Chapter one Top 1% of Socialites in Rome

The beeping of the heartbeat tracker was clear in the small hospital ward.

Her palm-sized face scrunched up in her unconscious state. Looking at her appearance, anyone would have the urge to protect her.

But this is Mia, an 18-year-old teenager that everyone hates and says that she taints their eyes.

A few hours ago, she was beaten up by some young boys on the university campus because she was accused of theft.

Had it been the school security didn't intervene, Mia wouldn't have made it to the hospital alive.

……….

"Miss Arturo, we have tried our best and the operation was successful. It now depends on her willpower to live. From our CT scan results, she had broken four ribs, internal bleeding in the brain, and…….", the doctor's voice trailed off as Aurora cried her eyes out.

"Doctor Callisto, I hope nothing will happen to my cousin. I mean nothing should happen to her, else your license will be revoked".

The doctor whose name tag was spelt Callisto shivered and felt wronged.

He didn't know how all that was happening was his fault. He has tried his best and lived up to his profession.

Stomping out of his office in arrogance, Aurora went to Mia's ward. 

A strange light flashed across her eyes as she took unhurried steps towards the bed. Stopping to look at the face she hates most, Aurora chuckled. She ran her slim and well-manicured nails all over the gas pipe that led to Mia's nose.

"Oh, Mia! You wouldn't know what hits you. Tsk tsk tsk, should I say, it's a pity you trust so easily?"

A weird smile danced across her lips for a minute.

Right at that moment, soft footsteps outside alerted her. Aurora quickly pulled her hand away in time to see a nurse come in.

"Miss….. 

"Arturo. Address me as Miss Arturo".

Miss Arturo, I'm here to check on the patient", the nurse cast a suspicious look at the lady with a heavy makeover. 

"Go ahead and take care of my cousin", she waved her right hand casually while casting a few glances at the teenager on the bed.

The nurse felt her heart beating against her chest and thought she was hallucinating.

Did the lady want to pull off the gas mask and kill the patient?

"That is impossible!", she murmured as she recorded the data before stepping aside to look at Mia. 

A sense of Justice welled up in her heart but she knew there was nothing she could do.

……….

Aurora stepped into the car and a familiar ringing tone chimed. She fished out her phone to answer the call.

She beamed and her eyes twinkled on seeing the text

"Give me half an hour and I will be there".

Aurora's sultry voice note played before she clicked the send button.

Brimming with an aura only women in love have, Aurora gave herself a double-check of her outfit and makeover.

Her heart fluttered as she blinked twice innocently.

"Take me to KPZ headquarters", her tone was void of emotion.

She swiped her fingers on the phone and began to share some pictures in a private group chat.

"Aurora, it's been hard on you. Taking care of that delinquent cousin of yours is mentally draining".

"Oh my! She looks so frail and cute even in her unconscious state".

"Who did you say looks cute, Isabella?"

"Giana, you don't have to sound fierce".

"Please find a better word to describe that bitch next time. Cute my foot! Hmph".

Isabella sent an emoji of someone sticking out the tongue with an eye closed.

Aurora understood her friends the most. They were sticking to her like glue. Not a doubt, she was among the top 1% of socialites in Rome.

Sneering and clicking her tongue in delight, she sent a pitiful emoji and told them that she was heading somewhere to meet her man.

They all understood what she meant and sent some dirty replies to her in the group chat.

But what still irks them most is the fact that they have never seen a picture of the so-called 'boyfriend'.

Should they say Aurora was so protective of the man or he is too ugly to be looked at?

The chauffeur glanced at Aurora and shook his head mentally. He could remember he had served the Arturos for more than three decades.

The young Mia had always been respectful to all the staff. Recently, the rumours he has been hearing about her were an opposite description of who she is.

He sincerely felt for the girl who had lost her parents at the early age of ten and still had to live among wolves called relatives.

"Miss Aurora, we have arrived", he said gently for fear of setting her weird temper on fire.

Stepping out of the car, her gaze flickered for a second but became firm as she sauntered toward the building.

"Miss Aurora, the president is in a meeting but he will be with you shortly. Let me bring you up to his office", the young man bowed and led the way.

Throwing her head backwards with a puffed chest, Aurora flipped her hair to the side.

……….

Back at the hospital, Mia heard faint voices and footsteps but she couldn't make out who was talking. She caught the last part of the sentence.

"When her cousin came….."

She was bursting with joy and couldn't wait to talk to Aurora. Mia felt like she was stuck and couldn't pull her leg out of the mud. The more she struggled, the more the alarm blared fiercely.

"Check heartbeat, pulse"

"Done, Sir the data looks quite promising. I mean she is completely out of danger. That's….. unusual Doctor Callisto".

The two voices said one after the other.

"You just have to keep an eye on her. I don't want to lose my license anytime soon", Callisto said and the nurse giggled.

She heard of how the patient's cousin had threatened him.

While they were talking Mia opened her eyes. The first person she saw made her brows furrowed in disappointment.