The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 295

Trenton rushed over, holding out a phone. “Miss, your phone.”

Lucie’s hands shook as she took it, her mind spinning. She dialed Elio’s number, barely able to steady her fingers.

The call rang and rang, then cut to an automated message. “The number you have dialed is powered off. Please try again later…”

“No one’s picking up.” Lucie felt her heart plummet, panic squeezing tighter than the ache in her throat. Four days had passed since she’d gone missing. There was no way Elio, with his stubborn streak, would just sit around and do nothing.

Something must have happened to him. She just knew it.

Without wasting another second, she called June, hoping for any news.

The phone rang a few times before June answered, her voice flat and tired. “Hello? Who is this?”

Lucie swallowed, forcing out the words. “June, it’s me. I can’t reach Elio. Have you heard from him?”

June sounded worried and a little angry. “Lucie, where have you been? Elio almost died looking for you.”

Lucie’s mind went blank. Her voice cracked. “What? What happened to him? Is he okay?”

June’s words tumbled out in a rush, choked with anxiety. “That night when you disappeared, Elio was driving out to find you. He got hit by a truck on the mountain road. He’s in the ICU now. The doctors… they said it doesn’t look good.”

Lucie felt everything inside her freeze. “What? It’s that serious?”

“He’s at a hospital in Elmridge. He’s been in a coma for three days and still hasn’t woken up.”

“I’ve been trying to find you too, Lucie. Where were you?”

Lucie’s head spun, everything blurring together. “What did the doctors say? Is he… in danger?”

June’s voice was quiet. “They don’t know for sure yet. If he wakes up in the next week, he should survive. But if he doesn’t… it might be really bad.”

Lucie blinked back tears. “June, send me the hospital name. I have to see him.”

“He’s at St. Mary’s in Elmridge. I’m here now. Just call me when you get here.”

“I will. Thank you.” Lucie’s voice was barely a whisper.

June let out a shaky sigh. “Don’t thank me, just hurry. If you’re too late… I don’t know…”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hung up, her throat tight and raw, heart clawing at her chest.

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