LOGINThose seconds felt alive.Moving slowly. Pressing. Waiting.Dante stood before Aurora.His gaze no longer wavered.Aurora stared back. Unblinking. Giving no room.“So…” her voice was soft, “…choose.”That single word… was enough to decide a person’s life.Dante took a deep breath. Then let it out slowly.Ivy.That small face appeared again in his mind.That cry. That fragile body.Aurora.The life she had now.Power.Name.Everything.And for the first time—Dante did not hesitate.“I choose… to be that baby’s father. Ivy.”Silence.Aurora did not react immediately.Dante continued. His voice was firmer now.“As for the audit… let it continue.” If it means I have to go to prison…” He lifted his head, looking straight into Aurora’s eyes. “…I don’t care.”The words fell.Heavy.And… final.Aurora laughed.Soft at first. But slowly… it grew clearer.And it was not a happy laugh.It was… cold.Aurora clapped her hands.Once.Twice.“Impressive…” she whispered.Dante did not move.Aurora w
Aurora stood calmly.While Dante… was still staring at her, holding onto the decision he had just made.And right at that moment—Dante’s phone rang.The sound shattered everything.Sharp. Urgent.Dante frowned.An unknown number.He hesitated for a second… then answered.“Hello?”A few seconds of silence.Then a panicked voice came from the other end.“Dante… it’s me…”Dante immediately stiffened. “Lily?”Aurora didn’t move. But her eyes… caught every subtle change in his expression.“Dante…” Lily’s voice trembled, “…I borrowed the hospital phone. They said… Ivy needs immediate treatment.”Dante’s heart began to race.“They can’t wait any longer…” Lily continued, “…if there’s no deposit… they won’t continue the treatment.”The world seemed to shrink into a single point.Ivy.Dante dragged a hand across his face, his gaze going blank for a moment.“I’ll come,” he said quickly. “Wait for me.”There was a brief pause on Lily’s end. “…Dante…”But he didn’t give her space to continue. “I’
The silence on the other end of the line… dragged on for too long.Dante didn’t answer immediately.Not because he didn’t know what to say—But because he knew that whatever came out of his mouth now… wouldn’t change anything.“…you’re with her right now, aren’t you?”Aurora’s voice remained calm.And that was exactly what made it feel more suffocating.Dante closed his eyes for a moment.Ivy.The sound of the monitor.Lily’s pale face.“Aurora…” his voice was low, “this isn’t about that.”“Don’t avoid it,” Aurora cut in sharply. “Just answer.”Dante opened his eyes again. His gaze hardened. “…yes.”One word.Enough.Aurora let out a soft laugh on the other end.“I appreciate your honesty,” she said. “At least now I don’t have to guess.”Dante ran a hand over his face. “Aurora, listen to me—”But once again… she cut him off.“No need.”One sentence.Final.Then—Click.The call ended.Dante stared at his phone screen.Empty.Just like all the paths he had thought he could still choose
The engine roared to life.Dante didn’t wait any longer.He moved immediately.“Get in,” he ordered Lily shortly.This time, she didn’t argue.Because Ivy’s condition… left them no choice.The car sped away from the slum.The roads began to change.From narrow… to wider.From dark… to brighter.But the atmosphere inside the car remained tense.Ivy lay in Lily’s lap.Her cries hadn’t fully stopped.Her tiny body trembled weakly at times.And every small sound… tightened Dante’s chest.“She’s never been like this…” Lily whispered softly.Dante didn’t respond. His eyes stayed fixed on the road.But his thoughts… were in chaos.Aurora.The agreement.The office.And now—A new lie.Dante gripped the steering wheel.As long as Aurora doesn’t know… everything will be fine.That was what he told himself.And that… was the only way he could keep standing between two opposing sides.The hospital was located quite far from the city center.Not too large.But enough to handle emergencies.As soo
The air in that area felt different.Unlike the clean, orderly city center, everything here felt… alive in a harsher way. Houses were packed tightly together. Narrow streets. The sounds of children, vendors, and old machines blended into one.Dante stood at the edge of the street.His eyes swept the surroundings.But he didn’t see poverty.He saw… opportunity.“Strategic location,” he muttered under his breath.Close to the main road. Not far from transportation access. If developed… this area could turn into gold.And that meant—Money.Power.And his position… restored.Dante smirked faintly. “I can do this.”A few hours later—Dante sat inside a small stall.Across from him were three large men.Their stares were rough. Their faces unfriendly.Local thugs.“So…” one of them spoke, “you want us to help convince the residents?”Dante didn’t hesitate.“Not convince,” he replied calmly. “Pressure them.”The man smirked. “The old way, huh?”Dante leaned back. “The effective way.”Silenc
Dante looked at Aurora.He didn’t try to avoid it. Didn’t try to lie.And that was exactly what made everything… far more cruel.“I…” Dante’s voice was hoarse.Aurora didn’t blink.Waiting.Savoring every second.Because she knew—this answer… would determine everything.Dante took a deep breath. “I choose my life.”A devastating sentence.Silence shattered without a sound.Aurora didn’t move. She wasn’t angry. Not even surprised.Just… still.Then she gave a faint smile.But it was enough to make Dante’s chest feel even tighter.“Good,” Aurora said softly. “At least now I know.”Dante frowned. “Know what?”Aurora straightened, putting distance between them again.Her gaze turned flat once more. “You haven’t changed. You’re just… more honest now.”That sentence… wasn’t praise.Nor was it an insult.But it was enough to strip everything bare.Dante clenched his fists. “This isn’t about being selfish—”“It has always been about that,” Aurora cut him off sharply. “You chose comfort. You c







