Chapter 4

I clenched my fists and forced myself to stay calm. I went back to my room, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed.

I tried to ignore the pain in my chest and get some sleep.

Sleeping was the only way I could get through the night.

But I couldn't.

In the middle of the night, my body grew hotter and hotter until sweat soaked the sheets.

My vision blurred and doubled.

The bedroom door suddenly flew open.

Leonardo strode in, holding Julia by the hand.

His expression was icy.

"Sofia, stop lying in bed and playing the victim. You heard exactly what I said on the phone."

Julia stood behind him, her eyes still red.

I had no energy to argue. I forced the words through my dry, aching throat. "So? What else do you want?"

Leonardo's gaze snapped to me, surprise flashing across his face.

He strode to my bedside and pressed his palm to my forehead.

"Your wound... it really is infected?"

I said nothing.

He frowned, studied me for a moment, and let out a long sigh. "Sofia, you know I'll give you a better wedding later, but you still humiliated Julia in front of everyone. Do you know how many people are going to gossip about her because of you? You're running a fever, so I'll go easy on you. Apologize to Julia, and I'll let this drop."

Apologize?

He expected me to say sorry?

I stared at him.

"And if I don't?"

The concern vanished from Leonardo's eyes. He closed them for a moment.

"Sofia, I've heard 'no' from you too many times today. If you refuse to give in, you can forget about getting any medicine."

Julia put on an anxious expression. "Sofia, I don't want to make this difficult for you, but Leo is the Don. You need to obey."

I was quiet for a moment, then slowly smiled.

At 26, I had already become one of Chicago's most sought-after surgeons.

No matter how badly someone had been wounded in an underworld shootout, once they reached my operating table, I could pull them back from the brink of death.

Later, I gave up that hard-earned reputation, quit my job, and became Leonardo's private doctor.

It all started when he was wounded in another shootout and brought to my operating room.

That day, the usually quiet man grabbed my hand as I held the scalpel and refused to let go. His eyes never left mine.

"Sofia, I need you. The families never stop fighting. Sooner or later, someone will kidnap a surgeon as gifted as you, and you'll end up living with a gun to your head. Come with me. I swear I'll never let anyone treat you like that. I'll protect you with my life."

Now the same man wanted me to apologize. To bend.

After all that, I still ended up in this situation.

When I remained silent, Leonardo's mouth tightened.

"If you have enough strength to defy me, you can't be that sick."

He held Julia's hand and left with her.

I only wanted to treat my wound so I could leave. So I lowered my eyes and forced out the words, "I'm sorry."