Mafia's Surrogate Bride Chapter 78

Damian’s POV

I stood outside the operating room, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The sterile hospital smell filled my nostrils, mixing with the metallic scent of blood that still clung to my clothes from carrying Aria here.

Lorenzo appeared at my side, his voice carefully controlled. "Sir, the bullet missed any vital organs. She's going to be fine."

Of course she would be fine. As someone who had lived surrounded by violence my entire life, I knew exactly how much damage a shoulder wound could cause. This was nothing compared to what I'd seen—what I'd done. On any other day, I wouldn't even have been concerned. People got shot. People healed. People moved on.

But I found myself unable to shake the image of Aria's pale face, the way her blood had soaked through that elegant dress, the sound she'd made when the bullet hit.

"She threw herself in front of Antonio," I said, more to myself than to Lorenzo.

"Yes, sir. Without hesitation."

Without calculating the risk, without considering the consequences, without thinking about her own safety. She'd simply seen danger approaching an old man and reacted with pure, selfless courage.

It made no sense. Antonio meant nothing to her. Our world meant nothing to her. She had every reason to hate everything we represented, yet she'd risked her life to protect one of us.

The operating room doors finally opened, and Dr. Martinelli emerged, pulling off his surgical gloves. "The surgery was successful. Miss Rossi is stable and should make a full recovery."

Relief flooded through me so suddenly I had to grip the wall to stay upright. "When can I see her?"

"She's being moved to a private room now. You can visit once she's settled."

I followed the gurney down the corridor, watching as they transferred Aria to a hospital bed. She looked so small against the white sheets, so fragile despite the strength she'd just demonstrated.

Antonio was already in the room when I entered, standing beside her bed with an expression I'd never seen before. His weathered face was soft with something that looked almost paternal.

"She saved my life," he said quietly as I approached. "This remarkable girl threw herself between a bullet and an old man without thinking twice."

I studied Antonio's face. There was something different about the way he was looking at Aria, something deeper than gratitude.

"I've made a decision," Antonio continued, his voice gaining strength. "I'm going to ask Ricardo to adopt her officially. Make her a Montrosso in name as well as spirit."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Antonio wanted to adopt Aria? Make her part of his family?

Before I could process this fully, the door burst open. Adriana stormed into the room, her face twisted with fury.

"Grandfather!" she shrieked. "You cannot be serious! Adopt her? Make that nobody part of our family?"

Antonio turned slowly, his expression growing cold. "Lower your voice, Adriana. This is a hospital."

"She's nothing but trash!" Adriana continued, her voice rising higher. "A servant girl who got lucky! You want to give the Montrosso name to some orphan who crawled out of the gutter?"

That was enough.

"Adriana," I said, my voice cutting through her hysterics like a blade. "You seem to be forgetting something very important."

She turned toward me, her eyes blazing with entitled rage. "What?"

"Tonight, you owe Aria an apology. For the kidnapping. Remember?"

The color drained from her face instantly. Around us, the hospital room fell completely silent.

"Either you apologize to her right now," I continued, my voice deadly calm, "or I'll be making some very interesting phone calls to certain journalists. I'm sure they'd love to hear about how the Montrosso princess orchestrated the kidnapping of an innocent girl over a handbag and a dance."

"You wouldn't dare," Adriana whispered.

"Try me." I pulled out my phone, finger hovering over the contacts. "I have three reporters on speed dial who would kill for this story. 'Montrosso Heiress Arranges Kidnapping Out of Jealousy.' It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"She doesn't belong here!" Adriana finally exploded. "She's ruining everything! You were supposed to choose me, we were supposed to be together, and instead you're parading around with some nobody who—"

"Who what?" I stepped closer, my voice dangerously low. "Who saved the life of your grandfather? Who showed more courage in five seconds than you've shown in your entire privileged existence?"

"She's nothing!"

"Nothing?" I repeated softly. "I think, that Adriana owes not just an apology, but a public one. Perhaps a statement to the press about how she was mistaken, how she acted poorly, how she realizes now that she was wrong."

"No!" Adriana screamed. "I won't humiliate myself for her!"

"Then I'll make the calls," I said, already dialing. "Channel 7 News first, I think. They love these kinds of family drama stories."

"Wait!" She lunged for my phone, but I held it out of reach.

"Apologize. Now. Or face the media circus."

Antonio's voice cut through the tension. "Adriana, you will apologize immediately. Not just for my sake, but because it's the right thing to do."

She looked between us, trapped and desperate. Finally, she turned toward Aria.

"I..." she started, then stopped. "I'm sorry for what happened."

"Not good enough," I said immediately. "A real apology. Specific. Genuine."

Adriana's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I'm sorry I arranged for your kidnapping. It was wrong of me. I was jealous and I acted badly."

"And?"

"And I hope you can forgive me."

I studied her face, noting the complete lack of sincerity, the way her eyes burned with resentment even as she spoke the words. But it would have to do for now.

"Remember this moment, Adriana," I said quietly. "Remember that actions have consequences.