Chapter 1: The Call He Never Expected
Chapter 1: The Call He Never Expected
Her thumb hovered over Luca's name for almost a full minute.
Then she locked the screen.
No.
She had promised herself she would never return simply because life became difficult.
If she called him now, would it be because she loved him... or because she was afraid?
Before she could decide, another wave of pain shot through her abdomen. The phone slipped from her trembling fingers and crashed onto the hospital floor.
A passing nurse hurried inside.
"Miss Moretti?"
Anna could barely breathe.
The emergency team rushed into Room 417.
Among the personal belongings collected from the floor was her unlocked phone.
The nurse searched for the first emergency contact.
There was only one favorite.
Luca Marino.
Lower Manhattan.
Midnight.
Luca sat alone in the conference room of Marino Holdings while six men argued over territory, shipments, and millions of dollars.
His phone vibrated once.
Unknown Hospital.
Normally, he ignored unknown numbers.
Something made him answer.
"This is Brooklyn Methodist Hospital."
Silence.
"We're calling regarding Miss Anna Moretti."
Every man in the room stopped talking.
Luca stood so quickly that his chair crashed backward.
"What happened?"
"She's been admitted. Her condition became unstable."
The rest of the sentence never reached him.
Within seconds he was already walking toward the elevator.
"No meetings."
"But boss—"
"I said no meetings."
The elevator doors closed.
By the time they reopened in the underground garage, twelve black SUVs were already waiting.
Room 417 was quiet again.
Anna had stabilized.
She stared at the ceiling when the door slowly opened.
Heavy footsteps.
Perfectly polished black shoes.
Then him.
Luca looked different.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
His hair, usually immaculate, looked as though he had run both hands through it during the drive.
For the first time since she had met him...
He looked frightened.
Not angry.
Not powerful.
Just terrified.
He approached the bed cautiously, as though she might disappear if he moved too fast.
"You should've called me."
Anna smiled weakly.
"I almost did."
"You didn't have to face this alone."
"I wanted to know if I could."
His jaw tightened.
"You don't have to prove anything."
She looked away.
"I already did."
The silence between them stretched for nearly a minute.
Finally Luca reached for her hand.
She didn't pull away.
His fingers were cold.
"I've spent six months searching for you."
"I know."
"I bought the building across from the gallery."
Anna blinked.
"What?"
"I never entered."
"You... what?"
"I watched from the coffee shop every morning."
"You were there?"
"I wanted to make sure you got home safely."
Tears gathered in Anna's eyes.
"You promised yourself you were letting me go."
"I lied."
His voice cracked.
"I never let you go."
The doctor interrupted them shortly afterward.
"The MRI results are back."
Both stood immediately.
"The mass requires surgery."
Anna squeezed Luca's hand without realizing it.
The doctor continued.
"We're optimistic."
Optimistic.
Not cured.
Not safe.
Just...
Hope.
Luca looked directly at the surgeon.
"I want the best specialists."
"We already have an excellent—"
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"I want everyone."
Money could buy equipment.
Money could buy experts.
Money could even buy private operating rooms.
But for the first time in his life...
May you like
Money could not promise the outcome.
That realization terrified him more than every rival family combined.
