William stepped out of the restaurant just in time to see a crowd gathered near the entrance. His eyes were immediately drawn to a young woman lying unconscious in a man's arms. Something in his chest stirred violently—an inexplicable pull.He didn't even realize his feet had started moving until he was kneeling beside them.
"Young man, can I check her?" he asked, voice steady but urgent. "I'm a doctor."
Jake, pale and shaking, nodded frantically. "Of course, please—help her!"
William leaned over Aurora, checking her pulse, his fingers trembling slightly. "She needs CPR. Immediately." Jake looked on, his hands clenched in despair. "Baby, please wake up… don't do this to me… I beg of you…" William began administering CPR with swift, practiced precision, but his gaze kept drifting to her face.
Who is this girl?
He didn't know her name. Didn't know where she was from. And yet, tears were suddenly falling down his cheeks. He couldn't explain the ache in his chest the overwhelming pain that twisted his gut at the sight of her like this.
It was as if a part of him was breaking.He wiped his face quickly when he heard sirens in the distance.
"The ambulance is here!" Maxwell shouted.
Jake wasted no time. He scooped Aurora into his arms, her blood staining his shirt, and followed the medics."Take her to Riverson General Hospital," William commanded the paramedics. No one questioned him. His presence demanded respect.
Mark's P.O.V
Who is she?
She had only passed by him briefly at the mall, and yet… she left an imprint on his soul.
"She made me feel something," Mark admitted quietly.Tiwa snorted. "Did you even approach her?"Mark hesitated, his face falling. "No… I hid every time she turned around."Then what's the point of this conversation?" Tiwa said bluntly. "You couldn't even talk to her. Besides, you already have a girlfriend. Just forget her." Mark sighed. "Yeah… Tiwa, I know. I love Ralph—I really do. But this girl… she was something else."
Her smile. God, that smile. It could light up a room.Her dimples were so deep they seemed etched by angels. Her hair was jet-black and silkier than any fabric he had ever touched. And those lashes—long and thick—framing eyes as blue as the ocean, eyes you could drown in and never wish to be rescued.
Tiwa raised a brow. "I don't think Raphaelina would be thrilled hearing you describe another woman like that."
Mark chuckled bitterly. "Come on, you know how much I love Ralph. Anyway… she probably has a boyfriend already."
Then he added under his breath, "She's too pure to be dragged into the kind of world I live in."
Riverson General Hospital – Intensive Care Unit
Aurora was rushed into the ICU.
Her condition was critical. Blood was still seeping from her nose, and her breathing was erratic. Her skin had turned a deathly shade of pale.William didn't hesitate he donned protective gear and joined the team of doctors. His voice was sharp and authoritative as he issued orders.
"No mistakes. Her lungs are beginning to collapse. We need to stabilize her immediately." Her disease had advanced far beyond what anyone had expected. It had reached her lungs the reason for the nosebleed and was now spreading dangerously fast.
To even visit her, one had to wear full PPE gloves, masks, everything. The staff moved like they were entering a contamination zone. One small mistake, and her fragile body could break entirely.Jake stood on the other side of the glass, fists pressed against it, trembling. Every second felt like a lifetime.A nurse emerged from the ward and approached him gently.
"Mr. Jake… Dr. William would like to speak with you."Jake rushed to William's side, heart pounding."Doctor… tell me she's going to be okay," he choked out.William removed his gloves with a heavy sigh. "I won't lie to you. Her condition is deteriorating rapidly. The disease is now attacking other organs. If we don't act fast, she won't make it."Jake's legs almost gave out beneath him.
"She… she needs surgery, right?" he whispered."Yes," William confirmed. "A full transplant. We need to replace the affected organ before the disease spreads further. And… we need a donor match."Jake nodded slowly. "We'll do it. Whatever it takes."
William hesitated. "There's more. According to the tests… this disease is genetic. Inherited. Most likely from one of her biological parents."
Jake's breath caught in his throat.
"We need access to a family member's DNA either her father or mother. Without that, we can't find a match. I'm sorry… but time is not on our side." Jake turned away, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Her parents…
He still hadn't found them.Where the hell are they?! He stormed into the hospital corridor and dialed a number."Have you found them?" he barked into the phone.The investigator sounded hesitant. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm still tracking down leads—"
"F*k!" Jake roared, slamming a fist against the wall. "I pay you to do ONE job! And you're still feeding me excuses?! You're wasting time she doesn't have!" His voice echoed down the corridor as nurses and patients turned in alarm. But Jake didn't care. He was losing her.And he'd burn the whole damn city down before he let that happen.