She cried harder than ever before after hearing that, as if her chest were being ripped apart-the same agonizing feeling she'd experienced the night she lost her family. But this pain, this betrayal, cut deeper.

Daniel's disloyalty hurt, but Lucy-she wasn't just her best friend; Lucy was the only family Jane had left. Jane had begged her husband to take Lucy in when she had nowhere else to go. She'd pleaded for him to give Lucy a job, to keep her safe. And now, this was how she was repaid?

A strangled sob tore from Jane's throat as she clutched her chest, gasping for air. "Doctor, please," she managed between ragged breaths, her voice thick with panic. "can you run the check up again, can you Check if my heart is okay...I-I think something's wrong. Why does it hurt so much? or do I need a heart transplant too?" she urged for answers for explanations

The doctor's expression softened with pity. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way. We wanted to wait until you were stronger before telling you."

Jane swallowed hard, her voice trembling under the weight of her emotions. "Then tell me now. How am I still alive? Who saved me? And why... how will I survive now?"

The doctor hesitated before answering. "An anonymous benefactor. He didn't just save you, Jane-he also donated a kidney to you."

"He waited for you to wake up," the doctor continued, "but he passed away two years ago."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Why would a stranger go to such lengths for her? Why would someone sacrifice so much when they didn't even know her?

"Do I have to pay him back?" Jane's voice was barely a whisper. "And how did he die?"

The doctor only sighed and walked away, leaving her drowning in emotions she couldn't process.

A few minutes later, Dante entered carrying a tray of neatly cut fruit, but food was the last thing on her mind. She needed answers.

"Dante," she said, gripping the sheets tightly, "I heard about an anonymous helper-who was he?"

Dante hesitated, his lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he spoke. "His name was Victor Orlov."

Jane's brows furrowed in confusion. "Me? I don't understand."

Dante continued, "You once saved him and his son ten years ago. You donated blood when they were in a car accident."

Her mouth opened in shock. "Me?"

"You might not remember," Dante added gently, "but you were at the hospital that day. When you saw the emergency, you offered to donate because you were O+. Your blood matched perfectly."

She tried to recall, but the memory was blurry-almost nonexistent. If it was true...

"Is that why he saved me?" she asked, still struggling to understand.

Dante exhaled, rubbing his temple. "That was only part of it. When you fell, Victor was the only one who witnessed what happened. He was outside making a call when he saw you get pushed. He immediately dialed 911, but before help arrived, a group of thugs took you. Victor tracked them down, paid them off, and got you back. He then called the police, but everything was handled quietly."

Her head spun as his words sank in. "He brought you to the best hospital, kept you on life support for years, and when he realized his time was running out... he signed up as an organ donor. That's how you got your new kidney."

Jane gripped the sheets, her fingers trembling. "Why would he go to such lengths for me?"

"I... I don't know what to say," she whispered.

Dante nodded. "Hold on-that's not all. Before he died, Victor left something for you."

He reached into his coat and produced a thick, embossed envelope with a golden crest that looked as if it belonged to royalty.

"This," Dante said, handing it over, "is Victor Orlov's will."

Jane's hands shook as she unfolded the letter. As she skimmed the words, one line made her blood run cold: Victor Orlov had left everything to her-his company, his wealth, his entire empire.

She sucked in a sharp breath. Why?

Then, a name appeared that made her chest tighten even further: her mother's.

"Orlov Enterprises was co-founded by Victor Orlov and Francesca Stadler."

Her mother's name.

Jane looked up at Dante, but he only shook his head. "I don't know all the details. All I know is that you were always meant to inherit it."

Her pulse pounded. She had never known any of this, and now everything was coming at her too fast. "This looks like a scam-too good to be true. I need proof. Bring a lawyer. And if Diego Orlov doesn't show up himself, I won't believe a word of this."

Dante gave a small nod. "Understood."

He turned to leave, but before he could step out, something strange caught her attention outside the door. Men in black suits swarmed the hallway. Their polished shoes clicked on the tile as they moved with authority. Then, two of them approached her door.

The atmosphere shifted. Jane's stomach tightened as another man entered-confident, with black leather shoes, long legs, a tattooed wrist, an unbuttoned black shirt, pierced ears, and silver jewelry on his lower lip. And then there were those stormy gray eyes.

He was tall, built like a movie idol, and his presence made her grip the bedsheets even tighter. Dante stepped aside, and the man took a slow, deliberate step forward.

Then he spoke. "Heard you were looking for me, princess. Here I am-at your command. So, what were you saying again?"

Jane's heart skipped a beat. His voice was smooth and dangerous. She opened her mouth to argue, to fight back, but her breath caught. She wanted to say something-anything-but his presence swallowed her words. All she could think about was how strikingly attractive he was.

Lost in her thoughts, she was jolted back to reality by the sharp sound of a phone ringing. Blinking hard, she forced herself to focus. The man in front of her-tall, confident, almost too perfect to be real-continued speaking, while her mind struggled to catch up.

"Who... who are you?" she finally asked, even though she already suspected the answer. Her heart pounded, and she hoped he wouldn't notice how flustered she was.

He smirked, clearly amused. "I'm Diego Orlov. Your betrothed."

Jane let out a dry laugh. "My betrothed? Come on-I just woke up from a coma. I don't have memory loss that bad. Try harder."

Before Diego could respond, Dante stepped in. "Speak up, Miss. Mr. Orlov doesn't have much time-"

Diego raised a hand, cutting him off. Then, without hesitation, he moved closer-too close. Lowering himself onto one knee, he rested an arm on his other and studied her intently. His eyes locked onto hers, intense and unyielding.

"Relax," he murmured, shifting his gaze to her lips. "You just woke up, and besides, I have all the time in the world for you. But earlier, you were shouting. Now you're cold, like a scared little puppy. What happened, princesa? Talk to me."

Jane swallowed hard. Her heart pounded so fiercely she feared she might pass out again. No man had ever looked at her like that-like she was a mystery worth unraveling. She forced herself to snap out of it.

"Dante gave me a will," she blurted. "He said things I don't understand or believe. So I told him if he can't bring you or a lawyer, I'm not signing anything. How am I supposed to wake up to a fortune-"

Diego silenced her with a finger pressed gently over her lips. Then he turned to his men and raised his hand. A tall man in a suit stepped forward holding a stack of documents.

"Explain," Diego ordered.

The man nodded and addressed her. "Ms. Stadler, nice to meet you. I'm Mr. Watson, the legal advisor for Orlov Enterprises."

Jane exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "Nice to meet you too. Now, about the will-I need proper clarification."

Trying to sound professional even though her head was still spinning, she listened as Mr. Watson adjusted his glasses and began:

"Miss Stadler, I understand this is overwhelming. Let me explain. The late Viktor Orlov, founder of Orlov Enterprises, legally named you as his sole heir. That means you now own his company, his properties, and his fortune."

He continued, "This wasn't a random decision. According to these documents, Viktor Orlov and your mother, Francesca Stadler, co-founded Orlov Enterprises. Your family had a rightful stake in the company from the very beginning. But after your parents passed, Viktor lost track of you. By the time he returned to the country, you had already married and vanished from the public eye."

"Years ago, you saved Viktor's life-and his son Diego's-by donating blood. He never forgot that. He saw you as someone with a good heart, someone worthy of his legacy. That's why, before his passing, he made the legally binding decision to leave everything to you instead of Diego."

Jane frowned. "Why not leave it to his own son?"

"Because Diego already has his own fortune, separate from Orlov Enterprises. If he inherited the company, he would have sold it. Viktor didn't want that. He wanted someone he trusted to run the company and protect his legacy."

Before Jane could process any further, Mr. Watson delivered the biggest bombshell. "However, there is one condition: to claim your inheritance, you must work alongside Diego Orlov as his assistant for one year. This is non-negotiable. During that time, you'll learn every aspect of the company before the full transition is complete."

Jane stared, stunned. Assistant? And what about Dante?

Before she could ask, Mr. Watson handed her the documents. Scanning through them with her law school instincts kicking in, everything was in order-legitimate and ironclad, with no loopholes.

Diego then interrupted. "I understand you're in physiotherapy and rehabilitation now, and you'll be discharged soon. You have until then to decide." Standing up, he brushed off imaginary dust from his suit. "If you feel too pressured, know that you can always say no, princesa."

With a smirk, he turned toward the door. "I'd love to stay in your beautiful presence, but I have a billion-dollar deal waiting. Don't worry-I'll check on you once in a while. Don't miss me too much. See you soon."

Something in Jane snapped at his parting words. "Jane Stadler. That's my name, not 'princesa'," she retorted. "And you don't have to call me that."

Diego paused at the door, glanced back, and grinned. "Don't tell me what to do or what to call you."

Then, with a dismissive wave, his men followed him out, leaving her alone with a whirlwind of thoughts.

Jane stared at the ceiling, stunned. She tried to convince herself that she wasn't tempted, that she didn't care, that this wasn't her only way out. But reality hit hard: she had no phone, no money, no job, no home. Her only family had betrayed her. Her husband had left her for another woman-her own sister. The scandal surrounding her late parents had ruined her future, and she'd even dropped out of law school. All she had left were debts and the feeling of being "dead to the world."

And now, out of nowhere, she was being handed a chance-a golden ticket to power, wealth, and a fresh start. It was overwhelming, too much, and almost unreal.

But she knew one thing for certain: if she walked away now, she'd spend the rest of her life drowning in nothingness. And that was not an option.

She needed this. Perhaps this was the opportunity meant for her-to use these resources to find the people who had wronged her and rebuild her life.

She was going to take it. Even if it meant stepping into a world she wasn't ready for, even if it meant working alongside a man whose every word made her pulse race, even if it meant signing a deal with the devil himself-she was going to take it.

It had been a month since Jane woke up from her coma, and things were slowly starting to get better. One thing she was especially grateful for was that Dante and Diego never left her side. She would be lying if she said she was okay-her heart still felt terrible-but she reminded herself to be grateful for life once again.

Leaving her room, she went to meet Dr. White for her final checkup. His response brought a sense of relief. "Congratulations, Miss Stadler. You are back on track. I will process your discharge now, so get ready to leave. I hope we don't meet again unless it's for something great, okay?" He had given her the best news she could have hoped for.

After leaving his office, she returned to her hospital room and found Dante sitting there. "Miss Stadler, how are you doing today? I was ordered to come pick you up and also give you this," he said in his usual professional yet charming tone. Dante always had a way of passing messages, something Jane liked about him. But what had he brought?

She took the package from him and opened it-inside was a dress, sneakers, a laptop, and a mobile phone. She hadn't expected anything like this. "He got this for me? That's so sweet of him. But why did he get me these?" she wondered.

This was actually the first time in her life she had received something from a man. But Dante wasn't done yet-he had something else to say. "He said he remembers that you have nothing left and probably wouldn't want you walking out of the hospital looking like that."

Oh, gracious. That was true, and she hadn't even thought about it. Looking at Dante, she patted his back. "Awwn... I didn't expect him to be this considerate. Thank you."

As she lifted the dress, a note fell out. It read: "Take care of yourself in this. The world is different from the one you left. And watch out."

The words made her even more curious about what awaited her outside.

Dante stepped out to give her space, By the time she was done changing, she picked up Diego's jacket-he had left it for her the other day. As soon as she stepped out of her hospital room, Dante saw her carrying her things and immediately ran over to take them from her.

Even when she hesitated, he insisted. "It's okay. You're just getting better. Allow me to do my job."

He refused to let her strain herself.

Stepping outside felt overwhelming. A bright light seemed to pierce her eyes-the first sunlight she had seen in ages. It felt like her life had been on pause, but she reminded herself to be grateful.

A black Range Rover was parked outside, and John was waiting to escort her. It felt a little strange, but she knew she had to get used to it. This was her life now. John, Diego's bodyguard, opened the car door for her. Dante sat next to her while John took the front seat with the driver.

Turning to Dante, she wondered what was going on. He responded as if he had read her mind. "Diego asked us to tighten security, so you just have to bear with us."

It made her feel a bit uneasy, but she nodded.

The drive was smooth, and she was just starting to get comfortable when the car stopped. She turned to Dante. "We're there now."

"There?" she echoed, looking outside.

Her eyes widened. The place looked like a palace. Written at the top of the gate were the words Orlov Estate.

It made her wonder-who exactly were these people? Because this level of wealth, this grandeur, screamed old money and generational wealth. Now she understood why they were so protective of her.

She tried to act cool, not wanting to seem out of place.

The drive from the gate to the estate was breathtaking. When she stepped out of the car, an entire line of house staff, gardeners, and estate workers stood outside to greet her.

And there, holding a single rose, was Diego.

He smirked. "You know you're not just stepping into this place as my assistant, right? Well... welcome back home."

He handed her the rose, and Jane felt an unexpected warmth at the gesture. She hadn't expected such a grand welcome, but it already felt like home.

Rose, the eldest of the house staff, was about to show her around when Diego stopped her. "Don't worry. I'll show her around when I'm done. For now, just take her to her room."

Turning back to Jane, he said, "Princess, welcome to my estate. I hope you like it here."

Something in his expression made him look almost shy. She tilted her head, trying to make the moment less serious. "Why all the bodyguards? Who are you, really? Are you a vampire or something? Because I've only seen this kind of wealth in the movies."

He chuckled, playing along. "Well, what can I say? This is my life. And yes, I'm a vampire-I will suck your blood."

They both laughed, easing the tension.

After exploring part of the estate, Jane started feeling exhausted. She turned to Diego. "I need to rest."

Diego immediately called for Rose. "Take her to her room."

Jane frowned. "Why can't you take me there yourself?"

His response was unexpected yet meaningful. "I was supposed to be somewhere an hour ago, but I wanted to welcome you first. Don't worry. We'll talk more when I come back-about everything, including business."

Ms. Rose led her upstairs. "This is your room. If you need anything, just press the button, and I will come to you."

She left immediately.

Jane stood there, stunned. The room was massive-elegant, luxurious, and filled with warmth.

Back in Daniel's house, her room had been beautiful but never felt like home. Not until Lucy came along, well before life happened.

Exploring the space, she checked the restroom-pristine and modern. The dressing room was filled with branded clothes, all in her size. Even the shoes fit her perfectly. There were makeup products, hats, skincare items, bags-everything a woman could ever need.

Then, her eyes landed on a drawer.

Opening it, she found a credit card and a document.

Her loans had been paid off.

Her breath hitched. "What's this? And how...?"

She wanted to call Diego immediately, but she didn't have his number yet. Instead, she decided to wait.

After taking a shower, exhaustion took over, and she fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, it was midnight.

Still half-asleep, she stepped out for a drink, momentarily forgetting she wasn't in her old home.

Immediately, Rose came running. "What do you need, miss?"

Jane blinked in confusion before remembering where she was. "Water. I need something to drink. And... is Mr. Orlov back?"

"He came looking for you earlier but left when he saw you were sleeping," Rose said before leaving.

Feeling restless, Jane wandered into the study.

Diego was there, sitting and drinking coffee.

Before she could speak, he glanced up and smirked. "You woke up early, Princess. I wanted to let you sleep. Come, sit here."

"I didn't know-when I slept off, when did you return?" Jane asked Diego. It felt weird, but after a month of knowing him, that familiarity was something she could cling to. Diego laughed. "You were really tired, I must say. Well, I wanted to address something important," he said.

What could he have to say to her... Jane wondered, before Diego continued, "Tomorrow I will be going back to the Orlov empire-not my own personal company-and as you know, it's a big name. Definitely, I will be holding a press conference. I know it's too soon, but get ready to step out of your comfort zone. Be prepared for questions, unless you want to change your name."

That was uncalled for, but Jane didn't think she wanted to change her name just because she didn't want people to find out she was alive. In fact, she wanted them to know that Daniel was playing a pity party; she wanted them to know that the wife he claimed died was very much alive. So, she turned to Diego. "No, I don't want to change my name. The last time I spoke publicly was when I was 18, when my parents were still alive and the company was running well. I have at least a little idea, but I will appreciate your guidance."

Diego nodded. "Alright, I will send you the documents through email, and if there's anything you don't understand, come to me and I will brief you. But for now, I don't want you to stress yourself." He stretched out his hand, and Jane passed him her phone. He saved his number and email on it. "Anytime you need me and I'm not home, reach me-I will always respond."

After Diego left her alone to admire the beauty of the study room, Jane found herself wondering aloud, This man is mysterious. I can't help but want to know him more-I'm curious. As she murmured to herself, she turned and saw Dante standing there in shock, staring at her.

"Who are you talking to, miss?" he asked.

Jane waved him off. "Ignore me, don't mind me-you can continue your business." Embarrassed, she returned to her room, waiting for the next day to come.

---

The next day, Jane woke up extremely late, meeting missed calls from both Diego and Dante. "Damn, I'm late," she thought. Rushing into the shower, she emerged, dressed quickly, took her vitamins, and dashed downstairs in a helter-skelter manner.

"Good morning," she greeted all the staff as she ran through the corridor. Suddenly, someone nearly made her fall by cutting her off. "Careful not to trip-where are you running to, princess?" It was Diego.

"I thought you already left-that's why I was running. I was so shocked when I saw your missed call. What's up? I don't know what to do," she replied.

Diego simply stated, "Have you forgotten I'm an Orlov? I'm the CEO here-I fix the schedule and make space for everyone so I can go to work whenever I want. And for you, I am looking for a female driver, and Dante will be your assistant."

Jane didn't understand, so she asked, "What about you? Who will be your assistant?"

He looked at her and said, "You, of course. Or are you forgetting something?"

True enough, she had literally forgotten-she never expected it would be like this. Before she could say something else, Diego smirked and added, "Curiosity kills a cat."

Their conversation was interrupted when Rose announced, "Breakfast is served, young master and miss... come to the dining!" She turned her back and left. These were all things Jane was still getting used to. Back at Daniel's, she used to do almost everything herself, but here, it was different. So, both she and Diego headed to the dining hall and ate breakfast.

Before leaving, when they reached the office hall, a crowd of media was already waiting. They walked past them and went straight to the office. The look on everyone's face was intimidating-Jane knew Diego wasn't nice to everyone. He was a ruthless CEO who didn't joke around. The employees reorganized themselves and greeted them.

"Meet Jane Stadlar, my new assistant-and vice... I won't be here, but she will be. Anything you need, come to her and she will sort things out. She will be handling these branches, so treat her right," Diego announced before turning to leave.

As Diego walked away, Jane felt the weight of several eyes on her. She could already sense the judgment lingering in the air. Whispers began to ripple through the office, hushed yet loud enough for her to know she was the subject of discussion.

One employee, a woman with striking red hair and sharp eyes, stood with her arms crossed, staring at Jane with clear disdain. Her name was Sylvia Hart, the head of PR, and she had worked tirelessly to earn Diego's trust-only for some unknown woman to walk in and be handed a high-ranking position.

"She's just another pretty face," Sylvia scoffed, rolling her eyes.

A group of employees huddled near the receptionist's desk, exchanging glances.

"I don't get it," one of them, a younger woman named Claire, whispered. "Who is she? How did she get this job? Mr. Orlov never lets just anyone get this close to him."

"I heard she's his wife," a male employee muttered, lowering his voice.

"Wife?, but he didn't address her as that" Another worker gasped.

Sylvia let out a bitter chuckle. "Wife or not, she has no idea what she's getting into. Running a company like this isn't some rich housewife's hobby, and she doesn't know about what happening yet."

"But she must be important to Mr. Orlov if he's trusting her with so much responsibility," Claire pointed out hesitantly.

Sylvia narrowed her eyes at Jane, who was now reviewing documents at her desk, completely unaware of the hostility directed toward her. "We'll see how long she lasts."

Meanwhile, Jane was oblivious to their words, but she could feel the tension in the air. She knew not everyone would welcome her presence, but she wasn't here to be liked-she was here to prove herself.