08|I will sign the consent Form

Alexander pov

“What in the K-drama plot twist is this?” Daniel was the first to break the silence, his head casually resting on my shoulder as he peeked at the file.

The world narrowed in, and for a brief moment, I couldn’t move—I couldn’t even breathe. My grip tightened on the edges of the file, knuckles turning white as I stared at the name glaring back at me like a cruel punchline to a bad joke.

Father: Nico Vance, CEO of the Vance Foundation.

Additional Information: Known as "Don Nico," leader of a criminal organization.

Daniel must have sensed the murderous aura radiating from me because he quickly cleared his throat and took a cautious step back, wisely putting enough distance between us—just in case I decided to snap.

“S-She’s Nico’s daughter? Are you sure this information is correct?” Daniel stammered, his attention darting to Sebastian.

“Y-Yes, Dr. Daniel,” Sebastian replied, swallowing nervously. “I triple-checked her background to make sure there was no mistake. Her name is Valentina Vance… I wanted to be absolutely certain since—” His voice faltered as his eyes darted toward me. “Boss would kill me if I was wrong.”

“True, true,” Daniel muttered with a knowing nod, throwing me a glance before stating the obvious.

“Wow, this is pretty messed up” He breathed out, taking another cautious step back, clearly not eager to get caught in the crossfire. He cleared his throat before speaking again.

“Alexander, are you okay–”

I slammed the file down onto the table with enough force to make everyone—except Felix—flinch.

“Forget I asked,” Daniel said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I turned my attention sharply to Sebastian, and he visibly shuddered under my gaze. The tension in the room thickened as everyone held their breath, waiting for my next move.

“Tell. Me. Everything,” I hissed through clenched teeth, narrowing my eyes at him. “Tell me everything about this woman.”

Sebastian gulped again, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he shot a quick, nervous glance at Daniel behind me.

“Don’t look at me!” Daniel hissed under his breath, his voice laced with anxiety.

My patience was wearing thin. I’m not the type of man who gets caught off-guard, and I know how to mask my emotions, but that doesn't mean I’m immune to anger.

Sebastian quickly turned his eyes back to me when he sensed my sharp glare, he trembled as he tried to steady himself.

“T-the woman’s name is Valentina Vance,” he stammered. “She’s Nico’s illegitimate daughter. Her mother worked as a maid in the Vance household... but she was assaulted by Nico.”

“Bastard,” Daniel muttered, just as Sebastian picked up where he left off.

“She was abandoned at the Vance family doorstep when she was twelve by her mother,” Sebastian continued, his voice a bit more collected. “At twenty, she married Damien, the heir to the Smith Corporation but….”

As he spoke, my mind began to drift into a haze, my gaze locked on Sebastian but my thoughts were miles away. My fingers drummed absently on the desk as I tried to piece together the information flooding my brain.

Valentina—my enemy's daughter—saved my son.

One thing about leading one of the most dangerous criminal organizations was the ability to think fast, decode complexities, and make decisions in the blink of an eye. But this... This was something different.

“Damn, that's quite the story. So, everyone in her life is a bunch of assholes and cunning bitches?” Daniel muttered after Sebastian finished speaking. He turned to face me, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “So… what’s the plan now? Are you going to inform her family? We still need their signature to proceed with the surgery. Time is running out”

I didn’t answer right away. My cold gaze remained fixed on the picture in the file. Nico had taken something precious from me; in a typical situation, I would have taken something in return, especially when that thing was within my grasp. A life for a life—that was my motto. But this time… this was different. More complicated.

I couldn’t kill her. Not when she had saved Felix. But I couldn’t just let her go either.

A slow, calculated smile crept onto my lips as I tilted my head slightly to the side. I had made my decision.

Just then, before I could speak, Daniel’s phone started ringing. I watched him pick it up, his expression darkening instantly.

“Got it. I’ll be there in a bit. Stabilize the patient and prepare for the surgery. I’ll do it myself,” he said, hanging up and turning his attention to me.

“Whatever choice you want to make, you need to make it now. She’s in critical condition, and I need her family’s signature right away,” he said, his tone urgent.

“I will sign it, the consent form,” I said, my voice low as I turned to glance at Felix, who hadn’t moved the entire time we’d been here.

“Sign it? But her family needs to be the one to sign the form,” Daniel said, confusion flickering across his face.

“Her family” The corner of my lips curled into a smirk as I repeated his words and tilted my head slightly to the side. “You’re speaking to her husband. I’ll sign the consent form for my wife, Emily.”

“What?!” Daniel and Sebastian gasped in unison, their faces pale with shock.

“Don’t tell me—” Daniel started, pointing a trembling finger at me as if I were some kind of devil. “No, it couldn’t be what I’m thinking, right?” He paused, waiting for an answer. When I said nothing, his expression turned to one of exaggerated horror. “That isn’t even possible. She looks nothing like Emily!”

I pushed myself up from the chair, the movement deliberate, my eyes locking onto Daniel's with an air of calm authority.

“And that’s where you come into play,” I said, pulling a pack of cigarettes from my pocket and jabbing it at his chest. “It’s about time you pay me for saving your life, don't you think?.”

Daniel’s eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and frustration settling on his face as the weight of my words sank in.

“S-so you are telling me to make her look like Emily? You are insane!!”