Mafia's Surrogate Bride Chapter 32

Aria's POV

The authorization went through in less than an hour.

I watched the medical team rush around Jessica's bed. Dr. Martinelli came out twenty minutes later.

"We're starting the advanced protocol immediately," he said. "The payment came through from a private foundation. Your sister is going to receive the best treatment available."

"Thank you," I whispered.

"She's a fighter, Miss Rossi. With proper treatment, she has an excellent chance of full recovery."

He walked away. I slid down the wall beside Jessica's room until I was sitting on the cold hospital floor, my legs no longer able to support me.

A child. I'd agreed to carry Damian Cavalieri's child.

The thought sent shudders through my entire body. For nine months, I would be nothing more than an incubator for his heir. Nine months of being owned, controlled, molded to serve his purposes. And then I'd have to give birth and walk away, never seeing my baby again.

Hot tears started streaming down my face as the full scope of my decision hit me. I'd sold my future, my body, my soul to save Jessica's life. And I would do it again. That was the worst part—knowing that even understanding the full cost, I would make the same choice every single time.

The tears came harder now, ugly sobs that echoed through the empty hallway. All the fear and desperation of the past weeks came pouring out at once. The terror of watching Jessica fade away, the humiliation of begging for work, the crushing weight of knowing I couldn't provide for the only family I had left. And now this—the relief mixed with horror, gratitude twisted together with self-loathing.

**What kind of person was I?** What kind of sister traded her unborn child for medical bills?

But even as the thought tormented me, I looked through the window at Jessica's peaceful face and knew I'd made the only choice I could live with. She was nineteen years old with her whole life ahead of her. She deserved the chance to grow up, to fall in love, to have children of her own someday. If the price for her future was my own, then it was a price worth paying.

The sound of running footsteps echoed through the corridor, and I looked up to see Sofia rushing toward me, her face pale with panic.

"Aria!"

"I got your message—" She stopped when she saw me on the floor. "Oh God, what happened? Is Jessica...?"

"She's okay," I said quickly. "She's getting treatment. The payment went through."

Sofia collapsed beside me. "Thank God. When you called, I thought we'd lost her."

"We almost did. But someone paid for her treatment. All of it."

Sofia pulled back to look at me. "Someone? Who would do that? That's hundreds of thousands of euros."

"A benefactor."

"A benefactor?" Her voice got sharp. "Random benefactors don't just appear with that kind of money. Who was it, Aria?"

I tried to look away, but she caught my chin.

"It was Damian," I whispered. "Damian Cavalieri."

Sofia stared at me. Then her eyes went wide.

"Damian Cavalieri? The crime boss?" Her voice rose. "Aria, what the hell have you gotten yourself into?"

"He offered to help—"

"Help?" Sofia laughed bitterly. "Men like Damian Cavalieri don't help anyone. They don't do charity. They absolutely do not hand over hundreds of thousands of euros without expecting something back."

I closed my eyes. "I know."

"You know? Then why...?" Understanding hit her face. "Oh no. Oh, Aria, please tell me you didn't..."

"I didn't have a choice. Jessica was dying. The doctors said she had hours. I tried everything else—begging, borrowing, working every job I could find. Nothing was enough."

"What did you agree to?" Sofia's voice was deadly quiet. "What exactly did you trade for Jessica's life?"

My throat felt like sandpaper. The words wouldn't come out.

"Aria." Sofia's voice carried command. "Tell me what you agreed to do for Damian Cavalieri."

"A child," I whispered. "He wants me to carry his child."

"What?" The word exploded out of her. "What do you mean?"

I couldn't stop crying now.

"He needs an heir for his family legacy. He offered to pay for Jessica's treatment in exchange for me being his surrogate. Nine months to carry his baby, then I walk away forever."

Sofia's face went through shock, disbelief, fury.

"Oh, Aria. What have you done?"

"I saved my sister's life!"

"By selling yourself to the most dangerous man in Florence! By agreeing to carry his child!"

"I know what he is," I said desperately. "But Jessica was dying, Sofia. This was the only way."

Sofia hugged me tight. "This is insane. We have to find another way. We have to get you out of this."

"There is no other way. I already agreed. And if I back out now..."

"If you back out now, what? He'll take away Jessica's treatment?"

I nodded against her shoulder. "He made that very clear. Jessica lives as long as I honor our agreement. If I try to break the contract..."

"He'll let her die." Sofia's voice was flat with understanding. "Of course he will. That's exactly the kind of leverage someone like him would use."

We sat in silence. Through the window, the medical team worked over Jessica with new purpose.

"Nine months," Sofia said finally, her voice thick with tears. "You agreed to nine months of your life."

"Nine months to save hers," I corrected. "It's not a bad trade."

"It's a terrible trade," Sofia said fiercely. "You're worth more than that, Aria. Your life, your future, your choice to have children when and with whom you want—you're worth more than being some crime lord's breeding stock."

The harsh words made me flinch, but I couldn't argue with them.

"Maybe," I said quietly. "But it's done now. The contract will be signed tomorrow, and then... then I guess I find out what the rest of my life looks like."

Sofia was quiet for a long moment, her arms still wrapped around me like she could physically protect me from the choice I'd already made.

"I'll be here," she said finally. "Whatever happens, however this plays out, I'll be here for you. And when it's over, when you've fulfilled whatever sick contract he's making you sign, I'll help you rebuild. We'll figure out how to put your life back together."

I wanted to believe her. But sitting on that cold floor, with Jessica's life hanging in the balance and my future sold, I couldn't see past tomorrow.

"What kind of contract?" Sofia asked suddenly.

"I don't know the details yet. But he was very clear about the terms. Nine months, then I disappear forever."

"Forever?"

"No contact with the child. No parental rights. Clean break." My voice was hollow. "Like I never existed."

"Jesus, Aria."

"It's just biology," I said, trying to convince myself as much as her. "Just nine months of biology."

"It's not just biology and you know it. That's going to be your baby."

"No." I shook my head hard. "It's his baby. His heir. I'm just... carrying it."

Sofia was quiet for a long moment. "When do you have to..."

"Tomorrow morning. His driver picks me up at nine."