“You must be joking,” said Stellina when she woke up from her astonishment.
Diego shook his head again, this time with a melancholy look in his face. Without saying any words, Diego took out the phone from his pocket.That man with sharp nose and dimple dialled a phone number in his phone and made a video call.“Yes, Sir. Gina’s here.” A middle-aged lady in maid outfit could be seen answering that video call.“How is Arianna’s condition?” asked Diego with his natural sorrowful face.That video call changed into back camera view, where it showed a little girl with a straight, jet-black hair, shivering in her sleep.Diego showed that view to Stellina. That woman accepted the phone given by Diego although her hands were trembling in anticipation. She didn’t understand why Diego showed that thing to her.“Her name is Arianna, my beloved little girl,” Diego started to explain.“It has been a week she is having a high fever and seizures. Have a listen to what she says in her sleep, she keeps on calling for her mom,” continued Diego.Stellina looked at the little girl in that phone screen, feeling sorry in the process. She touched the phone screen, as if wanting to pat that little girl’s head to calm her down.“What does it have to do with me?’ asked Stellina in confusion when Diego took that phone back from her hand.“Gina, give Arianna medicine so she could sleep tonight. I will be home soon,” said Diego towards the phone, disregarding Stellina’s question.After ending that call, Diego then opened his phone gallery and was looking for the old pictures.After finding his marriage picture, he showed that photo to Stellina.“This is my late wife,” said Diego softly.Stellina was bewildered to see the face of that woman, dressed in the bride outfit, which resembled her so much. Even the color of their hairs and eyes were also the same. The only difference was in their hairstyle.“How could it...,” Stellina was choked on her words, completely puzzled.“Her name was Vellina. Vellina Pacnozzi,” said Diego again, ignoring Stellina’s remark.“Vellina?” parroted Stellina. She didn’t even think that the name of that woman in the photo was also similar to hers.“You said, your late wife. Is she...,” Stellina couldn’t finish her words.Diego then pretended to be sad. He looked at the face of that woman in that photo with a gloomy look, then turned to Stellina’s face with a knotted smile.“You know, it just feels like destiny, for me to meet you when my wife passed away this evening,” said Diego; half of what he said was a lie, though.“This evening?” parroted Stellina again. Diego nodded.“I know, our encounter was far from romantic, but I fell in love with you at the first sight,” said Diego tenderly while touching Stellina’s cheek affectionately.Stellina was stunned for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She was so close to be engulfed in the temptation of the man before her.Stellina slapped Diego’s hand away. She was not stupid. Of course she knew that Diego was not truly in love with her. Diego only saw her as the substitute of his late wife.“You can’t fool me,” said Stellina sternly. Diego felt baffled for a while to find out that Stellina wasn’t as clueless as he thought.“You only want to make me your wife’s substitute, right?” investigated Stellina.Diego pretended to be dejected. That man covered his face with his wide hands as if he wanted to cover his sorrow. In fact, it was quite the contrary.Diego spontaneously covered his face because he was unable to hide his wide grin when he found out Stellina’s unpredictable reaction.“Yes, you’re right. Indeed, I want to make you as a replacement for my wife,” remarked Diego when he managed to gain back his composure.“But is it wrong for me if I want to make my little daughter happy, and in the same time preventing the sadness of my father-in-law?” argued Diego, his tone sounded somehow demanding.“Do you think my heart wasn’t broken, when I heard the news regarding the death of that woman I loved so much?” Diego kept on his world-class acting.Again that tall and sturdy man wiped his face, clearly he was upset. He gazed at Stellina with a frustration look.“Listen, I’m not going to force you. I only want to tell you one thing. If you become my wife, then that man in that room will become my father-in-law. Of course I won’t hesitate to do anything in order to save the life of my father-in-law,” said Diego meaningfully.“Come inside and have a look at his condition. After that, I will take you home. Regarding your decision whether you want to become the replacement of my wife or not, you can decide later. I’ve prepared myself for another broken heart. Whatever your decision, I will accept it,” continued Diego with her sweet words.Stellina wasted no time and immediately rushed inside the room where her father was treated.She was so shocked to hear the result of doctor’s examination to the point that the thought of seeing her father never crossed her mind before, and the distraction that Diego caused earlier didn’t help either.Enrico was lying weak on the hospital bed with hoses in his bodies. His wrinkly face was covered by a foggy respiratory aid tool.Stellina looked at her father’s face with a sad look. Her heart felt like it was clutched tightly by a thornful hand. Her heartbeat felt so much pain each time she saw her father’s chest, struggling to move up and down in an attempt to just breathe.Stellina reached Enrico’s hand, full of aging. She grabbed that old hand and she kissed it full with affection.Diego’s words echoed again in her ears. Was it true that damned man would fight for her father’s life if she agreed to be his wife’s substitute?Stellina recollected the pieces of events in the hospital corridor earlier. The video of a sick young girl, the wedding photo of a woman who resembled her so much, the sorrow in Diego’s eyes she just saw, and his words before Stellina entered this room.Deigo said that he wouldn’t force her to be his wife’s replacement. But, in this kind of situation, did Stellina have any other choice but to agree?Stellina was unsure that she could find a lungs donor for her father all by herself, but with Diego’s connection in the black market, that thing was no longer an impossibility.Stellina witnessed by herself how Diego’s connection in this hospital made her father got the fastest and best treatment compared if she took the regular route.Of course, it’s not impossible for Diego to get her father a lungs donor later.Truly, to see her father’s helpless condition, Stellina felt she could sacrifice anything, even her own life.Diego followed to enter that room. Tenderly, she pat Stellina’s head. She was still crying by the side of that hospital’s bed.“My father, can you save my father?” asked Stellina in the middle of her weeping.“I just talked with that doctor. Your father must be immediately moved to the hospital in Rome,” answered Diego, trying his best to sound concerned.“He also must quickly get lungs transplantation if he wants to recover like he was before. If we only rely on the treatment, the doctor was concerned that his days are numbered,” continued Diego while penetrating Stellina’s eyes with his deep gaze.That girl sighed out of anxiety. It was unusual for her to lose self-control like this. But the situation she was facing right now made her unable to think clearly.“You said, if I agree to be your wife’s replacement, you will try your best to save my father’s life?” asked Stellina.“I didn’t say that,” argued Diego gloomily.“I don’t want to force you. I will accept your decision, even if you reject me. Of course, I will be very happy if you accept my feeling, to the point that I will give you anything,” said Diego again, even softer this time.“Anything,” Diego repeated his words again.“Including fighting for my father-in-law’s recovery,” remarked Diego, emphasizing his statement.Stellina jeered sarcastically. No matter how Diego packaged and polished his words, still the main point of his statement was if Stellina wanted her father to recover, she must be willing to be the substitute of that sly man’s wife.“You give me no choice at all. Let me discuss with my mother and sister first,” answered Stellina, trying to regain the control of the situation.Diego flashed his sinister smile. How dare this woman place herself in a higher position than him. Didn’t that woman understand his situation that she had no other choice but to follow what Diego wanted?Diego nodded, pretending to agree. Then he took out his phone and sent a short message to the doctor who just examined Enrico before.Then, in order to eliminate suspicion, Diego pretended to call Fabian.“How was it, Fabian? You’ve taken care of their bodies, right?” Stellina shuddered upon hearing Diego’s conversation.Diego who was aware of Stellina’s disapproval look, raised one of his hands as the sign of apology, then he swiftly left that room to continue his conversation outside.Exactly on that time, the doctor whom Diego called before, entered the room in order to check the LCD screen beside Enrico’s bed.“How is it, doctor?” asked Stellina anxiously.“Mr. Enrico’s condition is very bad, Miss. I must immediately move him to specialized hospital in Rome,” answered that doctor.Stellina looked at her father in confusion. At that time, Diego had re-entered the room, according to his plan.“What happened?” asked Diego, pretending he had no idea about what was going on, when it was him who designed this scenario with that doctor.“My father must be immediately moved to hospital in Rome,” replied Stellina, sobbing weakly.“Mr. Diego, you must make your decision right now, because the access privilege of that specialized hospital could only be given to you,” urged that doctor to Diego.“This hospital can’t just give this access privilige to anybody but our VVIP customers. So, will you allow your privilege to be handed over to this patient, Mr. Diego?” asked that doctor again.Diego scratched his head, as if he was thinking of something important.“I can’t just give my privilege to stranger. I’m worried that later my other family members will need that access,” lied Diego.“How about we bring this patient to another hospital?” asked Diego again. That doctor sighed before answering.“I’m worried that other hospitals will turn Mr. Enrico down because his current condition has already been so bad. If it hasn’t been for Mr. Diego who specifically requested me, I myself also would have refused him because it could tarnish this hospital’s reputation,” answered that doctor.Stellina turned to look at Diego; her eyes glimmering with hope. Diego looked back at her with regret.“Let’s just bring your father to another hospital. We won’t know until we try,” Diego attempted to give a false offering.“No, I’m not risking my father’s life,” replied Stellina upset.“Please do anything to save my father’s life. I will do anything for that,” continued Stellina eventually.“Anything?” asked Diego to confirm.“Anything! I will follow all of your requests, so please save my father!” answered Stellina with tears gushing across her cheeks.“Alright, I believe you won’t risking your father’s life by breaking your promise later,” said Diego to Stellina.“Doctor, I’m willing to give my privilege for this patient, so please take care of everything. Make sure Mr. Enrico Pezcatores get the best treatment in that hospital,” ordered Diego to the doctor.Stellina buried her face into her palms, feeling helpless to face her defeat.Meanwhile, Diego looked at that woman with a smile full of victory.Diego and Stellina exchanged no words when they had been inside the car going to Stellina’s house.“What should I do now?” asked Stellina, breaking the silence. Diego took a glimpse to that woman.“I will change your look so you will really look like Vellina before I invite you into our mansion,” answered Diego.“How long should I pretend to be your wife?” interrogated Stellina sharply.She caught from Diego’s statement earlier that that man intended to fool everyone by covering her true identity.“Approximately a year. I need time to tell my daughter, also my father-in-law about Vellina’s death,” lied Diego.“They don’t know about her death?” asked Vellina puzzled.“That accursed accident happened just this evening. Her car sank in the swift current of Oglio River. Her body was nowhere to be found, perhaps it was already flown to the sea,” replied Diego without any hint of sadness in his face.Stellina felt there was something odd because Diego had no care about his wife’s body and a
Diego's car has arrived at the hospital belonging to the Ludovicci Family. Neither Diego nor Stellina immediately rushed out of the car. Now, it's time for Stellina to play a role she has never done before."Hey, you have to do it seriously." Diego suddenly spoke in the middle of the silence of his car.Stellina averted her eyes after she had been busy looking out the window. Seeing Diego's serious expression made Stellina shudder a little. But to be honest, Stellina's worries were less than before because she thought Diego was a fraud."Do I really have to be in the hospital like this?" asked Stellina in a squeaky tone, showing her concern.Diego glanced at Fabian who was in the driver's side seat. They both didn't say anything at all. After a split second, Diego let out a rough sigh."You shouldn't question anything, let alone protest."Stellina almost let slip sneer at Diego hearing that sarcastic answer. Even though there were still many things she wanted to ask, Stellina chose to
It was then that Stellina suddenly realized that what she had said was wrong. Stellinana turned quickly to Diego who was looking at her doubtfully, then shook her head immediately."It's not that I won't do well with your request, but… if there's someone sick in this room, your patient, they definitely won't feel sick. I see."Hearing Stellina's explanation that sounded a bit nervous made Diego not just say yes. Diego still squinted his eyes slightly, guessing Stellina's gesture: whether she was lying or not."I'm telling the truth," Stellina said again when she understood Diego's suspicions.Then Diego pointed his finger at Stellina's face. "Don't let my plan fail miserably if you can't act properly," he replied later.Stellina nodded obediently like a child. Without any further conversation, when Stellina wanted to ask about the two sisters who had just finished preparing the infusion, Diego suddenly pointed his palm at her."Please put the infusion into her hand," said Diego, which
Fabian was a little hesitant to sit next to Stellina. But because at that time Stellina was constantly patting the spot next to him, Fabian was forced to say yes.After sitting beside Stellina—Fabian deliberately took five inches away while exhaling roughly, Fabian was silent for a moment. She doesn't know what Fabian think. Stellina felt that Fabian seemed to be remembering something."If it's too difficult and you're still grieving over his passing, it's better not to need to explain in detail," said Stellina later. The way zhs spoke was so subtle that Fabian looked at her in disbelief."Do you always speak softly like that?" asked Fabian who looked at Stellina in astonishment.Stellina raised her eyebrows, confused. "You mean?""You speak very softly," Fabian answered and clarified what he meant, "and Miss Vellina never spoke softly like that."Suddenly Stellina was surprised. "Is that so? My voice sounds so smooth?"Fabian nodded calmly, in contrast to Stellina who was suddenly e
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!Eston's attention immediately shifted towards his study door when a knock sounded. Eston frowned as he waited for the door to open and the figure of the man on his right hand enter the room. The man's face looked worried, as if implying he brought some bad news.Before the right-hand man was about to speak in detail, Eston raised a palm. Gave the signal to hold off for a while as there was still a call. Eston's right hand man just nodded his head."Yes, I'm in Belgium on business right now. Don't try to offer me a business you can't guarantee." Eston said to his business partner on the phone.Eston occasionally watched his right hand man for a few seconds. At that time, for some reason Eston felt that the man on his right hand was agitated."Come on, let's not discuss something that is not important. I have a lot of business here. I'll hang up from you."Without waiting for a long time and not wanting to hear what his business partner was saying, Eston immediately
Eston seemed to feel his heart drop that very second. He took a deep breath and exhaled while lifting his head."Oh my god... my daughter shouldn't be in a coma if I'm not away on my work matters." Eston complained and once again insinuated Diego about Diego's incompetence in looking after Vellina."What did Vellina do before the accident?" asked Eston after complaining.Diego was still silent for a few seconds. Thinking of the right answer to Eston's question."To be honest... I don't know, Mr. Eston.""You don't know?!" Eston raised his voice again."I mean, I've received news that Vellina will be going with her friends. I also ordered two bodyguards to guard her from behind. But it turns out that Vellina knows about bodyguards—""Diego! Stop explaining by putting Vellina in a corner! You're the one responsible for the accident here!" Eston suddenly interrupted Diego's explanation without wanting to listen to it all.At that time, Diego was somewhat surprised by Eston's words, which
"Why is your face suddenly gloomy?" Diego made a sound, startling Stellina from her reverie.The direction of Stellina's eyes that radiated doubt shifted to Diego. That made Diego realize that the woman in front of him was currently confused.Without question, Diego had already guessed what was bothering Stellina."If you can't continue this charade, you can cancel your plans."Suddenly Stellina was surprised to hear Diego's words. Stellina shook her head quickly."No way. Are you crazy? Even your preparations are very mature."Diego snapped his fingers. "You know that. Why do you still look confused?"Stellina immediately couldn't answer for a few seconds. But before long, Stellina let out a restless sigh. There is a sense of guilt if he canceled this play plan."I'm not worried, just thinking about how to pretend to be someone with amnesia." Stellina replied in her confused state.Meanwhile, in front of Stellina, Diego didn't seem to care. After standing up and placing his hands acr
Stellina opened her eyes deliberately, watching Eston for a few seconds. Then her hand reached out to signal one of the nurses who happened to be staring at her."Miss Vellina has come to her senses!"After one of the male nurses pointed at Stellina, all eyes turned in unison. The movement of Eston's right-hand man suddenly stopped in the air, even though he was about to give Diego one more punch.Stellina deliberately groaned while moving her fingers and face slowly. This made Eston smile broadly. In a hurry, Eston immediately walked towards Stellina."Vellina, my beloved daughter..." Eston's voice sounded very soft, much different compared to Diego's.Stellina slowly opened her eyes. It's kind of hard to act out someone who just woke up from a coma. Luckily, however, Stellina had read a book with a similar character.At least Stellina can demonstrate how the character acts."You're awake?" Eston couldn't help but smile broadly, as if forgetting the chaotic fight that had just taken