The offer
"No."
Aniya Russo stared at the paper in her hands, hoping she had read it wrong. The number remained the same "€180,000",Her chest tightened, and that was the estimated cost of Luca's surgery.
One hundred and eighty thousand euros,money she didn't have,money she would never have.
"Miss Russo?"
The doctor's voice softened.
"We understand this is difficult, but your brother's condition is worsening. The surgery can not be postponed indefinitely."
Aniya swallowed the lump in her throat.Across the room, her younger brother sat on the hospital bed, pretending not to listen,pretending not to notice the fear in her eyes,pretending not to know that they were running out of time.
"I understand," she said quietly.
The doctor nodded sympathetically and left.the moment the door closed, silence filled the room.
Luca forced a smile.
"You know, maybe they're exaggerating."
Aniya looked at him,he looked pale far too pale for a nineteen-year-old.
"They're not exaggerating."
"Then maybe we should wait a few months."
"A few months?" Her voice cracked. "Luca,"
"I'm serious."
He laughed weakly.
"Maybe by then you'll be a famous doctor."
Aniya smiled despite herself.
"You idiot."
"That's what Dad used to call me."
The smile disappeared.
For a second, neither of them spoke.Their father had been gone for three years,three years since the accident,three years since Aniya had become sister, provider, protector, and parent all at once.three years of struggling and somehow, it still wasn't enough.
Luca reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry."
Aniya squeezed it.
"Don't."
"I'm the reason you're suffering."
"You're not."
"But—"
"You're not."
Her voice was firm.
The conversation ended there because she couldn't bear hearing him blame himself, not when she was already doing enough of that for both of them.
An hour later, Aniya stepped out of the hospital. The cold Milan air hit her face, and she barely noticed because her attention was fixed on her phone.
Rejected.
The word glared back at her another loan application was denied, and that made seven seven banks,seven rejections,seven reminders that desperation was not considered collateral.
Aniya laughed bitterly, and then she wiped away the tears threatening to form. She couldn't afford tears, not right now she had jobs to work,bills to pay, and a brother to save.
Her phone buzzed.
A text message appeared.
FINAL NOTICE.
PAYMENT OVERDUE.
Aniya closed her eyes.
For a moment, she felt exhausted,truly exhausted, the kind of exhaustion that settled deep inside the bones,the kind that made you wonder how much longer you could keep fighting.
"Miss Russo?"
A male voice interrupted her thoughts.
Aniya turned.
A man stood a few feet away.His suit probably cost more than everything she owned he has dark hair,a perfect posture, an expensive watch, a professional smile, and definitely not someone who belonged outside a hospital.
"Yes?"
The man stepped forward.
"My name is Alessandro Vieri."
He handed her a business card.Aniya glanced at it and then froze because the name printed beneath it was one every Italian knew.
De Luca Holdings.
Her eyes widened.
"You work for De Luca?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Alessandro smiled politely.
"I represent Mr. Damiano De Luca."
Aniya frowned the billionaire CEO? ,the youngest business tycoon in Italy?the man newspapers called ruthless?,what could he possibly want with her?
"There must be some mistake."
"There isn't."
His answer came too quickly.
Aniya's unease grew.
"I've never met Mr. De Luca."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
Alessandro reached into his briefcase, and her pulse quickened, not knowing what to expect, and suddenly, he withdrew a sealed envelope that was cream-colored,elegant,expensive,everything about it screamed money and he offered it to her.
Aniya hesitated before taking it.
"What is this?"
"A proposal."
She laughed.
"A job offer?"
"No."
The smile never left his face.
Aniya suddenly didn't like him very much.
"What kind of proposal?"
Alessandro met her gaze and delivered the words so calmly that it took several seconds for them to register.
"A marriage proposal."
Silence.
The sounds of the city faded away,cars,voices,footsteps,everything disappeared.
Aniya blinked not once but twice, and then she laughed.
A short, disbelieving laugh.
"Excuse me?"
"Mr. Damiano De Luca would like to offer you a marriage contract."
The envelope slipped from her fingers and landed on the pavement.
