Chapter 102: Straight to the Heart
Frederick, unable to respond immediately, swallowed hard and took a step back, looking for something, any excuse, any justification. His breathing grew heavier, as if the pressure of the situation were crushing his chest. The silence became unbearable, and when he tried to speak, the words got caught in his throat.
— I... — he murmured, but couldn’t continue, his voice breaking under the weight of the moment.
Alexia looked at him intently, her heart pounding, but not with emotion, rather with contained rage. She wanted to see her father crumble, she wanted to understand why, after everything he had done, he still had the audacity to look her in the eye and say it was all in the name of "love."
In that moment, the man felt his body begin to tremble, his vision blurred, and desperation enveloped him. He couldn’t take it anymore. A cold sweat covered his forehead, and his legs, weakened by the weight of the unspoken revelations, gave out beneath him. His breathing grew more erratic, and before he could react, his body collapsed to the ground.
— Daddy! — Alexia screamed, desperate, as she watched her father fall in front of her, unable to do anything to stop it. Her mind went blank for a moment, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Mateo, sensing the tension in the air, approached and took Alexia by the arm, holding her lightly to calm her. Analú, on the other hand, didn’t understand Alexia’s animosity toward her father. Over the last few days, she had noticed her friend was more distant and upset, but she didn’t know why. Frederick, realizing that his daughter already knew his secret, felt as though his world were collapsing. A cold sweat covered his hands, and his legs began to tremble. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, and suddenly, his vision went dark. His body couldn’t take it, and slowly, he fell to the ground, unconscious.
— Daddy, Daddy, what happened to you?!... Mateo, help him, please! — Alexia cried out, frantic.
— Calm down, I’m calling an ambulance right now — Mateo replied, moving quickly.
— Sir, please, come back! — Analú exclaimed, distressed.
The ambulance arrived with a speed that seemed to do little to ease the growing tension in the air. The sound of the sirens echoed through the hospital walls, as if every second were stretching endlessly. The medical team acted immediately, without hesitation. The paramedics, moving with the agility of a well-oiled machine, transferred Mr. Michelini from the ambulance to the emergency room with mechanical precision.
— Quick, get an RCP cart! — shouted one of the paramedics, running down the hall, his voice thick with urgency. Each word rang with a gravity that froze the blood.
Inside the emergency room, the lights shone brightly, but it was not enough to illuminate the horror unfolding there. The medical team fought with each heartbeat, with every breath that Mr. Michelini seemed unwilling to give. The doctors' hands moved quickly and skillfully, but each of their faces reflected a tension so palpable that it was impossible not to notice.
The door to the emergency room was closed, but the sense of helplessness extended to the other side. Alexia, standing in the waiting room, felt her body shake, as though every nerve was about to explode. Her mind spun endlessly, trapped in a spiral of guilt. Should she have said something different? Could she have avoided this?
Her heart pounded in her chest, almost as if it were going to burst. She closed her eyes, but the image of her father falling to the ground remained etched in her mind, like a shadow that would not leave her. Rage and despair intertwined within her, like a whirlwind she couldn’t control.
— It’s not your fault, Alexia — Mateo said softly, but the truth in his words didn’t reach her. He put his arm around her shoulders, trying to offer comfort, but she couldn’t stop crying. The tears fell in silent torrents, soaking her cheeks and the hem of her dress.
Alexia, however, couldn’t find any solace. She couldn’t stop thinking about the words she had spoken, how the truth had escaped her mouth like poison, and now her father was there, fighting for his life. Despite Mateo’s embrace, she couldn’t calm down; her whole body trembled as if the internal fury she felt was consuming her.
One minute passed, then another. Each second seemed to multiply, becoming an eternity that was beyond her control. The waiting room, once warm and peaceful, now felt like a dark tunnel, a place where Alexia’s anguish filled every corner.
Meanwhile, Nicolás found out about the situation and rushed to the hospital with his girlfriend, Britney. Even though he didn’t want to bring her, Mr. Jackson insisted she come for information about his friend’s condition. Analú, feeling uncomfortable, decided not to pay attention to Britney. She was focused on Frederick’s situation.
Mr. Thompson, worried about his boss, also contacted his daughter to get more details.
— Hello, honey! How is everything with Mr. Michelini?
— Hi, dad. We still don’t know anything; he’s in the intensive care unit. We’re waiting for the doctor to give us an update.
— Alright, my princess. Let me know anything. We’re waiting. Love you.
Finally, the door to the emergency room opened abruptly. The doctors came out, sweaty and with a grave expression on their faces. One of them quickly approached, avoiding eye contact with anyone, which only heightened the tension in the air.
— We’ve stabilized him — the doctor said, but his tone was hollow, without the relief one might expect from good news.
— He’s in intensive care. Mr. Michelini had a heart attack. He’s young, but his health is being affected by stress. We have him on an oxygen machine, and we hope he’ll be able to breathe on his own soon. We recommend you not tell him any bad news or anything that could cause him more distress.
The man didn’t say anything else, but the words hung in the air, heavy, as if everyone was waiting for something more, something that could bring hope back. But nothing happened. The silence in the waiting room became unbearable, a dense stillness that suffocated any hope.