A Donna Reborn: No Longer a Substitute

The next morning, the moment I walked into my office at the hospital, I found Marco waiting.

He was sitting on the couch, his expression complicated as he watched me.

"Dalia, you know that Riccardo doesn't really love you, right?"

I paused for a beat, then said calmly, "That's none of your business."

In my past life, I'd given Marco my heart and my savings just to help him gain a foothold in the family. Yet, in the end, he and Alice had betrayed me together.

"Do you regret breaking off our engagement?" Marco pressed, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

I laughed coldly. "Regret? I only regret not seeing who you really were sooner."

Having said that, I paid Marco no further attention and walked out of the office.

That day was the hospital's community clinic day. Alice and I were on the roster.

Settling into the hospital's minivan, I leaned against the window and watched the city streets blur past.

In two months, I'd be leaving this city that brought me so much pain.

Suddenly, the driver slammed on the brakes. The minivan lurched, then spun out of control, crashing hard into the guardrail.

Metal screeched against metal. The sharp smell of gasoline flooded the air. The minivan tipped over onto its side.

I was pinned beneath the seat, blood trickling from my forehead.

Just as my consciousness began to fade, I saw a black sedan pull up on the side of the road.

Riccardo flung the car door open and anxiously rushed toward the wreckage.

"Riccardo," I called out with the last of my strength.

His gaze flickered to me just for a second, then snapped to the other side.

Alice was pinned beneath the passenger seat, groaning in pain.

I watched as Riccardo charged into the wreckage without a second thought. Then, he carefully lifted Alice into his arms and sprinted toward the ambulance without ever looking back.

In that moment, my heart froze solid, and darkness swallowed me whole.

When I woke up again, three days had passed.

Riccardo was slumped beside my hospital bed, exhaustion written all over him. His eyes were bloodshot, and dark stubble shadowed his jaw.

Seeing that I was awake, he immediately grabbed my hand.

"Dalia, you're finally awake. Are you in pain anywhere?"

I pulled my hand back, my voice cold. "How's Alice?"

Riccardo's eyes flickered.

"She's fine. The baby's safe, too. She's your cousin and pregnant, so I had to save her first," he scrambled to explain. "It's my job as the Don to protect the vulnerable."

I laughed, but the sound that came out was worse than crying.

In the moment between life and death, he'd chosen another woman. Worst still, he'd dressed it up in noble excuses.

I didn't want to wait two months anymore. I wanted to leave this hypocritical man right here and then.

When I didn't respond, Riccardo stood and said, "You must be hungry. I'll go get you something to eat."

After he left, I waited until night fell. But he never returned.

The other patients in the ward all had family members by their beds. Only I was completely alone.

When I needed to use the bathroom, I realized that my leg was injured too. I had to brace myself against the wall and shuffle slowly.

I finally made it to the bathroom door, only to find that I couldn't pull my pants down with one hand still hooked to an IV.

Helpless, I called out softly, "Is anyone there? Can someone please help me?"

A janitor heard me and hurried over to help.

She looked at me, disheveled and struggling, and couldn't help but ask, "Miss, where's your family?"

I had no answer.

In that moment, it suddenly dawned on me that love and marriage were worthless when survival was on the line.

On my way back to the ward, I heard Riccardo's voice.

I turned toward the direction it came from and saw he was carefully guiding Alice by the arm toward the examination room.

Our eyes met. For a split second, panic flashed across Riccardo's eyes.

"Dalia…"

"Dalia, don't get this the wrong way. Marco had family business to handle, so I had no choice but to ask Riccardo to escort me," Alice explained, smiling.

I stood there watching them, and for the first time, my eyes burned red.

It wasn't from heartbreak. But it was because it'd taken me two lifetimes to see people for who they really were.