On the Thirty-Third Try

I walked out of the doctor's office, clutching the diagnosis.

Brain cancer. Mid-to-late stage.

The doctor's words kept replaying—"If we get you into surgery and start targeted therapy now, there's still a slim chance."

Ten years ago, my parents died shielding a teenage Lorenzo during a hit on the Corsica Don.

The Mortoro Family fell apart right after—business gone, bankrupt overnight.

Elisa took me in, honoring the mafia code: blood for blood and always return a favor.

Now, everything I'd saved barely scratched the cost of surgery and treatment.

After a long, hard think, I headed to Lorenzo's office.

The office door was wide open. Sofia was inside, rearranging purple irises on his desk. Lorenzo watched her like she hung the stars.

I froze.

He hated flowers. Always had. But if they came from Sofia? Suddenly, he could love anything.

He looked up. His smile disappeared fast.

"What are you doing here?"

"I need a loan. I'll pay you back." No games. I still wanted to live.

Sofia jumped in, all attitude. "I heard you've been mooching off Lorenzo's family ever since your parents died. Food, clothes, a roof—all free. And now you want cash too? Was marrying him not enough—you after his wallet now?"

I didn't even blink. Just stared at Lorenzo.

He looked away, voice like ice. "She's right. Handle it on your own. Once we're married, your parents' debt is done."

My fists unclenched. His words cut straight through me.

Under the desk, his fingers were laced with Sofia's.

And on his hand—my father's signet ring. The one he left behind before he died.

My voice cracked. "No need to wait for the wedding."

Lorenzo looked thrown for a second. Then it sank in.

"That again?" he snapped. "So your parents saved me. That doesn't mean I owe you for life."

He waved the guards over. Told them to throw me out.

Right as they dragged me away, he told his assistant to buy Sofia an eighty-million-dollar yacht.

Eighty million—more than enough to save me.

Tears blurred everything. I still smiled.

Fine. Now Lorenzo and I were finally free.