The Mafia King and His Angel: Thorns and Roses

Emilia stood at the end of the hospital corridor, gazing through the glass window into her brother's room. He lay pale and weak on the bed, surrounded by medical equipment emitting a constant “beep beep” sound. The doctor's words echoed in her ears: "Your brother needs surgery immediately otherwise, his life could be in danger. The surgery will cost approximately fifty thousand euros." Her heart sank, and her vision darkened as she nearly lost her balance. Fifty thousand euros was an astronomical sum for her. Emilia Rose was born into a working-class family, with her parents and a brother five years younger. Her parents worked at a small factory; although the income was modest, their life was simple and happy. However, this peaceful life came to an abrupt end when Emilia turned fifteen. Her parents died in a car accident, a tragedy that hit her like a bolt from the blue. It brought her immense psychological pain and plunged the already struggling family into severe financial hardship. Emilia was forced to shoulder the family's burdens prematurely. After their parents’ death, Emilia and her brother moved into a cramped rental apartment. To make ends meet, she juggled multiple part-time jobs outside school—waitressing, cashiering at a convenience store, cleaning, delivering packages—anything that earned money, she was willing to do. Every day after school, she hurried to different workplaces, repeating this exhausting routine day after day, year after year. Fortunately, her young brother was very understanding and diligent in his studies, on the verge of being admitted to a prestigious school. But misfortune struck again. Today was also Emilia’s 22nd birthday. Just as they were basking in the joy of cutting a birthday cake, her brother suddenly collapsed at home. Barely fifteen minutes ago, the doctor diagnosed him with a rare immune cell deficiency disease requiring immediate surgery. Emilia clenched her fists, her mind fixed on one thought: she must save her brother at all costs! Biting her lip, she turned and walked out of the hospital doors.