Chapter 5

Ava’s POV

I knew it was too early to tell Dominic everything.

I needed to calm myself first and try to act normal, even if it was just for a few minutes. If I rushed into begging him immediately, it would only make things worse. I had to start with something simple, something calm, and then slowly find a way to talk about my sister.

But not like this.

My eyes moved to the men sitting quietly around him. They were not speaking, but their presence filled the space. It made it hard for me to relax. I felt tense just sitting there.

Dominic noticed.

“They won’t hurt you,” he said calmly. “They are only here to protect me. You don’t have to be nervous. Just ignore them.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay.”

But it was not easy to ignore them. They were right there. I could feel their presence even when I was not looking at them. Still, I kept quiet because I had no right to complain.

I was just a stranger sitting across from a powerful man, hoping he would save my sister.

Dominic leaned back slightly and looked at me.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said. “How is your sister?”

My chest tightened immediately.

I straightened a little and forced myself to speak. “She is okay,” I said quickly, even though it was not true. Before he could say anything else, I added, “Why are you here at the hospital?”

I just needed to change the topic before I lost control of my emotions.

Dominic looked at me for a moment before answering. “I own the hospital.”

For a second, I thought I heard him wrong.

“You… own it?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“Yes.”

That was all he said, like it was nothing important.

But to me, it changed everything.

The man sitting in front of me was not just rich. He owned the hospital where my sister was lying, fighting for her life. That meant he had power over everything here.

My heart began to beat faster.

Dominic continued, his tone still calm. “My grandfather was admitted here recently. I came here to check on him.”

I nodded slowly, but my mind was still focused on what he said earlier.

He owned the hospital. That meant there was hope. A small hope, but still something.

This was my chance, I just needed to say it properly.

I opened my mouth, trying to find the right words, but before I could speak, he looked at me again.

“You seem distracted,” he said. “Is something wrong?”

I froze.

My hands started shaking slightly under the table. I could feel the tears building in my eyes, and no matter how hard I tried, I could not hold them back anymore.

“Please… save my sister,” I said suddenly.

The words came out before I could stop them.

My voice was shaking, and I could feel my heart beating loudly in my chest.

There was a short silence.

Dominic looked at me, his face calm, but I could not read what he was thinking.

“That was sudden,” he said.

My heart sank immediately.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to say it like that. My sister is not okay. I lied earlier. She is very sick.”

My voice broke, but I continued anyway.

“She needs a kidney transplant. Both of her kidneys are failing. The doctors said it will cost fifteen million dollars, and I cannot afford it. I don’t have anyone else to turn to.”

I looked at him, my eyes filled with tears.

“Please… help me.”

Without thinking, I got down on my knees.

The moment I did that, the atmosphere changed.

“Sit down, Miss Ava,” Dominic said sharply.

His voice was low, but firm enough to make me move immediately.

I stood up quickly and sat back down, my heart pounding.

I had gone too far.

He looked at me, his expression now colder.

“Do I look like charity to you?” he asked.

The question hit me hard.

“Just because I helped your sister does not mean I owe you anything. Or is it because I own the hospital? Are you trying to use that to your advantage?”

I could not find the right words.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that. Thank you for helping my sister. I think I should leave now.”

I started to stand, but before I could move away, he reached out and held my wrist.

“Sit,” he said.

I slowly sat down again.

My heart was beating so fast I could hear it.

He looked at me for a moment before speaking again.

“I never said I wouldn’t help you.”

I froze.

“What?” I asked softly, not sure I heard him right.

“I said I can help,” he continued. “But it depends on you.”

I frowned slightly. “Depends on me?”

He nodded.

“Can you help me too?”

I did not understand.

What could someone like him need from me?

“If it is something I can do, then yes,” I said. “I will help you.”

He raised a brow slightly.

“Anything?”

I hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded.

“Yes.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

Then his eyes moved slowly over me, from my face down to my body.

The way he looked at me made me uncomfortable. I shifted slightly in my seat, my fingers tightening together.

Something about this did not feel right.

“You interest me,” he said quietly. “Everything about you.”

My stomach tightened.

I did not like the way this was going.

Then he said it.

“I want you to marry me.”

For a moment, I could not breathe.

I just stared at him, trying to understand what he meant.

But his face did not change.

He was serious.