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Emilia’s POV

I tapped my leg continuously on the floor, my hands pressed tight together as I tried to stop them from shaking. My eyes were locked on the doctor's, and I could hear him talking, but I wasn’t even listening. All that was on my mind was thoughts of how I was going to get twenty-five thousand dollars for Matteo’s surgery. Twenty-five thousand dollars! A shudder ran through me. And that wasn’t all. I still had to pay for the other hospital bills apart from the surgery f*e.

It seemed like my life was just going haywire at this point, and there was absolutely nothing that I could do to stop it.

“Miss Abramo?” The doctor called, snapping her fingers in my face twice. I jumped and then gave her an apologetic smile.

“You were saying?” I asked.

“Are you okay, Miss Abramo?” She eyed me warily. “You’ve been zoning out.”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” I lied, nodding. My hands began to shake, and I clasped them together once again, taking in a deep breath as she continued.

“Miss Abramo, it’s getting too late. If you don’t pay for your brother’s surgery within this week and the next, I’m afraid you might lose your brother,” she said, her tone sympathetic and warning at the same time.

My heart flew to my throat, and tears welled up in my eyes. She sighed, shaking her head a bit. “I’m sorry, Miss Abramo, but sugarcoating it won’t solve the problem. You have to hurry and get the money; if not, your brother might die.”

My heart clenched as she spoke, and I shut my eyes hard, feeling a tear slide down my cheeks. I shook my head and sighed, opening my eyes. “It’s okay,” I murmured. “You don’t have to keep mentioning it. I get it.”

She pressed her lips together, trying for a smile, but it was a grimace instead. I could see the pity in her eyes. And I hated it. I absolutely hated it.

“Thank you,” I said to her as I got up. “I’ll be back to check up on him later in the evening,” I added before stepping out of her office and closing the door behind me. I needed to find a way to get twenty-five thousand dollars in just a week.

I ran my hands through my hair and rubbed my eyes. God. I was so tired. I hadn’t slept properly in days, and I had so much on my mind. Matteo was the only family I had; I couldn’t let him die. At the same time, I had no money at all. I had to pay for his fees, and I still had to pay for our house rent. I’ve even sold my small café just to pay up, but still it wasn’t enough.

“Mommy?” I heard from somewhere around the hall as I walked towards the elevator. And then there was a little tug on my skirt. “Mommy!”

I frowned, looking down just to see a little girl with silver hair tugging at my skirt. “Mommy!” She squealed, her eyes wide and her lips stretched in a grin. She kept tugging at my skirt, her eyes expectant.

I sighed and mustered up a smile as I crouched down to her level. “Sweetie, what’s your name?” I asked, taking her hands in mine.

“But mommy, you know my name!” She mumbled. She couldn’t be more than three years old. “It’s Francesca!”

“Well, Francesca, sweetie,” I began and bit my lip, wondering how I was going to break the heart of the cutest little thing I’ve seen today. “I’m not your mom. But where is your mom, though? I can take you to her.”

“But you’re my mommy!” She insisted, shaking her head. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her lips began to quiver. “You’re my mommy,” she murmured.

“Francesca, sweetie, I’m not—“ She didn’t let me complete the sentence before she shook her head furiously and began to cry.

“Francesca… I…”

“You’re my mommy!” She insisted, rubbing her eyes as she cried.

“Okay, okay,” I murmured, carrying her in my arms as I stood. “It’s okay, baby. Let’s go,” I added.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, putting her head on my shoulder. She had stopped crying at last. I ran my hands through her hair and kissed her. Her cheek while I headed for the elevator. I’d drop her at the reception and go. Her parents or guardians would find her there.

"Mommy, will you come home with Daddy and me?" She asked in a tiny voice, raising her head from my shoulder to look at me with her big, green eyes.

I opened my mouth to speak, but what cut me off were the men who suddenly appeared in front of me as they came out from the corner corridor just before the elevator. One of them locked their eyes on me and raised the gun he was holding immediately, pointing it at me. The other followed suit, scowls on their faces as if they wanted nothing more than to blow my brains off with the gun.

I blinked, gulping as I took a step back, only to feel cold metal at the back of my head.

“Uncle?” Francesca murmured, raising her head from my shoulder once again. But she wasn’t looking at the men in front of me. She was looking at the one behind me, and I whirled around on my feet, my eyes going wide at the man who had held a gun to the back of my head.

His eyes narrowed on me, and I opened my mouth to speak, to ask what exactly was going on when Francesca spoke again. “Daddy! Look who I found!”

I turned around again, seeing as the men parted to make way for someone. Their boss maybe. The first thing I noticed was his forest green gaze as he stormed towards me, his eyes going from me to Francesca and back to me.

“You dare to try to take my daughter away from me?” He seethed, stepping into my personal space. I took a step backwards and felt the gun at the back of my head again. A warning.

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whispered, my voice shaking.

“Where are you taking my daughter to?” He demanded with narrowed eyes. “You’re trying to kidnap her?”

I shook my head. “No, of course not! I was just taking her to the reception so her parents can come meet her there. I... didn't know you’re her dad.”

His eyes narrowed again as he stretched out his hand and tried to snatch her away from me. She only tightened her hold on me. “Daddy, will mommy come home with us today?”

His gaze snapped to me instantly. “Mommy?” He demanded.

“I tried to tell her I’m not her mother, but she won’t listen.” I rushed out, my eyes darting to the men, and then back to him. I was very aware of the one behind me because he wouldn’t stop pressing his gun to my head. Who were these men exactly? I knew one thing though. They were probably the most dangerous people I’ve ever met in my life. I gulped again, looking at Francesca’s father. Really looking at him.

Gods.

He had to be the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. He had dark hair and eyes so intense that I felt like he already knew me inside out. He had the prettiest olive skin and broad shoulders that fit his muscled frame. He was about 6’5. He had this lethal aura around him, and right now it was focused on me.

I blinked, reminding myself that I had gotten into trouble here and I was not supposed to be checking out the man who could order his men to kill me right now.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know she’s your daughter,” I mumbled, forcing myself to breathe steadily and calm myself. “She came to me, and I didn’t know what to do.”

“Francesca, she’s not your mother,” he said, his eyes staying on me for a moment longer before he looked at his daughter. “Come here.” He added, stretching his hand and taking her from me in a firm but gentle manner.

“Allesio,” he said. I was guessing that was the name of the man behind me. He dropped his gun.

“Get out,” Francesca’s father ordered as he cradled his daughter in his arms protectively. “Now.”

I didn’t wait to be told twice. I walked carefully till I was away from his men and their guns before I took off to the elevator, my heart pounding so hard in my chest that I was so sure he could hear it.