6

Chapter Six

Night had already fallen when Aria finally stepped out of her office. She pulled off her lab coat and hung it neatly where she always did, next to the shelf of medical files.

Damien had been a handful again, but at least he was asleep now. That was enough peace for the night.

She sighed, picked up her small purse, and walked out of the private clinic.

The night breeze touched her face as she walked toward the road. She was wearing a simple blue gown that made her look calm and graceful.

She waved down a cab and got in quietly.

“General hospital, please,” she said.

It didn’t take long before she arrived.

She paid the driver and walked through the glass doors. The scent of disinfectant and medicine filled the air, something she had gotten used to over the years.

Room 102. She knew it by heart.

When she pushed open the door, her heart tightened.

Her father was still lying there, surrounded by machines that beeped softly. His face looked pale, his body thinner than she remembered. She walked closer and touched his hand gently.

“Dad…” she whispered.

He blinked slowly, his eyes trying to focus on her. “You’re here, Aria.”

“Yes, Dad,” she said, sitting beside him. “I just came from work. How are you feeling?”

He gave a faint smile. “Better… now that you’re here.”

She held his hand tighter, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to fall.

Just then, the door opened, and Doctor Anderson walked in, holding a few papers.

“Good evening, Doctor Anderson,” Aria greeted, standing up quickly.

“Good evening, Ms. Aria,” he said, his voice calm but serious. “Can we talk for a moment? It’s important.”

She felt her stomach drop. Something about his tone wasn’t right. She nodded and followed him out into the hallway.

Once they were outside, the doctor stopped and looked straight at her. “Aria, I’m afraid I have bad news,” he said quietly.

Her hands began to shake. “What is it, Doctor?”

“Your father’s condition is worsening,” he said. “His kidneys are failing faster than we expected. If we don’t begin dialysis soon, he might not make it past a month.”

Her breath caught. “No… please, don’t say that.”

“I’m sorry, Aria. I know you’ve been trying your best, but time isn’t on your side anymore. We need to act fast.”

Tears filled her eyes as she pressed her palms together. “I’ve been saving, Doctor. I’m almost there. Please, I just need a little more time.”

“The treatment costs around five hundred thousand dollars,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “You’ve paid a portion, but we can’t start without the full amount.”

She wiped her tears roughly. “Okay, Doctor. Just… please give me a bit of time. I promise I’ll get it.”

He nodded sadly. “I wish I could help more. But the hospital has its rules.”

She turned slightly and looked through the glass door at her father lying helplessly on the bed.

That night, as she walked out of the hospital, her mind wouldn’t stop racing.

Her father was the only family she had left. Her mother died when she was still a teenager, and since then, it had been just the two of them against the world.

He had worked so hard to put her through medical school, always saying she would make him proud one day.

And she had tried. Every single day.

But life hadn’t made it easy.

Between rent, food, and his medical bills, she had barely been surviving. Every paycheck went into his treatments. Every extra hour of work was for him.

And now, she was running out of time.

She reached for her phone and dialed Martin’s number. Her fiancé.

He didn’t pick up.

She tried again. Then again. Still nothing.

Her chest tightened with worry. He was supposed to help her withdraw the money she’d been saving in his account a hundred thousand dollars, all she had.

She boarded a taxi straight to his apartment.

Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking the entire ride. She tried to call him again still no answer.

When the cab stopped, she stepped out and headed toward his door. It was slightly open.

Martins never left his door unlocked.

“Martins?” she called, pushing it open.

Then she froze.

He was there on the couch.

And another woman was with him.

His hands were on her waist, his lips pressed against hers .

For a second, everything around Aria went blank.

Her legs refused to move, her mind couldn’t process what she was seeing.

“What…” her voice cracked. “What is this?”

Martins jerked up, startled. His shirt was half open, his face pale. “Aria, wait it’s not what you think ”

“Not what I think?” she said, stepping forward, her voice trembling. “You’re kissing her, Martins! What else could it be?”

The woman, a redhead in a loose gown, stood up quickly, pulling the fabric over her shoulders. “Who’s she, baby?” she asked, frowning.

“Baby?” Aria repeated, her lips shaking.

Martins rubbed his forehead, lost for words. “Please, Aria, just calm down”

“Calm down?” she said sharply. “I’m not even here for this drama. I came for the money I saved with you. Just give me the money and I’ll leave.”

Martins froze. His eyes darted away.

That was all the answer she needed.

“Martins,” she said slowly, “don’t tell me you touched that money.”

He took a nervous breath and stepped closer. “Aria, listen… I I used it to pay some loans. But I’ll get it back, I swear. I just need a little time.”

Her body went cold. “You did what?”

He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she pushed his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Aria, please,” he pleaded. “You know I wouldn’t do this on purpose. Things have been hard, I—”

The woman cut in, her tone sharp. “Wait, you said you didn’t have a girlfriend. You told me you were single!”

Martins turned to her, panicking. “Baby, I can explain—”

“Explain?” Aria said, her voice rising. “You lied to her too? You’re unbelievable, Martins.”

He turned back to her, frustrated. “Stop shouting, Aria! You were never around. You were always at work, always too busy for me. What was I supposed to do?”

Her eyes widened, tears blurring her vision. “You’re blaming me?”

“I’m not—”

“You are!” she snapped.

“You think I wanted to work like this? Every shift, every hour I took, it was for us. For you. You said you needed help, and I gave it. I paid your rent when you lost your job.

I covered your bills. I made sure you ate when you had nothing. And this is how you repay me?”

Her voice broke, but she kept going. “Do you even realize what that money was for? My father is dying, Martins. Dying! I told you it was for his treatment. And you used it—for this?”

Martins lowered his head. “I’ll pay you back, Aria. I promise.”

“Pay me back?” she said, laughing bitterly through her tears. “With what? Empty promises? You’ve taken everything from me. My time, my love, my trust—everything!”

He tried to reach for her again. “Aria, please don’t do this. You know I love you.”

“Love?” she said, almost whispering. Then she looked him straight in the eyes. “If this is your kind of love, I want nothing to do with it.”

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the ring on her hand the one he’d given her three years ago.

She slid it off slowly. “You put this damn ring on my finger,” she said, her voice raw, “and here you are kissing someone else.”

Martins looked helpless. “Aria, please…”

She threw the ring on the floor. It hit the tile with a small metallic sound.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

The woman looked uncomfortable, Martins looked defeated, and Aria just stood there her heart breaking piece by piece.

Finally, she turned around. “You took everything from me,” she said quietly. “I hope she’s worth it.”

And she walked out, slamming the door behind her.

By the time she reached the hospital again, her face was red and swollen.

She went straight to Doctor Anderson’s office. “Doctor, please,” she said, her voice shaking. “Do something. I lost the little I had. I was going to bring it tonight, but now it’s gone. Please, just start his dialysis. I’ll find a way to pay.”

The doctor sighed, looking truly sorry. “Aria… there’s nothing I can do without the funds. I’ve stretched the deadline already. I’m sorry.”

Her tears fell freely now. “Please, Doctor. He’s all I have.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But I can’t break the hospital’s policy. I wish I could.”

Aria stood there, speechless. Her knees felt weak, but she forced herself to stay standing.

She turned toward the glass window where her father lay, hooked up to wires and oxygen tubes. His chest rose and fell slowly, every breath looking like a struggle.