THE BLIND BILLIONAIRRE

THE OPERATION

Lisa's POV

Alessandro kept his word because the following morning one of the maids woke me up in time to take a quick shower, I quickly get dressed and have breakfast before going to the hospital.

Everyone but the servants were still asleep when I left the mansion. I want to ask Piero if he could take me to the hospital, but the housekeepers didn't understand a word of English and I can't speak Italian. I decide to take the bus and quickly walk out of the gates. I sit here waiting for the next bus. At this rate, I'm going to be late. Almost an hour later a bus stops. When I arrive at the hospital I quickly went to Lilani's room only to find the bed empty.

“I should have to wake someone up to take me to hospital”. I think sadly.

Turning around I walk to the waiting area. As I flip through a magazine, I constantly think about Lilani that's in theater now.

“Please God, please heal my sister.” I begin to pray silently.

Alessandro's POV

“Qualcuno può dirmi come Lisa è arrivata in ospedale stamattina" (Can someone tell me how Lisa got to the hospital this morning) Grandma ask.

“Le ho detto ieri che Piero la porterà". (I told her yesterday that Piero will take her), I tell her with a stern voice. Why should I care?

But Grandma isn't scared of me and continue, “Non credo che Piero l'abbia presa, Alessandro, perché non sa parlare italiano per avergli chiesto di portarla"!(I don't think Piero took her, Alessandro, because she can't speak Italian to have asked him to take her)

“Beh, forse ha preso l'autobus?"(Well maybe she took the bus) Gabriele says.

“Allora sarebbe stata troppo tardi per vedere sua sorella".(Then she would have been too late to see her sister) Sophia says.

“Sarebbe stata colpa sua se fosse arrivata troppo tardi per vedere sua sorella"! (It would be her own fault if she was too late to see her sister). I say harder than I intend to.

“Potrebbe aver svegliato uno di noi".(She could've wakened one of us)

“Non lo farebbe perché le siamo ancora tutti estranei!" (She wouldn't do that because we all are still strangers to her) Grandma shouts.

“Mi chiedo se sia mai arrivata in ospedale? Quanto bene conosce la città?" (I wonder if she ever made it to the hospital? How well does she know the city) Gabriele wonders out loud.

Shit! I forgot that she can't speak nor understand Italian.

“Ci andrò io stesso".(I will go there myself) I hear grandma say.

“Penso che Alessandro debba andare a sostenere sua moglie nel momento del bisogno".(I think Alessandro must go and support his wife in her hour of need). Sophia suddenly speaks.

“Allora perché non la stai sostenendo, Sophia? Nessuno ti impedisce di farlo"!(Then why are you not supporting her, Sophia? No one is stopping you from doing that) I say sharply.

“Sono sicuro che tua moglie apprezzerebbe di più se la sostieni nel momento del bisogno, Alessandro, sembra che a lei non importi davvero!"(I'm sure your wife would appreciate it more if you support her in her hour of need, Alessandro, it seems like you don't care about her) Sophia says disapproving.

“Penso che dovresti piuttosto andartene ora".(I think you should rather leave now). I warn her in a cold voice.

“È abbastanza! Alessandro Non tollero che tu parli in questo modo. Sophia ha ragione, dovresti essere lì a sostenere tua moglie".(That's enough! Alessandro I won't tolerate you talking this way. Sophia is right you should be there supporting your wife) Grandpa shouts.

“Antonio chiede a Piero di preparare la macchina".(Antonio ask Piero to get the car ready) I instruct.

“Nonna puoi venire con me".(Grandma you can come with me). I added not wanting to be alone with my so-called wife. I'm not even married for a whole day, and she's already causing so much chaos in my house.

“Signor Mancini, Piero aspetta davanti".(Mr. Mancini, Piero is waiting at the front.) I hear Antonio say.

“Grazie Antonio. Il nonno mi porterà in macchina. Tu e Leonardo potete iniziare con delle scartoffie, mi occuperò delle questioni importanti non appena torno".(Thank you, Antonio. Grandpa will take me to the car. You and Leonardo can start with some paperwork I will attend to the important matters as soon as I'm back). I quickly dismiss him.

“Sì, signor Mancini".(Yes, Mr. Mancini) I feel grandpa take my arm and lead me to the waiting car.

“Figlio, dovresti imparare ad agire di fronte agli altri, perché sicuramente percepiranno che qualcosa non va nel tuo matrimonio".(Son you should learn to act in front of others because they will surely Sens that something is wrong with your marriage). I hear my grandmother scold.

“Proverò la nonna".(I will try grandma) It was all I could say. The drive feels so long for when we finally arrive at the hospital. Grandpa helps me out and together we walk inside.

I assume we found my wife when I hear grandma say, “Are there any news about your sister yet, Lisa?”

“Nothing yet, they've been in the theater for almost five hours,” I hear her say in a sad voice. Just as we are about to take a seat I hear a male voice ask, “Mrs. Mancini .... the operation was a success. We are keeping your sister under anesthesia for a few days so that she can recover quicker and that her body doesn't have to endure so much pain, you can visit her as soon as she is back in her room“. They must be done with the operation.

“Thank you so much, Dr. Dorigo.” I hear Lisa say.

Suddenly I hear grandma shout, “Lisa!” Dammit, what happened now? I wonder.

“I will take her to the next room.” I hear the Dr say again. Suddenly I have this urge to walk over and tell him she's my wife I will take care of her myself.

“Come, son. Lisa just fainted.” Grandpa informs me. As we walk into the room I assume Lisa is laying in grandma ask,

“How is she doing Dr?” The Dr starts explaining to us, “Mrs. Mancini was under a lot of stress that her body couldn't handle all the stress. She will be fine she just needs to take it easy and don't overstress herself.” I try to move forward but don't want grandpa to think I'm worried about my wife.

“Thank you Dr.” Grandpa kindly thank the doctor.

“O, Lisa my dear child. How are you feeling”, I hear grandma ask after a few minutes.

“I'm fine thank, you grandma. Can I see my sister now?” I hear Lisa's voice. She sounds tired.

“Yes, we will take you to her. Come on I'll help you.” Grandma says softly like she's talking to a little child. Grandpa and I follow them to where Lisa's little sisters at. I wish we could just go home. I have so much work to do but no I had to come along with them.

“Hey, sis. The operation was a success. You fought hard. I'm so proud of you. I'm sorry I wasn't here in time to see you this morning before the operation.“ Lisa says it sounds like she's crying.

” Here is someone people I would like to introduce to you,“ I hear her say again.

“Lilly, this is grandma and grandpa. Alessandro is here as well.” Grandma, grandpa is my sister Lilani”, Lisa introduces them to her sister.

“Hey, Lilani, I'm very glad you fought so hard during the operation your sister was worried about you. As soon as you get stronger, the three of us will go shopping together,” Grandma says kindly. After sitting with Lilani for a while, grandma asks Lisa if she has eaten anything today.

There's a few seconds of silence when she finally replies, “I had a light breakfast this morning, I was so worried about Lilani that I didn't think of eating or drinking anything”.

“I know a nice little restaurant nearby,” I hear grandma say again. Grandma? Can't we just leave? We did our part. I thought. We go to a small restaurant near the hospital.

“I am sorry that no one was here by your side during the operation, Lisa,” grandma says with quilt.

“It's okay, grandma doesn't feel guilty about it besides I am still a stranger to you”, Lisa assures her.

“Still, it was rude and unkind of us” grandma keeps on apologizing. We all chat for a while longer and then grandpa asks for the bill, as soon as grandpa pays the bill we head back to the hospital.

We were just walking into Lilani's room when Dr. Derigo ask Lisa if he can talk to her about everything that was going to happen as soon as Lilani wakes up.

“It's okay DR, you can talk in front of them. They are family”. The doctor says,

“We will start waking her up in the next three days, after which she will be here for another six days, so we can keep an eye on her. She will then have radiology once a week for at least six months”. Dr. Derigo explains.

“The biopsy result will be here in a few days, I will let you know as soon as I get it.” The Doctor says again.

“Thank you so much, Doctor Rossi, thank you for saving my sister's life,” Lisa says sincerely to the specialist.

“Alright then, I will see you soon.” The doctor says. I just scoffed at his over-friendly way towards Lisa.

“Lisa dear, we are going to leave now if you want to come with us.” I hear grandma finally say.

“I think I will stay a while longer, grandma but thank you”. Lisa tells grandma. I wonder if she's staying because of the doctor? Well not that I care what she does I just married her to save her sister and to have someone take care of me.

“Alright, dear. I will see you later.” Grandma says and we finally leave.

“La mia Lisa è tornata dall'ospedale?"(Are my Lisa back from the hospital) I hear grandma ask.

“La signora Mancini non è ancora a casa, signora Mancini".(Mrs. Mancini is not home yet, Mrs. Mancini) The housekeeper says. MMM... this is interesting maybe she went with the doctor.

“Leonardo, per favore telefona all'ospedale e chiedi se mia moglie è ancora lì".(Leonardo, please phone the hospital and ask if my wife is still there) I ask Leonardo. I'm pissed off that she didn't inform us that she's not going to be home early.

“Buonasera, voglio solo sapere se la signora Mancini è ancora in ospedale".(Good evening, I just want to know if Mrs. Mancini is still at the hospital) I hear Leonardo ask the person.

“grazie per l'aiuto".(Thank you for your help) Leonardo says after a few seconds.

“La signora Mancini ha lasciato l'ospedale due ore fa dopo aver visitato la sorella, il signor Mancini".(Mrs. Mancini left the hospital two hours ago after she visited her sister, Mr. Mancini) I hear Leonardo say.

“Allora dovrebbe essere a casa ormai"!(Then she should be home by now) I angrily yell.

“Potrebbe aver preso un autobus."(She may have caught a bus) I hear Sophia say. “Allora avrebbe dovuto essere già qui".(Then she should have been here already) I immediately correct her. I'm beginning to regret marrying this f*****g woman. They are all the same! She's probably out there having a great time with the doctor.

“Lisa, piccina (little one)!” Sophia suddenly screams.

“What happened? You are pale and .....” before she could finish her sentence I rudely interrupt.

“Let she first tell us where she's been all along and why she just got here,” My cold voice suddenly cut through the room.

“Now is not the time for your rude behavior Alessandro. Lisa doesn't look well!” Sophia scolds me. How dare she talk back to me! I'm behind mad now! No one talks to me that way!

“If Lisa needs medical help, I'll call a doctor. But I can not see how she only shows up now! She has left the hospital two hours ago! Or did she meet up with the doctor?” I angrily yell.

“I'm waiting for your answer Lisa!” I yell again after I don't get an answer.

“Lisa! Someone calls the doctor!” Grandpa shouts. What the hell is happening now? Looks like she loves attention.

“I will take her to her room”. I hear Gabriel's offer.

“I will wait for the doctor, honey you can go with Gabriel.” My grandpa says to grandma.

“Alessandro Mason Mancini! Sei davvero un bastardo senza cuore! Davvero non ami tua moglie, vero?!"(Alessandro Mason Mancini! You are one heartless bastard! You don't love your wife do you) I suddenly hear Sophia say.

“Sophia!” Gabriel's voice comes from behind.

“Come with me.” He tells Sophia. I hear them walk away and ask Antonio to take me to my office. I think about what Sophia said about not loving Lisa, how can I love a woman I just met? I don't do love anymore! I don't believe in the word love!

“Good evening doctor. Come through this way.” I hear grandpa talk. What felt like forever I suddenly hear footsteps approaching me.

“Mr. Mancini, can I have a word please?” The doctor asks me. I nod, and he continues, “It seems like your wife was attacked, I saw bruises on her body, and it looks like she fell, I think all the tension of today's events was too much for her, especially after someone wanted to hurt her “ The doctor explains.

“Thank you, Dr. Rossi, are the injuries she sustained serious, were... s... was....she sexually assaulted?” I suddenly ask worriedly.

“As far as I can see they did not sexually assault her, just a few bruised ribs from kicking, which will heal as long as she rests for a few days and a bruise on her head which may be from the fall, she may experience nightmares, I will prescribe some pain medicine and help her sleep. I suggest you find out what exactly happened Mr. Mancini, the person responsible is still out there,” the doctor says. I want to kick myself because I didn't give Lisa a chance to explain, I'm furious because she had to take the bus back home.

I was interrupted when Gabriele burst through my office door. “Who do you think could have done this to her? I wonder how such a small girl could have escaped her attacker.” I hear Gabriele asks anxiously.

“I want you and Antonio to find out who did this to my wife and bring the bastard to me, when I'm finished with him, he will wish he never met my wife,” I say balling my fist at my side.