He Thought I Was a Joke? I Hid the Heir to His Mafia Empire Chapter 09
I woke up the next morning to find Luca gone.Â
The hospital director hurried over, unable to hide.Â
his elation. “Ms. Moretti! Great news! A matchingÂ
heart donor has been found!”Â
I shot upright abruptly, dizziness sweeping overÂ
me from rising too fast. “Really? Where is it?”Â
“The donor is at a hospital in Chicago. The patientÂ
suffered fatal brain damage in a car crash, withÂ
perfect blood type and physical compatibility!”Â
“Don Falcone has dispatched a helicopter to retrieve the organ. The transplant surgery can begin in roughly three hours if all goes smoothly.”Â
Three hours.Â
I covered my mouth, tears streaming down freely.Â
Estelle was going to survive.Â
“However…” The director hesitated, his expressionÂ
turning grave.Â
“What happened?” My heart tightened instantly.Â
“We just received word from Chicago. The donor’s family suddenly withdrew consent. SomeoneÂ
offered double the price to purchase the heartÂ
privately.”Â
“What?” Shock washed over me. Organ traffickingÂ
was illegal, yet someone dared to seize the heartÂ
openly.Â
“Who is behind this?”Â
The director glanced around cautiously andÂ
lowered his voice. “Word travels it’s the CastellanoÂ
family.”Â
The Castellano family–Elena’s kin. Cold dread.Â
seeped into my bones. They intended to snuff outÂ
Estelle’s last chance at life.Â
“Does Luca know?” I grabbed the director’s armÂ
urgently.Â
“He was notified immediately and headed for Chicago. Yet the Castellanos hold immense local influence. No one can force the family to donateÂ
against their will.”Â
I released my grip and stumbled backward. MyÂ
phone vibrated moments later, displaying an MMSÂ
from an unknown number.Â
The photo showed a fresh heart inside a sterileÂ
transport container. A text message followed right.Â
away.Â
“Want this heart? Meet me on the rooftop.”Â
Hatred blazed fiercely in my eyes. Without.Â
hesitation, I rushed toward the elevator.Â
Strong winds howled across the hospital rooftop,Â
whipping my thin clothes wildly. Elena stood at theÂ
edge clutching her phone, wearing a triumphant grin, flanked by two impassive bodyguards.Â
“You finally came.” She admired her newly manicured nails casually. “I thought you caredÂ
nothing about that brat’s life.”Â
“What exactly do you want?” I stepped closer steadily. “You already have everything you desired.Â
Why spare no mercy for my daughter? This is a human life. How can you be so cruel?”Â
Elena’s smile vanished instantly as if hearing absurd nonsense.Â
“Cruel? Vera, you brought all this upon yourself!”Â
“You handed Luca over to me years ago, so whyÂ
return now? Why give birth to that illegitimateÂ
child and let her cross paths with him?”Â
Her gaze turned venomous. “I have detained theÂ
heart. One single call from me, and it will end upÂ
discarded like trash.”Â
Panic surged through me. “Aren’t you afraid LucaÂ
will find out? That child is his own flesh andÂ
blood.”Â
“Afraid?” Elena laughed mockingly. “Have youÂ
forgotten how he sees you? A greedy woman whoÂ
abandoned him for wealth. I am his loyal fianceeÂ
who stood by his side through every hardship.Â
Whose side do you think he will believe?”Â
Her words left me stunned. He harbored deep hatred for me, hatred I planted and nurtured forÂ
seven long years, growing into an unyieldingÂ
barrier blocking all warmth.Â
My spirit crumbled, icy despair enveloping my body. “I will give you anything you ask. Just leaveÂ
Estelle unharmed.”Â
“Anything at all?” Elena raised an eyebrowÂ
skeptically.Â
“Absolutely.” Nothing mattered as long as my daughter lived.Â
Elena pulled a folding knife from her purse andÂ
tossed it onto the concrete surface. The blade.Â
glinted coldly under sunlight.Â
“I’ve heard Luca adores your hands.” She stared atÂ
my slender hands marked by years of hard labor.Â
“You were the university piano prodigy, thoseÂ
hands were even insured back then. Sever yourÂ
tendons, and I will authorize the heart delivery.”Â
I stared at the knife then back at Elena’s twistedÂ
face. Frigid wind rushed down my collar.Â
“Having second thoughts?” Elena lifted her phone,Â
pretending to dial. “Keep valuing yourself, and theÂ
child dies.”Â
“Stop!” I shouted anxiously. “I’ll do it.”Â
Trembling, I bent down to pick up the blade.Â
“Hurry up. My patience wears thin.”Â
I drew a deep breath and pressed the knife tipÂ
against my left wrist. Estelle’s pale little faceÂ
appeared in my mind. I could not offer her aÂ
luxurious life, yet I would sacrifice everything toÂ
keep her alive.Â
I squeezed my eyes shut and tensed my arm. Just as the blade pierced my skin, the rooftop metal door crashed open violently.Â
The sudden noise jolted my hand, the knife slicing sideways and carving a deep bleeding gashÂ
across my wrist. Crimson blood welled upÂ
instantly.Â
“Stop right there!” A furious roar echoed acrossÂ
the rooftop.

