340: [Bonus chapter]

[Bonus chapter]

1"I'm sorry. We did our best..."

These were also the words that broke Dominic's heart to an unimaginable degree. The doctor who relayed this news to him said more, but his voice just sounded distant. The group of doctors then ushered Dominic to a room where his wife was to give him time to bid her farewell. 

Standing by the entrance, Dominic stood frozen by the person lying on the bed. 

"Hah..." Dominic breathed out through his gaping mouth, unable to process this situation. "This... is not real."

Despite the truth right before his eyes, he denied everything. He shook his head, dragging his feet toward his wife. 

This was not his wife. 

They were probably mistaken. 

Heaven... was still fighting for her life. 

But when Dominic had gone closer to the bed and had a glimpse of her face, his wobbly knees gave way. He collapsed to his knees right beside the bed, clutching the edge of the mattress, as he was faced with the pain his heart wasn't ready.

"No..." Dominic reached out for her hand, cradling it with both his hands. "No."

He held her slightly stiff hands to his forehead, shedding tears he never thought he was capable of shedding. He kissed her hand, squeezing them to give them some warmth she needed. 

Watching the legendary Dominic fall to his knees at his wife's deathbed, the doctor couldn't help but look away. They looked at each other, signaling some of them to give the man some privacy. However, they couldn't leave Dominic unsupervised.

"Please." Just then, a quiet voice of a man caught their attention. "Give my boss some time alone with the madam. I'll stay and look after him."

The group of doctors turned their heads, only to see Dane Zhang. The latter sported a bitter smile, nodding at them reassuringly. Knowing Dane Zhang, the group of doctors looked at each other before nodding back at Dane. And with that being said, they left Dominic in his assistant's care. 

Dominic was a man standing at the peak of the highest level of success. They were sure he wouldn't appreciate it that some people witnessed how he would crumble. At least Dane Zhang was there for him. His assistant was very reliable, after all. 

When the group of doctors left, Dane's lips were drawn into a thin line. He slowly turned his head in Dominic's direction, eyes softening at his boss.

'I'm sorry, Madam,'thought Dane, thinking there were times he was judging Heaven in his mind for poisoning his boss's mind. However, seeing how Dominic was hurting, he was sorry. If only he could turn back time, he would've insisted on taking care of his boss's wife instead of warning Dominic from spoiling his wife too much.

Who would have thought?

That was the day Dane would see Dominic crumble come.

Dominic always looked untouchable and unbothered. It was as if even if the world would crumble right in front of his eyes, he would be able to resolve the end of the world. But today, Dane realized Dominic was not superhuman as he perceived his boss to be. 

Dominic truly and deeply loved his wife. And because Dominic loved his wife that no one could ever imagine, his pain was just as intense.

"Ahh..." Dominic managed to rise to his feet to look at his wife. "Please don't go. I told you before, don't leave me."

He cupped her beautiful face while tears landed on her cheek and the back of his hand. His thumb moved to her lips. She was... slightly cold. Or maybe his hands were just too warm after clutching it for hours. 

"Please..." his throat trembled in helplessness. "Wake up. Come back to me, my love. I will not make it if you don't."

"I'm telling you... open your eyes," he continued, almost begging her. "I know you are there. You are still there, right? Please... just this once."

Dominic choked on his own breath, resting his forehead against hers. His hand was still cupping her cheek, begging her to wake up and stay with him forever. 

Forever.

When was it when he mentioned the love that might last for a lifetime?

If God was listening, he begged them to hear his prayers right at this moment. Just this one. Give him a miracle.

*

*

*

Heaven and Hera watched Dominic weep for her, begging the deities to bring his wife back. Hera was biting her lips as hard as she could but was unable to feel anything. If she wasn't a soul, she would've already bitten her lips off. 

"I hate you," Hera whispered, eyes on Dominic, but her words were meant for the woman standing beside her. "I'm going to kill you, you better run now."

Heaven slowly peeled her eyes from Dominic, setting them on the woman beside her. Hera was already fading and she looked more opaque than she was minutes ago. She was barely there, unlike Heaven. Still, even though it seemed that Hera was about to leave this world, her words still brought this sense of dread down Heaven's spine. 

It was just that Heaven was more overwhelmed by the reaction she was seeing from the people she believed hated her. 

"Hera," Heaven called softly, but Hera kept her gaze on her husband. "They're grieving."

Silence was the response she got from Hera, enough to make one wonder what was in her mind right now. 

Heaven didn't mind, though. 

"You won the bet." A bitter smile turned up on Heaven's face, setting her attention back to Dominic. "Never in my wildest imagination had I thought that I will see him in this state."

"Run," whispered Hera, balling her hands into a tight fist, eyes still on her grieving husband. She dragged her feet near the bed, standing near Dominic as she patted his back. "You're the reason they were crying like this, Heaven. And for that, I will never forgive you even if go down to the pits of hell."

Hera embraced Dominic from behind while the latter was embracing Heaven's body. "I'm sorry, my love."

If only Hera knew her time in this body was so short, she would've just divorced him. If only she did, then Dominic wouldn't hurt this much. He wasn't supposed to love her, but she insisted on taking this shortcut, not considering shortcuts also meant shorter roads.

"I'm sorry, darling," she whispered, head resting on his broad back. "Please don't cry anymore. I'm not worth it. I was bad, you know? If you know how bad I used to be, you will think this end is fitting. I'm not worth the tears, Dom. So, don't cry baby."

Hera slowly closed her eyes, unaware of the tears that pooled underneath her eyelids. 

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