The hospital smelled like death.
I hate that I noticed it
"Bella….
My grip tightened around my mom's hand immediately.
"I'm here," I whispered, forcing strength into a voice that didn't have any left.
Her fingers twitched weakly in mine.
"You haven't eaten," she murmured.
I smiled, because that's what she needed. Not the truth.
"I'm fine, Mom."
But we both knew the truth.
Money would save her.
And I didn't have it.
"Miss Cole?"
I frowned, turning toward the door.
A man in a black suit stood there too polished, too calm for a place like this.
"What do you want," I said.
"This concerns your mother's surgery."
Everything inside me stilled.
"What about it?"
"The procedure can be done immediately. Fully covered."
My heart skipped.
Covered
"By who?"
He didn't answer.
He just stepped aside.
And then
He walked in.
Tall. Controlled. Dangerous.
The kind of man you don't forget.
I didn't need an introduction.
Alexander Knight.
And just like that…
The air in the room changed.
My mom's hand went rigid in mine.
A sharp, terrified inhale left her lips.
"No…" she rasped.
I turned to her quickly. "Mom?"
Her eyes were wide now. Not weak.
Terrified.
"Bella… no… don't"
Her words broke off into a violent cough.
"Doctor!" I shouted instantly.
Within seconds, everything turned chaotic.
Machines beeped faster. Nurses rushed in. A doctor pushed past me, already checking her vitals.
"Her oxygen is dropping"
"Ma'am, you need to step back."
I stumbled backward, my heart slamming violently against my ribs as they worked on her.
But I wasn't really seeing them.
I was watching her.
The fear in her eyes.
Not fear of dying.
No.
Fear of him.
And suddenly…
I understood why.
Years ago, when my father was killed…
There were no witnesses.
No suspects.
No justice.
Just one thing left behind at the scene
A watch.
Expensive. Rare.
Recognizable.
It belonged to a man no one dared to accuse.
No one dared to touch.
Because who would be stupid enough to go after one of the most powerful men in the city?
A mafia king hiding behind wealth and influence.
The police saw it
They knew.
And then…
They did nothing.
My fingers slowly curled into fists.
Because that same man…
Was standing right in front of me.
"I don't like wasting time," Alexander Knight said calmly, like my world wasn't collapsing all over again. "So I'll be direct."
I tore my gaze away from my mother and looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Cold. Unbothered.
Like he'd never destroyed a family in his life.
"Your mother needs surgery. I can make that happen."
Of course he could.
Men like him controlled everything.
Life.
Death.
Justice.
Or the lack of it.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice low now. Controlled.
Because I already knew this wasn't help.
It was a trap.
His eyes locked onto mine.
"Marry me."
My breath caught.
Not from shock.
But from the realization of just how cruel fate could be.