Chapter 1

Arianna.

**At Milo's Hospital**

I stood beside my mother's bed, wearing a white nurse uniform. The heart monitor beeped slowly as I looked at her pale figure lying on the hospital bed.

The doctor already told me my mother needed an immediate kidney transplant, and I had to deposit 8 million before the surgery could start. Where was I supposed to get that much money?

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I deposited the last 500,000 left in my account. Still, it wasn't enough—I needed to pay the full amount.

I worked as a nurse while studying. I worked at a local facility before they transferred my mother to this private hospital. It was the best in the city, and the doctor assured me they would find a donor as long as I deposited the 8 million.

"Mom, I can't afford the kidney surgery. We need a donor, and the doctor said we have to deposit 8 million. Where am I going to get that much money?" I asked her, holding her pale right hand. She needed the transplant before the week ended.

My mother was full of life before she lost her will to live, after my father cheated on her. He kicked her out of the mansion they built together with her sweat and effort, after she helped him build Maddox Corporation from scratch. Yet, Dad had an affair with another woman. He called her his first love—the woman he was supposed to marry, not my mother. He called my mother the stepping stone who helped build him. After 20 years of marriage, he kicked her out four years ago like she didn't matter.

"Arianna..." Mom called my name weakly. I leaned closer to her on the hospital bed, my eyes filled with tears.

"Mom, I have to go and beg Dad. He has to help us get a donor. I can't lose you. Please, hang in there for me. You promised to come to my graduation party. You promised to attend my wedding. You can't leave me now," I sobbed, my body trembling, snot running from my nose. I didn't care to wipe it off.

It was Friday afternoon, and I thought, what's there to live for if my mother isn't there to see me graduate?

"Don't go to your father. He won't help you. Rose has him wrapped around her finger. Take this," Mom said, pulling off her prized necklace from around her neck and handing it to me. It was a beautiful golden piece.

"Leave Eastpoll City and go back to Southpoll. You'll meet my father there. He's a farmer, but I'm sure he'll welcome you," Mom said, wanting me to leave.

"No." I cried, holding her hands firmly. "I'm not leaving you behind. Your father can't help me either. Mom, I'll try again. I'll go and plead with Dad."

I let go of her hands and turned to leave the hospital room. The smell of disinfectant filled the air.

"Arianna, wait!" Mom called me, but I shook my head. I didn't look back at her face. Her condition was getting worse, and only a kidney transplant could save her life. How could I do nothing when my father was a billionaire?

Rushing out of the private room, I bumped into a tall figure in front of me. The thick smell of tobacco hung heavily in the air. His firm hands caught my waist and steadied me.

"Easy, Nurse! Watch where you're rushing to!" His magnetic voice warned, so close to my ear, but I was too disoriented to look up at his face and see who he was.

"I'm sorry, sir," I apologized, my body trembling, before I pushed myself away from his grip and ran past him. I rushed to the elevator and got in.

When I looked up, I froze. The man was looking back at me, with two men in black standing next to him.

My jaw dropped when I saw he was Don Gabriel Milos, the owner of this Milos Hospital. How could I have bumped into him? I knew about the Milos family. They owned this hospital. They were one of the top Mafia families, owning the finest private hospital, luxury restaurants, five-star hotels, and giving loans to the poor.

I gulped heavily. My heart pounded against my rib. I thought about asking Don Gabriel for the money, but would he help me? Unless I brought something equivalent as collateral in case I couldn't pay back the debt.

The elevator shut. The sound cut off my hope of going to Don Gabriel. But he stood watching me. His gaze sharp like a hawk. His dark blue eyes locked on mine, sending chills down my spine.

I breathed out as the elevator rode down to the last floor of this magnificent seven-story building.

I needed to visit my father's house. I knew my father, stepmother, and stepsister would bash me. But if it saved my mother's life, it was worth the torture, and humiliation. I didn't mind it.

The Milos Hospital in Eastpoll was expensive. But the doctor assured me he would find a matching kidney for my mother as long as I could deposit the money.

As the elevator stopped in the hospital lobby, I dashed out of the building. I made my way to the bus stop and flagged down a taxi.

Once inside, I gave the taxi driver my father's house address. My body trembled as I sat in the back. I didn't even change out of my nurse uniform.

I worked at a local hospital where I earned 200,000 as a new nurse. I was in my final year, and I believed once I graduated, I would apply for a job at a better private hospital.

My phone rang in my pocket, breaking my thoughts. It was my boyfriend, Vincent Micah. He worked for an entertainment company, and I had begged him to help me with the money. But he hadn't said anything.

"Hello, babe," I answered.

"Where are you?" he asked, his voice cold.

"I'm on my way to my father's house. What's wrong?"

"Babe, did you forget I asked you to meet me today? Why are you going to your father's house? You don't prioritize me. Why?" Vincent was furious.

"I'm sorry," I replied weakly. "My mother's health got worse, and they transferred her to Milos Hospital today. The doctor advised me to deposit 8,000,000 out of the 10 million needed for the surgery, and I don't have it."

"Cut the crap, babe!" Vincent growled, and I was stunned.

"Everything is about your mother. Your mother this and that. I'm sick and tired of having you as my girlfriend. Let's break up. Besides, you won't let me sleep with you until we're married. I'm done with you. Go find yourself another boyfriend."

"What? Vincent," I tried to beg him, but he ended the call.

I remembered Vincent had invited me to his place this weekend, but my mother hadn't gotten worse then or needed kidney transplant.

Shaking my head, my fingers brushed across my cheek as I wiped off my tears. The taxi pulled to a stop, and I saw I had arrived at the housing estate where my Dad lived.

After paying for my ride, I climbed out of the taxi and called Vincent again. But his number didn't connect.

"Sorry, the number you dialed isn't available," the robotic response hit me hard like a slap.

Still in my white nurse uniform, I steadied myself and put my phone away in my pocket, as I rushed to my father's house to find him.