Chapter 7 - The Hospital Went Dark Just as Meline Went Into Labor—and Alessandro Realized the Attack Was Planned From the BeginningEmergency lights flickered on.
Alessandro stood beside Meline.
“Stay with me.”
Her face was white.
“I think the baby is coming.”
The contractions hit hard.
Nurses rushed in.
The security doors locked.
Then the fire alarms started.
Smoke filled the hallway.
Someone had sabotaged the ventilation system.
Alessandro carried Meline into the delivery suite.
“Keep the doors locked.”
A doctor shouted instructions.
Meline clutched Alessandro's hand.
“I’m scared.”
He leaned down.
“So am I.”
“You're never scared.”
“I am now.”
She cried.
“I don't want our baby to die.”
“He won't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I'm not done fighting.”
Outside the room, gunfire erupted.
Security fired back.
The hospital became chaos.
Alessandro refused to leave Meline.
“You should go,” she whispered.
“No.”
“They'll kill you.”
“They'll have to get through me.”
Hours passed.
The baby remained in distress.
The doctor looked at Alessandro.
“We need to deliver now.”
Meline nodded weakly.
“Do it.”
Alessandro kissed her forehead.
“I'm here.”
The surgery began.
Outside, one attacker was captured.
His identity was revealed.
Graham Bell.
He had escaped custody.
He had come for the baby.
He confessed.
Stefano had promised him ten million dollars.
“Where is Stefano?”
Graham laughed.
“You still think he's outside?”
Alessandro went still.
“What?”
“He's already inside.”
The hospital security chief was Stefano's man.
He had disabled the cameras.
He had opened the delivery wing.
Alessandro ran.
But he was too late.
The operating-room door opened.
Stefano stood outside.
He held a gun.
“Your wife is inside.”
Alessandro stopped.
“Move.”
“No.”
Stefano smiled.
“You finally understand.”
“What?”
“You never had control.”
Alessandro looked at him.
“Take me.”
“That's exactly what I want.”
They fought.
The gun went off.
Alessandro fell.
Stefano ran toward the delivery room.
Then Meline screamed.
The sound stopped him.
Nurses were screaming.
A baby's cry filled the hallway.
Stefano froze.
Then police stormed the wing.
Lucia had arrived with federal agents.
Stefano was arrested.
Alessandro was rushed into surgery.
He survived.
But Meline didn't wake.
The doctors discovered severe complications.
She had lost too much blood.
Her condition was critical.
The baby was premature but stable.
Alessandro woke three hours later.
He immediately tried to stand.
“Where is my wife?”
No one answered.
A doctor approached.
“She is still in surgery.”
Alessandro's face went pale.
He ran down the corridor.
That was how he arrived at the private hospital wing.
That was how the doors burst open.
And that was why he stood trembling outside the operating room.
The scene from the beginning had finally arrived.
Only now, the truth was worse.
His wife might die.
His child might never know her.
And Alessandro had one choice.
He could save his company.
Or he could risk everything to save the woman who had taught him what love meant.
He chose her.
He signed away control of every remaining Vitali company.
The shares were transferred to a blind trust.
The family empire was frozen.
Every document regarding Stefano was released to federal investigators.
Alessandro gave them everything.
Money.
Accounts.
Names.
Secrets.
All of it.
In exchange, he asked for one thing.
“Save my wife.”
Hours later, the doctor came out.
Alessandro stood.
“What happened?”
The doctor smiled.
“She survived.”
His knees nearly collapsed.
“And the baby?”
“Alive.”
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Alessandro covered his face.
For the first time in years, he cried.
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