Alexander's POV

She stormed out on him, heels clicking furiously against the cracked pavement, her brown hair whipping behind her like a banner of defiance. Alexander's jaw tightened as he watched her shove into the nearest cab without looking back.

No woman has ever walked out on him. They leaned closer, desperate for scraps of his attention. But not Emily Santiago. She was stubborn, sharp-tongued, and reckless. The kind of woman who burned bridges rather than beg.

It should have annoyed him. Instead, it ignited something low in his chest.

Before he could follow the cab with his eyes, his phone buzzed. One glance at the screen made his stomach harden. *Hospital.*

He answered instantly. "Doctor."

"Señor," came the doctor's brisk voice. "It's about Amara. She's taken a turn. Her fever spiked, and her blood levels were critically low. She needs a transfusion immediately."

" Then do it, I don't care about the cost" Alexander said with rage.

"The problem is-her type is RH null. Very rare."

Alexander's pulse faltered, just for a second. He turned away from the street, back into the shadow of the prison gates. "How bad... is it?" Alexander said .. his voice shaking.

"If we don't find a match within forty-eight hours..." The doctor trailed off. "She won't survive and we might end up losing her"

Silence slammed into him. For all the power Alexander Moretti wielded, for all the men who jumped at his orders, there were still moments that reduced him to just a father. A helpless, desperate father. It made him think if this was his punishment for all the lives he has taken.

"I'll find a match," he said coldly, steel coating his voice even as dread sank into his bones. "Money is not a problem."

"Understood, Señor. But time is...."

The line went dead. Alexander stood motionless for a moment, the hum of the city swallowed by the storm building in his head.

He hadn't wanted to come to this godforsaken prison today-business with an informant-but fate had forced him. Now, as he pocketed his phone, something in the air felt twisted. Emily's face flickered in his mind-those eyes, lit with fury and pain. He pushed it aside. He didn't have the luxury to dwell on fiery girls who hated his existence. Not when his daughter's life was bleeding out.

He turned to Luca, who was waiting by the car. "Put the word out. I want every donor registry, every back-alley doctor, every underground channel scoured. I don't care if the blood comes from Madrid, Moscow, or the moon. Find a match." he said,every word ryming with the beat of his heart.

Luca nodded. "And the reward?"

Alexander's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Two million. Cash. Anyone who can save my daughter's life gets paid in full. No negotiations."

Luca's brow arched, but he didn't question it. He knew better.

As Alexander turned away from the prison gates, the echo of Emily's voice drifted back to him-her sharp words, her defiance. He didn't know her, not really. But something about her lingered.

He shook it off.

Amara first. Business later.

And somewhere between the two, fate was already weaving a noose around both their necks.

He knew they would see again.

EMILY'S POV

The cab rattled through Madrid's narrow streets,brushing across shuttered shops and sleeping balconies. Emily leaned her forehead against the glass, shutting her eyes against the ache in her chest. She told herself walking out on that arrogant self indulged man had been the right thing. No man - no arrogant, self-indulged bastard like him - was worth her pride.

She just wanted to get home. To breathe. To find some scrap of peace before anything else.

But peace was already slipping through her fingers.

The cab stopped in front of her building, and she paid the driver with the last crumpled bills in her wallet. Her shoes clicked against the pavement as she climbed the steps, exhaustion weighing her limbs.

Then she froze.

Her front door was wide open.

Her heart hammered as she pushed forward. Inside, two bulky men in cheap suits moved like vultures through her living room. One carried her and Michael's photograph, wrapped carelessly in a newspaper. Another was hauling a box of her sister Lilithe's prison letters - the only pieces of her left outside those cold bars.

"Hey!" Emily's voice cracked. She rushed inside, her pulse a blur in her ears. "What the hell are you doing in my house? Put that down!" she screamed out of frustration, her heart rate spiked.

Neither man stopped. The taller one shoved a paper toward her face without slowing. His tone was flat, bored, as if he'd done this a hundred times before.

"Debt collection. The owner failed to pay. We take collateral." he said without any care in the world.

Emily's fingers trembled as she grabbed the sheet. Her eyes skimmed the bold numbers at the top: $184,000. Her name filled the debtor's line.

Her stomach dropped. "This isn't right. This is a mistake. I didn't borrow anything."

The man shrugged. "A mister Michael did. He signed you as guarantor. Which means now it's your problem, señorita."

Her throat went dry. Micheal.

She fumbled for her phone, fingers numb, and called him. It rang once, twice, before his voice came, smooth as ever - and just a little too calm.

"Em? What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Her voice broke, sharp with disbelief. "I walk into my home to find strangers stripping it bare...and they're waving a paper with *my name* on a loan for one hundred and eighty-four fucking thousand dollars! Micheal, tell me this is a mistake. Tell me you didn't do this."

A silence. Then a soft sigh. "Em, listen... I was going to handle it before you found out." He said calmly, like all this wasn't a big deal.

Her knees buckled against the wall. "Handle it? You put my name on a loan? My name?"

"I didn't have a choice," Micheal said quickly. "The debts were stacking up, and they needed security. You've always been better with money. I thought...I thought I'd pay it back before it touched you. Look, I will fix things... just let them take it, we will get them back, i promise.."

"I can't believe what I am hearing.. you must be out of your damn mind if you think I will let them take my things...what the hell did you do with the money? It's bad enough that you keep secrets from me, now you have to drag me into it" Emily's voice cracked, tears stinging her eyes. "You risked everything I have - our home, my sister's letters - for your gambling, your lies?"

"Please," he said, his voice slipping into pleading. "Just give me a little time. I swear I'll fix it. Don't give up on me now, Em. I'll get us out of this."

Her hand shook as she ended the call, staring blankly at the men carting away pieces of her life. The taller one smirked at her helplessness.

"You've got one week," he said, voice low and cold. "Pay up, or you're on the street. Everything goes. Understood?"

Emily didn't answer. She couldn't.

The men left with their boxes, and the house fell into suffocating silence. She sank onto the couch, her chest hollow, her world collapsing in pieces around her.

Micheal's betrayal wasn't a sharp knife. It was slow poison. And tonight, it was already eating her alive.

The door slammed shut behind the debt collectors, leaving only silence. A silence that gnawed at the edges of her sanity. She cried her heart out in her home,looking down at the repossession letter in her hands.

Emily stood in the middle of her living room, staring at the hollow spaces where her life used to be. The bookshelf was half stripped, her sister's letters gone, her memories vanished. Even the chipped coffee table she'd grown up with had been dragged away.

The house felt like a carcass, picked clean by vultures.

She lowered herself onto the couch, one of the few things left and buried her face in her hands. Rage pressed against her ribs, but so did grief, exhaustion, betrayal. Micheal's voice still echoed in her ears: I'll fix it. Don't give up on me now, Em.

Her heart wanted to scream at him, to demand why four years of loyalty had turned into this knife in her back. But her mind knew the truth already: Micheal wasn't going to fix anything. He never had. He never would. He was just filled with empty promises... still she had no clue why she was still with him.

The ticking clock on the wall was the only sound. Tick. Tick. Tick. Each second stretched into an eternity.

Thirty minutes passed before her phone buzzed against the armrest. She flinched at the sound, half hoping it was Micheal, half dreading that it might be. But the screen showed the hospital's number.

She hesitated, wiping her face quickly before answering. "Hello?"

"Emily?" It was Carmen, the night supervisor. Her tone was rushed, frazzled. "We're short-staffed again. A patient in emergency just coded and we need extra hands to sanitize, prep, and turn over the rooms. Can you come in? Now?"

Emily's throat tightened. Every part of her wanted to say no, to scream that she had nothing left to give. But rent was looming, her sister's legal fees were unfinished, and now there was a debt notice hanging over her head like a guillotine.

"Yes," she whispered, because there was no other answer. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Thank you, cariño. I'll mark you down."

The line went dead.

Emily looked around her half-empty home one last time,shoved the repossession notice into her bag, and stepped back into what she would call hopelessness.

Peace would have to wait. Survival didn't.

_

The bus jolted over a pothole, and Emily gripped the rail, staring blankly at the blur of Madrid nightlife outside. Laughter drifted from tapas bars, music spilled from neon-lit clubs, and couples strolled hand in hand across the cobblestones.

Her world had stopped hours ago, but the city never did.

She was still replaying the debt collectors' voices when the conversation from two men sitting across the aisle drifted to her ears.

"...two million dollars, just like that," one said in awe. "Moretti's desperate. They say his daughter's on her deathbed. She needs some rare blood type-RH null, I think."

The other whistled. "Two million for blood? Madre mía. I'd cut my own arm open if it matched."

Emily's chest tightened. Two million. Enough to wipe Micheal's debt clean, pay Lilithe's lawyer, and still have something left to breathe with. But Alexander Moretti? The name alone was poison.

She pressed her lips together and stared out the window.

By the time she reached the hospital, she thought she'd buried the idea. But Carmen, her supervisor, caught her by the locker room before she could even change into scrubs.

"Emily," Carmen said breathlessly, her hair frizzing from the long shift. "Have you heard?"

Emily forced a tired smile. "About what?" Emily asked as she sorted out her clothes from her locker.

"The donor offer that was set up by MR. MORETTI. Two million dollars if anyone matches the girl's blood type. I already tested, but I'm negative." She squeezed Emily's arm. "You should try. You're already here, cariño. What's the worst that could happen?"

Emily froze, the number ringing in her head. Two million.

Her throat tightened. "But I'm just a cleaner. They wouldn't-"

"Don't be ridiculous." Carmen pushed her gently toward the corridor. "Blood doesn't care if you mop floors or run companies. If you can save a life, you try."

After a couple of seconds, Emily gave in. " OK,but after my rounds" Emily said smiling softly. " that's great... I'll take you once you are done... just let me know when" Carmen said then quickly left the locker room.

---

The chemical smell of bleach clung to Emily's fingers as she wrung out the rag and wiped down the last of the bed rails. She was tired, worn thin, her mind still circling the disaster of her half-empty home, but work was work-at least here, she could bury herself in it.

Her supervisor had told her to test after her shift, but Emily wanted to finish her cleaning rounds first. It gave her something to focus on, something other than the hollow silence waiting for her back at home.

The final room on her list was Room 408. She pushed the cart forward, the mop wheels squeaking, and eased open the door.

Inside, the steady beeping of machines filled the silence. A little girl lay on the bed, her skin pale as porcelain, dark lashes fluttering against fragile cheeks. Her tiny frame seemed swallowed by the sheets. Emily's chest ached at the sight of her. She recognized her from whispers around the ward-Alexander's daughter. The one whose life hung by a thread.

Emily moved quietly, trying not to disturb the child, but as she bent to wipe the floor near the bed, she felt a gentle tug.

Her heart jumped.

The little girl's small hand had fisted in the hem of her shirt. Emily froze, then slowly turned her head. Amara's eyes had opened-wide, glassy, but aware.

"Mommy..." the girl whispered, voice weak and trembling.

Emily's throat tightened. "No, sweetheart, I'm not-"

But she couldn't finish. Amara's grip only tightened, as though letting go would cost her something she couldn't afford. Emily, moved by an instinct she didn't dare question, reached out with her free hand, hovering over the child's face. Her fingertips trembled as they neared her cheek-

The door burst open.

"Amara!"

Emily barely had time to look up before the slap came. A sharp sting exploded across her face, so hard she staggered back.

Sophia.

Every photo, every magazine cover Emily had ever seen of her-perfect hair, flawless beauty, the kind of face that could sell lies and dreams-now twisted with fury. She stood at the foot of the bed, trembling in outrage.

"How dare you," Sophia hissed. "How dare you put your filthy hands on my daughter!" Sophia fumed, staring at Emily as though she was an abomination.

Emily touched her burning cheek, stunned. "I wasn't-"

"You weren't what? Do you think being a cleaner makes you entitled to touch my daughter?" Sophia's voice rose, sharp and venomous. "Do you know who she is? Who I am? And you...standing here, disgusting, trying to pretend you belong in the same air as us." She spoke with hate and rage as though Emily wasn't human and didn't deserve to be one.

The door opened again, this time her supervisor and one of the doctors rushed in, alarmed by the commotion.

Sophia turned to them, her fury switching targets. "Who gave this thing permission to come into my daughters room... and more importantly the audacity to touch her?" Sophia asked. Waiting patiently like a python ready to strike at the responder.

"I did mam'm ... .but I can assure you that this is all..." Carmen said, her voice shaky. Why wouldn't it be? Everyone knew that messing with Sophia or Amara was like slapping Alexander Moretti and no one was willing to lose their life for that.

"I want her fired. Right now." Sophia said. Looking Carmen dead in the eyes with no sympathy whatsoever. "I want her out of this hospital right now and see to it that no one offers her a job in this city.... Otherwise I will see to it that whosoever it is that goes against my word exits this world without a proper goodbye...do I make myself clear" she turned around. Signaling two hefty men ill black suits to come in.

"No!" I stood in front of Carmen like a child protecting her favourite toy. " How evil can you be?" i said.knowing very well that my sharp tongue might be the reason for my own demise. "what?" Sophia stood there, bewildered by the audacity I had.

"So you can talk? I thought you were dumb as well as useless "Sophia said like the witch she was. "You came in here throwing a tantrum; not even caring to know what really happened. Yes she is your daughter and no one is denying that fact. But Carmen didn't know I was coming in here to clean and I had no evil intentions towards your child. If you had calmed down like a responsible and sensible mother that you so claim to be rather than being melodramatic as though this was a scene from one of your sophopras... You would have seen that i was just helping and your daughter thought I was her mother"

Before Emily could make another statement. Sophia's hands went across Emily's face for the second time. "How dare you? How dare you refer to yourself as the mother of my child? How dare you ever think you could be me or live my life?" Sophia fumed with anger.

"That's enough!" a familiar voice from the hallway said just before entering the room. My heart did a summersault; seeing the same irritating self indulged man from outside the prison. ' What is he doing here?'

"Mr.Morreti, I am deeply sorry for this. I will handle it now" the head doctor said. Looking at him with utmost fear.

'Did I hear him right? Did he just refer to this crazy man as morreti... it was at this moment I knew my life had come to an end. The same family this city fears the most is the same family I just had to mess with today of all day. If I didn't know any better, I would think I had a bad luck charm on me.'

He stood right in front of me. Daring as I remember him to be. "We meet again sweet cheeks" he whispered and this time around he had that look that would make a woman's heart melt.

Oh lord save me.

I can't believe I am standing in front of Mr.Moretti; the most powerful mafia boss in Spain– and I had the audacity to speak to him rudely earlier. But it's not like he didn't deserve it. Now, see where my pride has gotten me to. If I don't die today, I won't kill Michael when I next see him. Oh lord help me'

He just stood there, glaring at me like he was waiting patiently to eat my soul.

"I want her out!" Sophia jabbed a manicured finger toward Emily, who stood stiff, her hands still clutching the cleaning rag she'd been using only minutes ago. "This... this nobody should not be anywhere near my daughter!"

Her eyes glistened with false tears as she turned to Alexander, her voice breaking with carefully crafted tremors. "Do you know what I walked in on? This woman was hovering over Amara, touching her like she had the right! What if something had happened? What if she had hurt her? Alex, I cannot- I will not allow this! For the sake of our child, send her away!"

Emily's throat tightened, but she refused to shrink back. Her eyes burned as she looked at Sophia. "That's not true, I wasn't doing anything wrong. Your daughter called out in her sleep. I was nearby, and I only leaned closer. That's it. Nothing more."

Her voice wavered but carried defiance. "And you shouldn't blame my supervisor for any of this either. I followed orders, I did my job. If anyone should be questioned, it's me, not her."

Sophia let out a mocking laugh, sharp and cruel. "How dare you call me a liar? Who the hell do you think you are? You are just a nobody, a cleaner.. you are just dirt. Job? You call wiping floors a job? That's all you are-someone who scrubs dirt. Don't stand there and act like you're some saint. My daughter doesn't need a cleaner pretending to be her mother." Sophia said, attacking without any sympathy. She came in front of Emily throwing her venom around.

Emily flinched, but lifted her chin. "I'm not pretending to be anyone's mother. I was simply-"

"She's lying!" Sophia cut her off, her voice rising hysterically. She spun to Alexander, clutching at his arm with desperate theatrics. "Don't you see? She's just like the rest of them. She thinks if she get close to Amara she can replace me. But news flash, Alexander is mine and no one is taking him away from me. Her voice cracked with perfectly rehearsed grief. " If she doesn't apologize and leave this hospital right now,I'll take Amara away. I won't let her stay in a place where strangers can replace her own mother." Sophia threatened, placing her hands on Alexander's Chest

The words hung in the air like poison.

Emily's breath caught. Sophia had turned the whole scene into a circus of lies. And Alexander... Alexander stood silent, his sharp gaze flickering between them.

Finally, his voice rumbled, low and cutting. "Sophia... where were you?"

The question froze the room. Sophia blinked, stunned. "W-What?"

"You're so busy accusing others of being near our daughter," Alexander pressed, his voice growing harder, colder, "yet you weren't. You claim to be the concerned mother, but where were you when Valerie was crying out? You weren't in this room. You weren't even close by." he bit back with anger in his eyes.

Sophia faltered, her lips parting as her carefully constructed mask began to crack.

Alexander's eyes narrowed. "Do you know how many times you've left her to chase parties, designers, photographers? Do you know how many times I've had to pick up the slack for your absence? And now you dare to question someone who was only doing her job?"

Gasps rose from a couple of nurses nearby. Sophia's face went scarlet. "You-you dare speak to me like that? In front of her?" She spat the word like venom, glaring at Emily.

Emily, however, refused to back down. Her fists trembled at her sides, her eyes blazing. "I don't need you to defend me, Mr. Moretti," she snapped suddenly, turning on him, her voice trembling with fury and pain.

Both Alexander and Sophia stilled.

Emily's chest heaved as words poured out of her like fire. "Why is it that everywhere I go, everything I do, somehow you are there-at the center of every disaster that ruins my day? I've been insulted, humiliated, accused, and now you stand here deciding my character as if you know me at all." I said not caring about the consequences or the fact that for some reason his eyes suddenly had a weird and uncomfortable effect on me.

Her voice cracked, but her anger only sharpened. "You don't know me. You don't know what I've been through. All you see is a woman with a rag in her hands and a low-class background. And if quitting this job is the only way to end this madness-then I quit! And you can forget about the sorry ass apology you are looking for" she said facing Sophia with rage in her eyes and her palms curved into a fist.

Alexander's jaw tightened, but she wasn't finished.

"I don't need your pity. I don't need you standing there like some savior defending me. Because the truth is-you don't know me, and you never will."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Sophia smirked, satisfied for once, but Alexander stood rooted, his heart thundering. Emily's words, raw and sharp, had cut through him deeper than any accusation Sophia could conjure. For the first time in years, Alexander Black's composure faltered.

He had been insulted, yes-but more than that, he had been shaken. Because for the first time... he realized someone wasn't afraid of him or his title.

And that didn't just terrify him... it sparked curiosity and interest more than anything else.

___

Emily walked out of the hospital room with her head down, each step heavier than the last. Her chest ached like someone had wrapped chains around it, and behind her eyes, the tears she fought so hard to hold back pressed and burned.

Why did I say that? she scolded herself silently, her throat tightening. Why did I let my stupid pride ruin everything?

Her fingers clenched the rag still in her hands, the symbol of her job-her last shred of stability. Yes, she worked at the library and cafe but as silly as it may sound... The pay put together was nothing compared to this job-now slipping away because she couldn't bite her tongue. The corridor blurred, her vision swimming, but she forced herself to keep moving. She refused to let them see her break, not here, not in front of him.

"Emily!" Carmen's voice called softly from behind, quick footsteps echoing as she caught up. The older woman's eyes were wide with concern, her hands wringing nervously.

"Emily, wait-please." She reached out, catching Emily's arm. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think it would end like this. If I hadn't sent you into that room-"

Emily shook her head, her voice hoarse. "Don't apologize, Carmen. You were just doing your job. This... this was me. I ruined it. I always ruin everything."

Her voice cracked, and before she could stop it, a tear escaped, trailing hot down her cheek. She wiped it away angrily, her frustration boiling over. "Why does my life keep falling apart? Why does every choice I make backfire on me?"

Carmen's heart ached for her. She squeezed Emily's arm gently. "You didn't ruin anything. That man-Alexander-he's complicated, too powerful for his own good. But you... you stood up for yourself. You should be proud of that."

Emily laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "Proud? I just walked out on the only job keeping me afloat. I don't even know how I'll pay rent next week."

For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the sound of distant footsteps and the steady beeping of machines behind closed doors. Then Carmen lowered her voice, as if afraid someone might overhear.

"Emily... have you thought about taking the test?"

Emily froze, blinking at her in shock. "What?"

"The compatibility test," Carmen whispered urgently. "I know it sounds crazy, but think about it-the money they pay for it would change everything for you. It's more than you'd make in six years, maybe more. And if you're compatible..." she hesitated, glancing away, "your life could change overnight."

Emily shook her head sharply, her stomach twisting. "Carmen, no. That's not me. I'm not going to throw myself into something like that just because I'm desperate especia after what I just went through.. i dont think I want to have anything to do with that family."

"Desperate doesn't mean foolish, Emily," Carmen said firmly. "It means survival. And you deserve a chance to survive, don't you? And with what happened shouldn't you find some sort of relief"

Emily swallowed hard, torn between the weight of her pride and the brutal truth of her circumstances. She could still hear her own words ringing in the hospital room-her anger, her defiance, her reckless pride-and now, out here, all she felt was small. Small, broke, and painfully alone.

Her hands shook as she whispered, more to herself than to Carmen, "I don't know if I can survive much more of this."

And for the first time, the thought of taking that test didn't feel so impossible. " OK... I'll do it" Emily said, giving Carmen a soft smile.

" That's great, let's go" Carmen said as she guided Emily towards the clothes hallway.

~~~

Emily sat on the edge of the examination table, fingers twisted together so tightly her knuckles turned white. The sterile smell of disinfectant pressed around her, her heart beating far too loudly in her chest.

Carmen stood close, rubbing her shoulder. "It's just a test, sweetheart. Nothing more. You'll come back tomorrow for the results. Whatever happens, happens."

Emily bit her lip. "And if it's... bad? If I don't pass?" Emily stated with so much disbelief.

Carmen's smile was gentle, though her eyes carried a weight Emily didn't quite understand. "Then nothing changes. You keep going, one day at a time, just like you always have."

The doctor came in briefly, professional and detached, explaining the procedure. Emily nodded, barely hearing the words, her mind floating somewhere between fear and hope. It didn't take long-blood drawn, papers signed, instructions given.

"Come back tomorrow for the results," the doctor said briefly before leaving the room.

Emily exhaled shakily, as though she'd been holding her breath the entire time.

Carmen turned to her, squeezing her hands. "There. It's done. And now, no matter what comes of it, you know you tried."

Emily's eyes softened, tears prickling at the edges. She whispered, "Thank you, Carmen. For everything. If it wasn't for you... I don't know what I'd do."

Carmen pulled a key from her purse and pressed it into Emily's palm. "Here. Go to my place. Rest. I won't be back until later, but the fridge is stocked. Take a long shower. Sleep. You need it."

Emily's lips trembled as she hugged the woman tightly, burying her face against her shoulder. "You're my angel, Carmen."

"Go on, now," Carmen whispered, stroking her hair once before letting her go. "And don't you dare give up on yourself."

Emily left the hospital with a fragile sense of relief, clutching Carmen's keys like they were a lifeline.

But she didn't know that eyes were already on her.

From across the polished corridor, leaning against the glass wall with a deceptively calm stance, Alexander watched her go. His face betrayed nothing, but in his eyes, something dark flickered-a spark of interest, unwanted yet unshakable.

The proud little cleaner who had stood up to him, who had spit her defiance in his face, now looked small and breakable as she walked away. And yet... he couldn't stop watching her.

"Sir?" One of his men approached quietly, bowing his head.

Alexander's jaw tightened as he gave the order. His voice was low, dangerous, filled with command. "Look into her. Everything. Name, past, family... I want to know who she really is."

The man bowed again. "Yes, sir."

As Emily stepped out into the night, clutching Carmen's keys and whispering prayers for a better tomorrow, she had no idea that her every step had just been claimed by a man she swore she hated-yet whose gaze would never let her go.

-

Lilith's pov

I don't know how she will take this news. But I have to let her know.

~~~

Dear Emily,

By the time you read this, my heart will already be heavy. The guards informed me today that I'll be transferred to another prison facility upstate. They say it's for "administrative reasons," but we both know what that really means-it's their way of pulling threads loose, of separating people before they grow too close.

This means that next weekend will be the last time we'll see each other.

I don't know how to put into words what you've come to mean to me. In a place where hope is stripped, where days bleed into nights and nothing feels alive, you brought a light. Your kindness, your stubborn way of never looking at me like I was just another convict-you reminded me I was still human. You reminded me I was still worth remembering.

Don't you dare let anyone make you feel small, Emily. You're stronger than you know, even if you don't see it right now. I've watched you face humiliation, anger, and judgment, yet you still stand tall. That kind of strength can't be broken. Promise me you'll hold onto it, no matter what the world throws at you.

And when you think of me, don't picture the prison walls. Picture us laughing at the table, sharing secrets like we were free women again. That's the memory I want you to keep.

Next weekend, I'll hold you tighter than I ever have before. And after that... we'll let the Moon and stars carry the rest of our words.

With love,

Lilith

~~

I really hope she gets this letter as soon as possible. I sealed the letter inside the brown envelope and dropped it in the mail box as we were outside serving our daily punishment of clearing the environment. This is all my fault and I can for any reason keep letting her take the punishment, I have to talk her out of taking me out... she needs to live her life.

BACK AT THE HOSPITAL

The faint beep of Amara's heart monitor was the only sound Alexander wanted to hear, the steady rhythm reminding him that his daughter was safe, that she was the only thing that mattered in this sterile room. It gave him peace to know he still had his daughter and would do anything and everything to shield her from his god forsaken world filled with pain, blood and regret

She was the one piece of humanity he had left...the only thing he doesn't regret.

He brushed his thumb gently across her tiny hand, a rare softness in his usually unyielding demeanor.

But of course, Sophia couldn't leave well enough alone.

She leaned against him, pressing her presence where it wasn't welcome, her perfume sickly sweet in the air. "Alex," she whispered, her voice cracking with practiced emotion, "we have to protect her. You and I-we're all she has."

Alexander's jaw tightened. He didn't move his hand from his daughter, didn't even look at Sophia. "Cut it out." His voice was ice, sharp enough to slice through the fragile act she was clinging to.

Sophia flinched, blinking up at him with wide eyes. "What?"

"This isn't one of your scenes, Sophia," he said coldly, finally turning his gaze on her. He flinched even being so close to her.

"You don't get to play the grieving mother when all you've done here is humiliate another woman, twist her into some kind of threat, because you thought she was trying to get to me."

Sophia's lips parted, her face shifting from wounded to offended. "She was! Can't you see? That girl...she's not innocent. She's a stalker, Alex. You think it's a coincidence she's here, near our daughter, looking at you like-like you're her salvation? I know women like her. I know their tricks. I was only protecting you... protecting us" she said, moving closer to him, looking him in the eyes as though the last words were meant to mean something.

Alexander let out a short, humorless laugh, leaning back in his chair. "Protecting us? From what? A woman you just met? A cleaner doing her job? Don't flatter yourself, Sophia. Not everything in this world revolves around you-or your paranoia. And let this be the last time you try to use our daughter to get close to me." He shot her a dead glare which sent chills down her spine.

But Sophia wasn't one to ever give up on what she wants.

Sophia's nostrils flared. She reached for his arm, her manicured nails grazing his sleeve as she leaned closer, voice dripping with feigned intimacy. " You're right, she is just a cleaner and we shouldn't let her make us fight" he looked at her with disgust in his eyes... The only thing he could do was stand there and tighten his fist so he wouldn't react. Even though he was finding it hard not to.

Alex... why can't you just see I'm the only one who's ever stood by you? Those women will ruin you. But me-" Her lips tilted toward his, a desperate attempt to bridge the distance between them.

He caught her chin in a firm grip and pushed her face back, his eyes burning into hers with deadly calm. "Don't."

Her breath hitched.

"Don't you ever try that again," Alexander said, voice low, dangerous. " Ruin me?... That's rich coming from the woman; who abandoned her child a week after birth and magically showed up two months before her breakdown. You have never been there Sophia, you weren't there when she said her first words ,you weren't there when she took her first step and you damn weren't there when she had her first injury and cried herself to sleep questioning whether you loved her or not for not being around.

I rather have anyone around even the cleaner than a woman like you...You and I are done, Sophia. You think I've forgotten why? You cheated. You destroyed whatever was left between us. You've never been a wife, and you sure as hell have never been a mother. So don't start pretending now."

He spat out making sure every word hit twice as hard as he intended it too... and for the first time in years he could see real pain in her eyes, not those rehearsed ones from her scenes.

Her face went pale, rage flickering in her eyes at his words.

He turned back to Valerie, softening only for his daughter as he adjusted her blanket. "The only person I'll protect in this room is her. Not you. Not your pride. Her... so please do us both a favour and leave. I don't want her waking up to find out her mother caused a scene."

And for the first time since their divorce, Sophia realized that Alexander meant every word.

The house was quiet, too quiet. Emily lay curled on the couch in Carmen's modest living room, Carmen's spare blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The keys Carmen had pressed into her palm earlier sat on the coffee table like a reminder that this was just a kind gesture.

But no matter how tightly she closed her eyes, sleep wouldn't come.

The clock ticked relentlessly, each second dragging her closer to dawn and the results that could alter her life forever. Time felt slower this time around, every second her gaze turned towards the clock and still their wasn't much difference. Her mind spun with questions, with fears: What if I am not a match? What if the test was pointless? What if tomorrow is just another disappointment? What if I end up disappointing Lilith?

She sat up, pressing her palms to her face, whispering into the silence. "Please, just let something go right for once..."she whispered .as though she was expecting some sort of reply but all that came next was.

Her phone buzzed, startling her. The screen lit up with a familiar name. Michael.

For a moment, she hesitated. A part of her wanted to throw the phone aside, to let him fade away like the disappointment he'd been too many times before. But another part-lonely, tired, desperate for comfort-pressed accept.

"Emily," Michael's voice poured through the line, smooth and warm like honey. "Thank God you picked up. I am at the house, where are you? Are you ok?."he asked his voice filled with concern

Emily exhaled shakily, leaning back into the couch. "Michael... I am fine, I am at a colleague's place... I was too tired to come home, especially a home that feels more like a house ... you know what, it's late. Can we talk in the morning. I am really tired" her voice layed back, yet couldn't hide the irritation.

She couldn't tell him about what happened at the hospital, not because of how he would react; the shock. But, the fact that it wouldn't change anything and their was nothing he could do.

"I know and I am sorry" he said quickly, "but I couldn't sleep. Not when I know you're out there, probably worrying yourself sick. Listen to me, sweetheart-I've got this covered. All of it. You don't have to break your back working like this anymore. I told you, I want to build a life with you. A family. Just us. You, me, and... everything we've dreamed of."

Her heart twisted at his words. She wanted so badly to believe him, to let the warmth of his promises drown out the gnawing doubt.

"Michael..." her voice trembled, caught between yearning and fear. "You've said that before. And then-"

He cut her off softly, like a man trying to soothe a child. "I know. I messed up before. I wasn't ready then. But I am now. Trust me. I'll make it right. I'll make us right. You'll see."

Emily pressed her hand to her chest, trying to quiet the storm inside. She wanted stability, safety, love-the things his words painted so perfectly. But reality was colder than dreams, and deep down she knew Michael's promises had cracks running through them.

She wished she could believe him this time around, but she knew they were never going to happen especially with the problems in their lives.

Still, in the dim light of Carmen's living room, with dawn still hours away and her loneliness pressing in, she clung to his voice like it was the only lifeline she had.

"I hope you mean it this time," she whispered.

"I do," Michael said firmly, with that same charm that had once swept her off her feet. "Tomorrow will be the start of everything, Emily. Trust me."

And though her gut twisted with doubt, she closed her eyes and let herself believe,if only for a moment.. that maybe he was telling the truth.

They both said there goodbyes. Emily desperately trying to keep her feelings afloat,but with each passing day... the tidal wave of pain and empty promises keeps pushing it down.

---

~~THE NEXT DAY

Emily stood at the hospital entrance, a paper bag of donuts in one hand, a cardboard tray with two steaming coffees in the other. She hadn't slept-not a wink. Her eyes burned, her body ached, but her spirit clung stubbornly to hope.

For hours through the night, she had spun little dreams in her head-fantasies of walking Lilith out of those prison gates, of finding a tiny apartment where the two of them could finally live, laugh, and maybe... maybe she could even have a chance at love. Maybe Michael's words weren't all lies.

"Open mind, open heart," she whispered to herself, shifting her grip on the coffee as she pushed through the hospital's glass doors.

The waiting area was buzzing more than usual, a steady tide of patients and nurses, voices rising and falling with urgency. Carmen appeared down the hall, her hair in a messy bun, her scrubs wrinkled, exhaustion stamped all over her face. She still somehow managed to smile when she spotted Emily.

"You know you could pass as a doctor or a nurse now" Emily teased before handing her one of the donoughts and coffee.

"You didn't have to," Carmen said, taking the coffee Emily offered. "But bless you for it and as for me being called a nurse, you can say that.I've been running on fumes since the accident last night." Carmen breathed a sigh of relief as she scanned the busy room checking for any unattended patient and what needed cleaning.

Emily smiled faintly, her own exhaustion tucked behind her eyes. "You've been helping everyone else. The least I could do is help you." Emily flashed a smile at Carmen before taking a sip of her coffee. Mean while her heart has been doing a summersault since she passed through the doors of the hospital.

" Oh, before I forget. I remember overhearing some of the nurses saying the results for all the tests conducted yesterday are out... we should go check it out" Carmen said as she turned facing the direction towards the doctors office.

Together, they made their way to the diagnostics wing, Emily's pulse hammering in her chest. Each step closer to the results felt like stepping closer to destiny.

The doctor's office was sterile, his words clinical at first-but then the phrase Emily had been praying for spilled out.

"Emily Jacobs?...You're a match."

It took a second for the meaning to sink in. Then Emily's lips parted, her hands flew to her face, and tears blurred everything. A choked laugh broke from her chest as Carmen squeezed her shoulder.

"Thank you, thank you..." Emily whispered, over and over, like a prayer of gratitude. She turned to Carmen, clasping her hand. "You're my angel. I couldn't have done any of this without you."

Carmen, a little startled by the tears, gave a sheepish smile. "Don't thank me, Em. This is all you. You did this for her."

The doctor cleared his throat gently. "I'll inform Mr. Moretti at once. He'll want to know immediately."

At the mention of him, Emily's heart skipped. A cold shiver ran down her spine, colliding with an odd warmth she couldn't name. Just the thought of being near him unsettled her-an intensity she didn't want to feel. Not for him.

"Can I... see the little girl?" Emily asked softly.

Minutes later, she stood at the little girl's bedside. Amara's face lit up when she saw her.

"Angel" she whispered, her small arms opening wide.

Emily leaned down, hugging her carefully. "Morning, sunshine." She smiled, tugging a strand of hair that was close to Amara's eyes behind her ear.

"How are you doing?" Emily asked as she stared at Amara's beautiful eyes. She admired Amara's strength; going through all this and still having this beautiful energy.

She felt so bad for her. 'No child deserves to go through what she is going through' Emily thought to herself.

"I am fine... you look familiar " Amara said while trying to sit up on the bed. Emily saw how she was struggling and assisted her.

"I was here last night.. but you weren't fully awake... never mind, I just came to keep you company... You called me Angel, right? So your angel is here" Emily chuckled, holding Amara's beautiful and soft hands

The girl's delighted laugh filled the room, and Emily laughed with her. Relief poured through her chest like sunlight after a storm. For a while, they joked, Emily pulling silly faces, Amara giggling so loud it startled a passing nurse.

And that's when he walked in.

Alexander.

He filled the doorway, tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a suit that probably cost more than Emily had ever touched in her life. His presence was magnetic, commanding. Hiis eyes softened as he saw Amara's laughter.

His daughter's joy warmed the edges of his famously cold heart. But what unsettled him more was the sight of Emily beside her, her smile radiant, her presence... different.

"Daddy!" Amara chirped, waving him closer.

Emily's laughter died, her smile faltering as the weight of his gaze settled on her. She turned slowly, standing awkwardly as silence wrapped around them.

"Emily, this is my daddy," Amara said proudly. "Daddy, this is Emily. She's my angel."

Emily swallowed, unsure if she should bow, shake his hand, or simply vanish.

But then, to her shock, Alexander extended his hand toward her. His eyes were steady, unreadable, but his voice carried a low warmth that made her pulse stutter.

"Sweet cheeks," he said. Smirking while looking into her eyes. Unapologetic of the words that flew out of his mouth.

Emily's eyes widened. Heat rushed to her face, not from pleasure but indignation, disgust, and confusion all tangled together. Sweet cheeks? In front of his daughter? What kind of man called a stranger that? How many other women had he charmed with that line?

Her hand hovered, hesitant, before she shook his. "Emily," she said stiffly, her voice thin.

Alexander studied her. He'd expected her to blush, simper, maybe giggle like women usually did when he teased. But instead, she looked... appalled. The flicker of disdain in her eyes intrigued him. Most wouldn't dare show it.

"I'm Alexander," he said next, his tone deliberate.

Emily blinked. Not Mr. Moretti. Not the name that carried weight and power like a crown. Just Alexander.

Amara's head tilted in surprise. "Daddy?...you never let people call you by your first name."

Alexander's lips twitched, but he didn't look away from Emily. "Some people earn exceptions."

Emily's heart stumbled again, her grip tightening on the herm of her blouse. She wasn't sure whether to be honored, insulted, or terrified.

"Thank you for being with my daughter," Alexander continued, his voice low, silk edged with steel. "She hasn't laughed like this in weeks."

Emily cleared her throat, finally breaking his gaze. "She's... she's a wonderful girl. She deserves to laugh every day."

Amara grinned between them, oblivious to the tension. "Daddy? Did you buy my chocolates? If you didn't I will tell my Angel to take you away."

The room stilled at those words. Emily forced a smile at Amara, but inside, her thoughts were racing.

Angel. Sweet cheeks. Alexander. Take him away?

She wasn't sure what game he was playing, but one thing was certain-being near him was dangerous, and not just because of who he was. It was dangerous because of how she felt around him or by the mention of his name.

--

Emily stood there, feeling awkward,yet satisfied with the fact that she met Amara and made her laugh. Now, she would like nothing more than to leave. She meant to leave quietly, but Alexander's voice stopped her.

"Emily," he said, his gaze steady. "Stay a while longer. Amara seems... brighter with you here."

Emily hesitated, shifting on her feet. "I shouldn't intrude, you are her now. I was only..."

"...keeping my daughter smiling," Alexander interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "That counts for something. Besides, I was just here to see her and talk to the doctor, I still have some important things to take care of"

"Please?" Amara chimed in, pressing closer to Emily. "Daddy doesn't know how to tell jokes. He just stares at people until they get scared."

Emily tried to hide her laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. Alexander caught it, his brow lifting, and for the first time in a long while, his lips curved faintly.

"Then perhaps I need a teacher," he murmured.

Emily's cheeks warmed. She sat back down, Amara leaning into her, filling the space with giggles and whispered secrets. Alexander watched silently, his ruthless mask softening as he took in the sight of his daughter so alive, so joyful. And yet, his eyes kept returning to Emily. Something about her presence stirred a strange calm in him, one he hadn't known he missed.

The moment shattered when the door opened sharply.

"Alexander," Sophia's voice cut through like poisoned honey. She swept inside, heels clicking, perfume far too heavy for a hospital. Her eyes landed on Emily instantly, sharp and disdainful. "You again?"

Emily stiffened.

Sophia stepped forward, brushing a hand along Alexander's sleeve as though she belonged there. "Why is she still here? Haven't you done enough for your little charity case?"

"Mommy," Amara frowned, clutching Emily tighter. "Don't be mean."

Sophia's lips twitched, but she didn't break stride. "oh honey, mommy's not being mean... I am just putting someine in her place" she pressed on, pitching her voice for effect. "She's trying to worm her way into your good graces. Into Amara's life. Into yours."

Emily's throat tightened, but before she could speak, Sophia leaned closer, her tone dropping, silky and poisonous. "I will always protect what's mine. Alexander. I know women like this...lonely, desperate. Stalkers." Her lips parted as she tilted her chin up to him. " I am your wife and the mother of your child and it's about time someone gets that."

She leaned in to kiss him.

The air turned to steel.

Alexander shifted, blocking her without raising his voice. "Sophia." His tone was soft enough not to unsettle Amara but edged with warning. "Not here."

His daughter's wide eyes flicked between them, confusion etched into her small face. Emily's chest burned at the spectacle, but Alexander stood tall, expression unreadable.

"I'll be right back," he told Amara calmly, brushing her cheek with a tenderness that startled Emily. Then, without another word, he took Sophia firmly by the arm and guided her out into the hall.

Emily's eyes followed them till they were both out of sight, wondering how this sweet child could be the daughter of such a paranoid witch.

The door shut behind them.

---

IN THE HALLWAY

Alexander's composure cracked like ice under fire. He spun Sophia to face him, his voice dropping low and lethal.

"Have you no shame?" he demanded, eyes blazing. "Our daughter is eleven. Eleven, Sophia. And you thought it wise to put on a show like that in front of her? To humiliate another woman...someone you don't even know...just to claw for attention?"

Sophia's jaw tightened. "I was only-"

"Only what?" he cut her off, stepping closer, his presence towering. "Making yourself look like a cheap distraction in front of your child? If you can't be a mother to her, at least learn to be a good example." His voice dripped disdain. "Not a cheap slut parading around hospital rooms."

Sophia flinched, her painted confidence slipping for the briefest second. But Alexander didn't stop.

"You forfeited the right to call yourself my wife the day you cheated. Don't make me strip you of the right to call yourself Amara's mother as well. Behave yourself-or stay out of her life entirely."

He released her arm with a final glance of cold disgust and turned away, leaving Sophia trembling in the hallway as he walked back into the room.

-

AMARA'S HOSPITAL ROOM

The silence after the door shut was heavy, pressing against the walls of the room. Amara stared at the space her parents had just vacated, her little hand tightening around Emily's.

"They're always like this," she whispered, her voice small but certain. "They think I don't know, but I do. They don't love each other. Not anymore." a little tear escaped from the side of her left eye.

Emily's chest ached. No child should have to say words like that, no child should have to watch the cracks in her parents' lives widen. She tucked a strand of Amara's hair behind her ear and pressed a hand gently over hers.

"Sometimes grown-ups forget what matters most. But what actually matters is you and they will never stop loving you, no matter what happens." Emily said softly, choosing her words with care. "You shoikdnt allow it bother you, sweetheart. You're too bright for that."

Amara's lower lip trembled. "I just wish... I wish we could be a real family. Like the ones in the stories."

Emily's throat tightened. She wanted to give her truth, but instead, she offered the only comfort she could. She bent closer, brushing her thumb across the girl's small hand.

"You will be, Amara. You'll get better, stronger, and one day everything will feel wonderful again. I promise."

The child looked up at her with those big eyes that seemed far too knowing for her age. "Do you really believe that?"

Emily smiled, though it felt heavy, painted across a heart that knew the weight of empty promises. "Yes," she whispered. "And until then, you're not alone. You've got your daddy. And for now... you've got me."

Amara leaned into her, and Emily wrapped an arm around the girl, holding her until the door creaked open again.

Alexander stepped inside, his sharp presence cutting through the warmth of their embrace. His gaze lingered on Emily, and something unspoken passed between them before he turned his attention to his daughter.

"Sweetheart," he said quietly, brushing a hand along Amara's cheek. Then, after a beat, he looked at Emily. "I owe you an apology. For Sophia's behavior."

Emily shook her head, managing a small, soft smile. "There's no need. I understand."

She stood, smoothing her clothes as though preparing her escape. She had to leave-before the truth slipped out. She didn't want him knowing she was the match for his daughter... she didn't plan on being entangled with this family... if not for circumstances, she wouldn't be here either.

But as she neared the door, Alexander's voice caught her.

"Why did you come today, Emily?... After last night?" His tone wasn't accusing, but probing, heavy with suspicion.

Emily paused, her back to him. She clenched her hands, forcing the lie to her lips. "I just wanted to check up. On her." She nodded faintly toward Amara.

Silence stretched. She could feel his eyes on her, could almost sense the disbelief etched into his face. He didn't buy it, not for a second.

But Emily kept her chin up, forced her steps forward, and walked out before his gaze could pin her any deeper.

Behind her, Alexander stood motionless, his jaw tightening, questions stirring in his chest he wasn't yet ready to voice.

---

The door clicked shut behind Emily, leaving the room quiet again save for the steady beep of the monitors.

Alexander remained where he stood, one hand still resting lightly on Amara's shoulder. His gaze lingered on the space Emily had just vacated, the soft imprint of her presence somehow more palpable than Sophia's dramatic storm.

Intriguing. That was the word that struck him, though it felt too simple. Women had circled him his entire life-society beauties, ambitious schemers, polished heiresses who knew exactly what to say to lure a man like him closer. He had grown so used to their tricks that he could read them before they even opened their mouths.

But Emily... Emily was different.

She hadn't tried to catch his attention. If anything, she wanted to avoid it. No painted smiles, no fluttering lashes, no coy advances. Just sincerity, raw and unguarded, as if she had no interest in him beyond the little girl lying in the bed.

That alone made her dangerous.

He lowered himself into the chair by Amara's bed, his expression unreadable as his daughter leaned against him, content with his presence. "She's nice," Amara murmured drowsily, already half-asleep again.

Alexander's hand brushed gently over her hair. "Yes," he said quietly, his voice softer