”

Eleanor stared at the photo in the silence of her hospital room. Her tears had dried, leaving behind an immense emptiness deep within her chest.