Pregnant By The Mafia Don

ARIANNA:

At Milo's Private Hospital, I stood beside my mother's bed in the private ward on the fourth floor. The beeping sound of the heart monitor filled my ears.

"Mom, I cannot afford the kidney transplant surgery. The doctor said that we have to deposit eight million for the surgery to start. Where am I going to get that kind of money?" I asked her, holding her pale right hand as her left wrist was hooked to an IV drip. Mom needed immediate surgery before the week elapsed.

My mother, Lilian, had been full of life before she lost her will to live after my father mercilessly cheated on her. He kicked her out of the mansion they had built together on my mother's sweat and effort.

After helping him build the Maddox Corporation from scratch. Yet Dad was having an illicit affair with another woman. He called her his first love, the woman he was supposed to marry and not my mother. He called my mother the stepping stone who helped build him. After 24 years of marriage, he kicked her out like she didn't matter to him.

"Arianna..." Mom called my name weakly. I leaned closer to her bed, my eyes filled with tears.

"Mom, I have to go and beg Dad for money. He has to help us get a donor. I cannot afford to lose you. Please, hang in there for me. You promised to follow me to my graduation. You promised to attend my wedding. You cannot leave me now," I sobbed, my body trembling, mucus falling from my nose. But I didn't care to wipe it off. What's there to live for if my mother isn't there to see me graduate?

"Don't go to your father. He will not help you. Rose has him wrapped around her finger. You should take this," Mom said, pulling off her prized necklace from around her neck and handing it over to me. It was an enchanting golden piece with her photo engraved in it.

"Leave Eastpoll and go back to Southpoll. You will meet my father there. He's a farmer, but I am sure he will welcome you," Mom said, as she wanted me to leave.

"No," I cried, holding her hand firmly. "I am not leaving you behind. Your father cannot help me, either. Mom, I will try again. I will go and plead with Dad."

I let go of her hand and turned to leave the hospital room. The smell of disinfectant filled the air.

"Arianna, wait!" Mom called me, but I shook my head. I didn't turn to look back at her face. Her condition was getting worse, and only a kidney transplant could save her life. She had been transferred to this private hospital. I was a student nurse, my salary wasn't enough to take care of us, let alone to deposit the eight million for a ten million surgery.

Rushing out of the private room, I bumped into a tall figure in front of me. The scent of tobacco hung heavily in the air. His pair of firm hands caught my waist and steadied me.

"Easy, nurse. Watch where you're rushing to," his magnetic voice warned, but I was too disoriented to gaze up at his face and see who he was.

"I am sorry, sir," I apologized, my body trembling, before I pushed myself away from his clutch and ran past him. I rushed ahead to the elevator and got into it.

The moment I looked up, I froze. The man was looking back at me, as two men in black stood next to him.

My jaw dropped when I saw that it was Don Gabriel Milos, the owner of Milos Hospital. I knew about the Milos family. I had heard about them. They were one of the top Mafia families, with the best private hospital, luxury restaurants, five-star hotels and loans granted to the poor.

My heart pounded. I thought about asking Don Gabriel for the money, but he would help me? Unless I brought something equivalent, like collateral, in case I wasn't able to pay up the debt.

The elevator shut, the sound cutting off my hope of going to Don Gabriel. But he stood watching me, his gaze sharp, his blue eyes locked on mine and sending chills down my spine.

I breathed out as the elevator rode to the last floor of the magnificent seven-story building. I needed to visit my father's house. I knew that I would be bashed by my father, stepmother and stepsister. But if it ended up saving my mother's life, it was worth the abuse, the torture and the humiliation. I didn't mind it.

Milos Hospital in Eastpoll was very expensive. But the doctor assured me he would get a matching donor for my mother, so long as I could afford to deposit the money.

As soon as the elevator stopped in the hospital lobby, I dashed out, rushing out of the hospital building. I made my way to the bus stop and flagged down a taxi.

Upon my entry, I gave the taxi driver my father's house address, my body quavering as I sat in the rear. I didn't even change out of my nurse uniform.

I was working in a local hospital, where I earned one hundred thousand as a new nurse. I was in my final year at the university, and I believed that once I graduated, I would apply for a job at a better private hospital.

My phone rang, breaking my thoughts. It was my boyfriend, Vincent Micah.

"Hello, babe," I answered his call.

"Where are you?" Vincent asked, his voice cold.

"I am on my way to my father's house. What's wrong?"

"Babe, did you forget that I asked us to meet today? Why are you going to your father's house? You don't just prioritize me. Why?" Vincent was furious.

"Vince, I'm sorry," I replied weakly. "My mother's health became worse, and she was transferred to Milos Hospital today. The doctor advised that I deposit eight million out of the ten million needed for the surgery, and I don't have it."

"Cut the crap, babe!" Vincent growled, and I felt stunned.

"Everything is about your mother. Your mother this and that. I am sick and tired of having you as my girlfriend. Let's break up. Besides, you won't let me sleep with you until we are married. I am done with you. Go find yourself another boyfriend."

"What? Vincent," I tried to beg him, but the call ended.

I recalled Vincent had invited me to come to his place this weekend, but my mother hadn't gotten worse then or needed kidney transplant.

Shaking my head, my fingers brushed across my cheek as I wiped off my tears. The taxi pulled to a stop, and I saw that I had arrived at the imperial housing estate where my dad lived.

After paying for my ride, I climbed out of the taxi and phoned Vincent once more. But his number wasn't connecting.

"Sorry, the number you dialed isn't available," the robotic response hit me hard like a slap.

Still in my white nurse uniform, I steadied myself, put my phone away in my pocket and rushed ahead to my father's house to find him.