CRIMSON LOYALTY

CHAPTER TWO

HER POV

"What did the doctor say?" I asked my mother, my voice trembling. Seeing her so weak and frail on the hospital bed was unbearable.

She shrugged weakly, her gaze distant. "I didn't pay attention. I'm going to die anyway."

"Stop saying that, Mummy," I said firmly, fighting back tears. "You'll be fine. I promise."

"Ada," she began, her tone soft but resigned, "this is stage 3 breast cancer. Only a miracle can save me now."

"Dr. Kat said you could survive if you undergo treatment," I countered, clinging to hope.

She held my gaze, her expression filled with both love and sadness. "That treatment is expensive, Ada. You don’t have that kind of money."

"Mummy," I said, determined, "I'm working on raising it. Sir—"

She sat up, her voice raspy but firm. "I’ve told you to stop working for that man. What you’re doing is dangerous. I would rather die than bury you. Please, stop whatever you’re doing."

I wrapped my arms around her tightly. "Mummy, that’s the problem. I can’t let you die. You mean the world to me."

And she truly did.

My mother, Jennifer Kanayo, was an immigrant worker in the United States when she found me on her doorstep. According to her, I was left in a basket with a card bearing my name, Rosa Santini. Lonely and isolated from her own family, she decided to adopt me. She often said it was the best decision she ever made because I had been a blessing to her.

She has made countless sacrifices for me, and I would do anything for her—even if it meant putting my life… and my heart on the line.

******

“Please look after her,” I said as I walked out of Carewell Medical Hospital.

“I will,” David replied with a reassuring smile. “She’s in good hands.”

David, a volunteer at the hospital, had cared for my mum many times. She adored him and even tried to matchmake us, but I wasn’t looking for another relationship. Still, David and I were the closest of friends, and he was always there to console me when I felt down.

“Thank you so much. I can’t express my gratitude enough,” I said, pulling him into a hug. “God bless you.”

HIS POV

I couldn’t understand why I had followed her here. She left the house abruptly, and suspicion gnawed at me—was there a new man?

It seemed so. Who was that guy she was hugging? He looked like her boyfriend, and judging by the setting, she had come to visit him at work. Has she already forgotten about me? Forgotten the love we once shared?

I twisted my lips, knowing I had no right to think of her as mine after we broke up. It was in 2017 that I first met Ada-Rosa. She was working as a waitress at a restaurant. She looked stunning in red, her curly hair dyed a shimmering gold that complemented her light skin and petite figure. But it was her hazel eyes that captivated me most—they sparkled whenever she smiled, effortlessly pulling me in.

After many failed attempts, she finally agreed to be my girlfriend—a year later on her 21st birthday. I loved her so much that I hid my dangerous side from her, showing only the polished facade of my tech empire.

I vividly remember our devastating breakup in 2020, the year my father was killed by Matteo. In retaliation, I sent Dom and a few of my men to kidnap and torture Matteo's son, Enzo. It all took place in the underground compartment of my mansion, but on the surface, I continued to play the role of the perfect gentleman for Ada-Rosa.

Everything changed the moment I shot Enzo. A loud gasp from behind froze me in place—it was Ada-Rosa. She had discovered the truth, and there was no denying it. Without hesitation, she left, and my world crumbled.

It wasn’t until last year that I saw her again—when she started working in my house as a live-in maid. I remember feeling an unexpected surge of happiness having her close to me, even though things had changed. She never spoke to me unless necessary, and when she did, she addressed me as sir. The cold formality between us irritated me, but I said nothing. After all, I had Bella warming my bed.

I had no right to question Ada-Rosa, yet I couldn’t ignore the jealousy that burned within me. She seemed more at ease with that guy than she ever was with me.

My jaw tightened as anger bubbled inside me, “Turn this car around!”