The operating room was filled with tense silence.
Only the steady beeping of the heart monitor could be heard.
Alexander Kazafi stood over the surgical table, his expression calm as he worked.
"Scalpel."
The nurse immediately placed it in his hand.
Alexander carefully made the incision.
Blood flowed, but his movements were precise and controlled.
For someone only twenty-six years old, his surgical skill was surprisingly steady.
The assisting nurse watched him in quiet amazement.
How is he so calm…?
The patient lying on the table was not an ordinary person.
He was Vladimir Volkov.
A man feared across the criminal world.
Yet Alexander treated him exactly the same as any other patient.
The nurse glanced at the heart monitor.
The numbers were still dangerously low.
"Doctor," she whispered nervously, "his blood pressure is dropping."
Alexander's hazel eyes focused sharply.
"Clamp."
The instrument was placed into his hand.
He located the bleeding artery and quickly sealed it.
"Stabilizing," he said calmly.
The nurse blinked in surprise.
His voice had an almost comforting warmth.
Even in this life-and-death moment, Alexander seemed completely composed.
But suddenly—
The monitor gave a sharp warning sound.
BEEEEEP
The pulse line dropped.
The room froze.
"Cardiac arrest!" the nurse shouted.
For a brief second, panic flashed through the room.
But Alexander didn't move.
He placed his hands firmly on the patient's chest.
"Prepare defibrillator."
The nurse rushed to bring the machine.
Alexander looked down at the massive man lying unconscious before him.
Even pale and injured, Vladimir Volkov looked terrifying.
His muscular body was covered in tattoos.
Scars crossed his chest like marks of countless battles.
This was clearly a man who had lived a brutal life.
Alexander sighed softly.
"Stay alive," he murmured.
The nurse handed him the defibrillator paddles.
"Charging."
Electricity hummed through the machine.
"Clear."
THUMP
The shock hit the patient's chest.
The body jerked slightly.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
The nurse held her breath.
Then—
BEEP… BEEP…
The heart monitor came back to life.
The pulse line rose again.
The room released a collective breath.
Alexander allowed himself a small smile.
"Good."
But at that exact moment—
A pair of cold gray eyes slowly opened.
Vladimir Volkov was awake.
His vision was blurry at first.
Bright surgical lights shone above him.
Voices echoed around him.
For a brief moment, instinct told him he was in danger.
His powerful body tensed.
But then—
He saw a face leaning over him.
A young man with soft black hair and hazel-green eyes.
His expression was calm.
Gentle.
Warm.
Completely different from the violent world Vladimir knew.
The young doctor spoke softly to the nurse.
"Vitals are stabilizing."
His voice was soothing.
Vladimir stared at him silently.
For the first time in many years…
The mafia king felt something strange.
Peace.
Alexander suddenly noticed the patient's eyes open.
He blinked in surprise.
"Oh."
Their gazes met.
Vladimir's cold gray eyes locked onto Alexander.
For a moment, the entire world seemed quiet.
Alexander gave him a gentle smile.
"Welcome back."
Then he added calmly,
"You almost died."
The mafia king stared at him for a long moment.
Then his deep voice came out rough and low.
"…You saved me?"
Alexander nodded.
"Yes."
Vladimir studied the young doctor's face carefully.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Almost unreal.
Yet there was nothing fake about the warmth in his eyes.
After a moment, Vladimir slowly closed his eyes again.
"…Interesting."
No one had ever spoken to him so calmly before.
And no one had ever looked at him without fear.
Not once.
But this doctor did.
And Vladimir Volkov suddenly knew one thing.
He would remember Alexander Kazafi.
Very clearly.