Chapter 2. The Saviour

"Wait a minute! But I'm not his girlfriend. I never knew him!" Delilah insisted.

"Miss, we have to carry out the operation. Someone who has a relationship with the patient must sign it," the nurse explained to her again.

"But,"

"It's only formality matters, Miss." The nurse cut Delilah's thought. Delilah still has doubts and has not confirmed the consent yet. After another glance at the man named James, it touched Delilah's heart. She couldn't bear to leave the man inoperable just because she didn't want to sign the paper. Delilah finally nodded after rethinking. After all, she would never meet that man in the future. Naples is a big city for someone to accidentally see each other again.

“I don't think he'll remember me either. So, there's nothing wrong by signing it.” Delilah thought to herself. Delilah finally agreed and signed the paper. She was hoping that the man would recover quickly.

They operated the man in the OR shortly after that, leaving Delilah in the hospital hallway. Now she has to decide. Should she wait until the end of the operation, or she can leave now.

Delilah was sighing to glance at a watch wrapped around her left wrist. It was 2 AM, yet she decided to wait for the operation. At least she could get to know that the man was okay before she left him.

"It is odd. I'm waiting for a stranger," Delilah murmured, leaning against the wall where she was waiting. She was tired of working all day, and now she has no sleeping time because of helping someone. Tomorrow, she has to work in her flower shop early in the morning because there were orders to pick up. Delilah tried to close her eyes for a moment and unconsciously sleep afterward.

It felt like only a moment when her eyes closed. A male nurse woke her up, and Delilah gasped. She stood up suddenly and listened to his explanation.

"The operation is done. Now the patient is in the treatment room, "said the nurse. Delilah nodded in understanding.

"You can see him now, Miss." Delilah nodded. She followed the nurse and walked into the VIP medical treatment room. Before she went up the door, Delilah gently touched the nurse's arm.

"Why did you put him in a big room like this? I don't have money to pay," Delilah half-whispered. She was worried that the man would hear. But the nurse smiled at her.

"He has high-class insurance, Miss. You don't have to worry about the cost." Delilah finally nodded and strolled into the room, which was bigger than her apartment. The nurse checked the man's condition. He was still unconscious.

"Is he fine?" Delilah asked the nurse after glancing at the man.

"Yeah, he just hasn't recovered from the anesthetic yet." Delilah sighed in relief.

After one more glance, Delilah thought that the man could take care of himself. She was glimpsing at the watch, and it was already 4 in the morning. Delilah's eyes suddenly widened.

"Ah, I could be late!" she quietly shrieked. The nurse then looked at Delilah, who was grinning awkwardly.

"I think he's fine now. Can I leave?" Delilah asked innocently.

"Of course." The nurse smiled and permitted Delilah to leave the room. Delilah smiled and nodded a few times.

"Then who will take care of him?" asked Delilah still slightly worried.

"I've already contacted his relatives. They'll be here in a minute!" Delilah nodded even more firmly.

"Then I'll leave now. I hope he gets well soon," Delilah said sincerely. After saying goodbye, Delilah left the treatment room and rushed out of the hospital corridor.

Now she has no money after spending it all on taxi fares for the man she helped. Delilah was forced to walk from the hospital to her flower shop on Viale Rafaello.

Traveling a considerable distance, Delilah became tired and occasionally stopped even though she then had to walk fast because the sun was starting to rise.

Delilah walked for almost 3 hours to arrive at her shop at precisely 7 AM. She felt like she was about to faint. Delilah immediately found a chair and rested her skinny legs.

"Ah… I almost died!" Delilah grumbled breathlessly. Delilah couldn't even stand to drink a glass of water anymore. The client is due at 7.15, so she has 15 minutes to cool off and rest.

Delilah had no money to buy breakfast. Therefore, she hoped that the client would give her the money after taking all the orders. After all, Delilah had been used to starvation her whole life.

Delilah is the second child in her family. She has an older sibling who is more like a criminal than a brother. Not only that, but Delilah also has to deal with her father, who has the same way as her brother or is exactly like their father, Delilah couldn't find the difference.

Her mom had passed away after giving birth to Delilah. For half of her life, she was raised by her grandmother, who used to sell flowers. The grandmother died of a heart attack after the casino owner ambushed her son. The owner was after his money after Delilah's father, Mark Starley stole it.

Originally, Delilah was not a citizen of Italy. She comes from a small town in Pennsylvania, United States. Her mad gambling father left a lot of debt there and ran off with his two children to Naples, Italy when Delilah was 16.

Clueless, Delilah taught herself to adapt and survive in the metropolitan city of Naples. Working part-time as a waitress, baker, and dishwasher, teen Delilah never knew what it was like to have a full stomach. She was always in a state of hunger because the money was never enough.

Finally, she applied for a job at a small flower shop in one corner of the city. An 80-year-old widow owns the shop. Delilah, who was innocent, immediately took her to join because of her modesty. The shop owner liked Delilah. Delilah could even work for up to two years with a mediocre salary, but she liked it.

Eventually, the owner died and left the small shop for Delilah. Delilah was now 21 years old and graduated from college because of the flower shop. Currently, Delilah manages her little shop though there were not so many new and regular customers.

She often cannot save money because her brother or dad took all her savings. Therefore, Delilah keeps her cash in hidden places such as in a wall's crack or a flower pot.

Delilah's new client came a few moments later at precisely 7.15 AM. Luckily for her, the satisfied client gave all the money from the purchase of flowers.

With a friendly smile, Delilah helped to load the flowers. The client brought a double cabin pick-up car parked in front of her shop to take all the flowers. After finishing and about to say goodbye, a man walked to Delilah.

"Hey, are you busy?" the man asked casually. Delilah smiled and shook her head. That man was her boyfriend, Stefano Felice.

"Have you got breakfast?" Stefano asked, and Delilah shook her head, still smiling. Stefano has a handsome face with slightly long hair. He is the dream boyfriend of all girls in Delilah's neighborhood, and Delilah is the lucky one. Stefano chose her.

"Looks like you just got some money, huh? Do you want to treat me?" asked Stefano shamelessly, yet Delilah was even more stunned at him. He stood proudly like a real man who wouldn't ask his girlfriend for a treat. But Stefano just did it to Delilah, and the girl just nodded as she was enchanted.

They ended up having breakfast at one of the restaurants, and Delilah was afraid to order a lot. Delilah was worried that her money was not enough to pay for the food that Stefano ordered. So, Delilah only ordered a piece of bread and a glass of milk.

"Hey, I want to tell you something," said Stefano, wiping the corners of his lips after eating two waffles at once.

"About what?"

"Stop wearing a retro shirt like that. You look like my grandma!"