Marriage and Farewell

The nurses at the city's most prestigious private hospital whispered amongst themselves as they watched the beautiful woman weep inconsolably before them.

Laura remained with a vacant stare, fixed on some distant point, her face stained with makeup, and her long dress dyed in red, giving her the sorrowful appearance of a broken doll.

An elderly woman approached to offer her tea. With trembling hands, she tried to get Laura to drink a bit, but Laura didn't budge, seemingly unaware of what was happening around her.

The pain that invaded her chest was so immense that she felt it could burst at any moment.

Laura's sister, Sarah, observed her with disdain as she stood to the side of the hallway, arms crossed over her chest, making a considerable effort not to laugh.

That image seemed pathetic to her; Laura only had what she deserved. Luke was meant for her; he was attractive and the most powerful CEO known.

She wanted to scream in Laura's face everything she felt. Laura's suffering brought her total joy; she was genuinely enjoying watching that simpleton's life fall apart.

Inside the operating room, Luke Lombardo fought for his life. The voices around him resonated in his head like strange echoes that he couldn't comprehend.

He didn't want to die; he wanted to be happy with Laura and their unborn child. Fate couldn't be so cruel; it couldn't end his life at that moment.

His eyelids felt heavy, a strange drowsiness overcame him. One of the doctors approached, and Luke managed to open his eyes for a moment. The man beside him took a syringe, injecting its contents into his arm.

A burning sensation invaded his entire body. He tried to breathe, but the overwhelming feeling in his chest seemed to prevent it.

Soon, his lungs were devoid of oxygen. The doctor leaned in to speak discreetly into his ear as Luke's body convulsed.

"I told you so. Don't say I didn't take the time to warn you. Now everything you have will be mine, including your beautiful wife. I can't wait to make her mine."

Luke tried to raise his hand to grab him by the neck, but it was futile. After an agonizing scream, his life slipped away.

Minutes later, Laura screamed inconsolably. The doctor in front of her lowered his gaze, accustomed to delivering such news, but this beautiful girl moved him.

While Laura's grandparents tried to comfort her, the doctor who had administered the lethal injection to Luke walked past them unnoticed. He headed towards the exit, and before stepping into the elevator, he paused. His gaze fixed on the scene unfolding in the hallway.

His face was still covered by the medical mask, concealing his true identity. He grinned sadistically.

"Soon, very soon, you will be mine, and with you, the entire Lombardo empire," he whispered before disappearing into the elevator.

Laura insisted on saying her final goodbye to her beloved Luke. Her family was the second most powerful in the city, so the doctor couldn't deny her request.

"It's my right. I'm his wife; you can't stop me," were the words she shouted at the doctor's face moments before.

Her grandparents and Luke's parents watched as the girl, after seeming to have lost her sanity, made a great effort to bid farewell to the love of her life.

Laura felt a chill run down her spine as she entered the operating room. The nurses still present quickly exited.

With trembling but determined hands, Laura lowered the white sheet that prevented her from seeing Luke's face. She stifled a scream upon realizing that her beloved and passionate husband was now just a pale and lifeless body.

She felt like she might faint, but summoning strength, she managed to stay on her feet. Clinging to Luke's body, as she embraced him, she sensed he was already stiff. She placed her head on his chest, crying inconsolably.

"My love, wake up, please. I need you. I won't be able to raise our little son alone. Why do you dare to leave me like this? You can't do this, Luke Lombardo. I won't allow it. Ahhh, if you die, I want to go with you."

A couple of nurses entered a little later. Laura gently caressed Luke's face as she spoke to him about their plans. Her pain was transforming into madness.

"Mrs. Lombardo, you have to leave now. They will transfer your husband's body to the morgue," one of the nurses dared to say. Laura looked up, her eyes reddened from crying, revealing her fury.

"How dare you interrupt us? Don't you see we're discussing important matters about our future?" Laura had always been a sweet, calm girl, but at that moment, she was beside herself.

Fearful of the response they received, the nurses exited to speak with her family. Laura's grandmother and grandfather approached them as soon as they saw them coming out.

"Mrs. Lombardo refuses to leave. I think we may have to administer a tranquilizer. They need to take the body," the nurse had to choose her words carefully not to offend the family.

"My granddaughter can only receive medication that won't harm her child. She's only a few months pregnant, and as you know, any strong medication would put the baby at risk."

Sarah felt furious hearing that. Pregnant with Luke? How dare she? She turned her face so her grandparents wouldn't notice her displeasure.

"Grandparents, I'll go talk to my sister. Maybe I can get her to react. I'll be back," Sarah headed into the operating room, closing the door behind her to avoid interruptions.

The grandparents watched her disappear behind the door, commenting on how sweet Sarah was, a good girl who would undoubtedly manage to reason with Laura with love and affection.

Meanwhile, Laura continued to speak to her husband's lifeless body, and Sarah started to laugh amusedly.

"Look at yourself, you're nothing more than a pathetic piece of garbage. You've always taken away everything I wanted, from the love of our parents and grandparents. You've always been perfect in everyone's eyes, while I've had to settle for crumbs."

Laura seemed not to hear her. Sarah approached her threateningly; her sister's mind was lost. It was the perfect moment to tell her everything she felt.

"Luke should have been mine. However, like everything good, you took him for yourself. You know, I have to confess that I've hated you all my life. I was overjoyed when our parents died. Even though I was just a child, I could tell they preferred you."

"Luke, my love, come on, wake up. Don't be lazy. We still have to take some things to our house. I can't do it alone; I need you." In her unconsciousness, Laura smiled at her husband, further enraging Sarah.

"You damn lunatic, stay away from him. You don't even want to let him go when he's dead." Sarah delivered two strong slaps to her sister's face. Contrary to what she expected, Laura didn't even flinch.

"Ugh, you're nothing but trash." Sarah spat on her sister, then left in a hurry. Laura was a lost cause; there was no point in continuing to insult her. If it didn't make her suffer, it wasn't worth it.

The doctor and the two nurses entered shortly after, administering a tranquilizer to Laura. It was a mild medication that wouldn't affect her small child but would make her sleep for a while to keep her calm.

Meanwhile, in another place, in a cold room, a man lay on a bed, cables connected to his body linking him to massive machines that kept him alive.

Dimitri Petrov remained pale and motionless, having been in a coma for four years. The doctors had given only two options to his father: disconnect him and allow him to rest in peace or keep him hooked up to a ventilator.

Three years had passed since the doctor informed his father that there was nothing to be done for his son; he was in a vegetative state.

A beautiful girl wept inconsolably, standing next to the bed.

"They can't do this. Dimitri is their son. I know he will wake up; I feel it in my chest." Yulia embraced Dimitri's lifeless body.

"Do you think it's easy for me to disconnect my son? It's selfish of us to cling to keeping him alive. That damn machine he's hooked up to is the only reason he's still alive."

A doctor and a nurse entered the room shortly after.

"Are you ready, sir? You know that once we remove the artificial respirator, there's no turning back. Your son will die instantly."

Boris Petrov, with all the pain in his heart, nodded. It was time to let go of his son. He ordered two bodyguards to escort the girl out. She resisted; she couldn't let Dimitri leave this world without marrying him and securing their future.

"You're a terrible father, Boris Petrov. Your son will never forgive you for what you've decided," she screamed in desperation as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Boris lowered his gaze. He believed that this girl loved his son deeply. She had moved into the mansion to take care of him since the accident. It was impossible for the man to know her true motives.

The doctor performed the necessary procedures to disconnect Dimitri. The beeping of some machines ceased. A heavy silence suddenly invaded the room. Minutes later, the only machine he was still connected to announced his departure.

A straight line on the screen was the clear signal that he was gone. Boris lowered his face; tears were held back. A retired general like him couldn't afford to show weakness to others, even if it meant the death of his only son.

The doctor was about to remove the electrodes connecting Dimitri's body to the machine when suddenly, the lines on the screen started to move. The rhythmic beating of a heart could be heard.

Boris placed his hands over his chest; he couldn't believe it. He immediately approached his son. Dimitri opened his eyes, feeling confused.