Chapter 2: An Examination and a Secret

As night fell, the family doctor attended to Lizzy in a separate room. Some nurses tended to her minor wounds and treated the bruises on her pale skin. Throughout, none of them dared to look at her, but Lizzy could clearly hear their conversation when the women left the room.

"Did you hear what the doctor said?" one of them asked in a hushed voice, glancing furtively at the partially open door.

"Yes, I heard it," another cautiously replied. "I'm worried about that girl. I don't know how she'll handle this when Mr. Cefalù finally finds out."

One of the nurses nodded, concerned for the young woman who seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"I know, poor thing. Mr. Cefalù is a dangerous man, and if he finds out about this, it could put her in serious danger."

Lizzy didn't hear the rest of their conversation as they left, but she had a clear idea of how it would continue, and that's why she had prepared her request in advance.

Lost in her thoughts, a different doctor from the one who examined her entered the room. He was a tall, handsome, young man with tan skin, brown eyes, and dark hair. He wore a broad smile, making Lizzy think that he had good news.

"I'm glad you're awake because I have very good news for you!" he exclaimed with a wide smile as he checked the chart in his hands. Lizzy held her breath as the doctor's smile widened further. "Congratulations, you're pregnant! Mr. Cefalù will be very pleased when he finds out."

Lizzy took a deep breath, feeling her heart pounding and a lump in her throat as she fought back tears.

It was bittersweet news for her. On one hand, the baby represented a new life and an opportunity to be a mother, something she had always wanted, even if not in the circumstances that had brought her here. On the other hand, it also reminded her of her ex-boyfriend's betrayal, which felt like a dagger endlessly piercing her heart.

"Thank you, doctor. But... I would like to ask you not to tell anyone about my pregnancy, especially not Greed or his mother, Mrs. Sofia," Lizzy requested, her voice reflecting a mixture of fear and determination that sent a chill down the doctor's spine.

The doctor nodded, confused and concerned. "I understand this may be a personal and difficult decision, and if that's what you wish, I promise to maintain confidentiality. But first, I want to make sure you're receiving the proper care during your pregnancy. Let's ensure that you and the baby are healthy and safe."

"It's not necessary, doctor," Lizzy quickly replied.

In a second, the doctor's smile vanished as he put aside the chart and pulled a chair close to her bed.

"Listen, I've seen that expression in other women, and they all end up making the same bad decision you're about to make," the doctor said, and Lizzy pressed her lips together.

"Greed is very responsible; he won't be a bad father if that's what you're worried about, young lady. He was raised by two loving parents, even in such a dangerous world. Trust me, that baby will grow up surrounded by love."

"No... you're not understanding, doctor. I..." Lizzy started to explain.

"No, young lady! I think you're the one who doesn't understand. Do you know what Greed will do when he finds out you lost his child? He will hunt you down, girl! He will personally come for your head, and you won't want to see him in that state!"

"I know, but..."

"If you know, then value your life a little more!" he exclaimed gently, taking her hands to comfort her. Lizzy could see the concern in his eyes as she smiled softly.

"Thank you very much for your concern, doctor, but the baby I'm expecting is not his child," she confessed, looking at her flat stomach, feeling that those words weighed heavily on her chest.

The doctor opened his eyes with surprise, inhaling deeply before leaning back slightly and looking at her closely.

"If the baby isn't his... I don't understand why you're hiding it," he murmured, both amazed and intrigued.

"I know this may seem complicated or even absurd to you, but I need neither of them to know about the baby's existence until I can save up some money," she pleaded while holding her hands to her chest. "At least enough to be able to leave to a safe place. I don't want the child to grow up in the midst of all this chaos. I don't want something even worse to happen to my child than what happened to me."

The man furrowed his brow but patiently tried to understand her. She had gone through a terrible experience that justified her decision, something he couldn't contradict despite his loyalty to the family.

"Listen, I grew up in the Cefalù family, and I trust that your child will be safe," he assured her in a low voice. "Neither Greed nor Mrs. Sofia are the people you imagine. You can trust them without fear."

There was no doubt in the doctor's voice, only deep gratitude for someone, and Lizzy could sense it. However, she wasn't naive enough to think that she and he were seen in the same light by those people.

"Maybe it's different with you, but in my case... I assure you that they are not people I can trust. He doesn't want me here, and his mother barely accepted me for the job. If I tell them that I'm expecting a child from a man they don't know, and that this could only bring problems if he ever finds out about the baby and suddenly experiences a fatherly love awakening..." she said, struggling to contain her emotions in her stomach. "Believe me, that would be the perfect excuse for Greed and his mother to throw me out on the street. So, I'm sorry, doctor, but my child doesn't deserve that. I'll do whatever it takes for them to be born and grow up far away from all this."

The doctor swallowed and ended up nodding with condescension.

"I understand you're worried and want the best for your child. But... have you thought about a strategy when your belly starts growing, or if you relive what happened?" he murmured, watching her take a deep breath and shake her head.

"From a medical perspective, I warn you that your body won't withstand another similar trauma. You must understand that risking your life and your baby's life is a possibility if you don't notify any of them."

Lizzy didn't even notice when her lips began to tremble slightly. She felt scared and defenseless; this place was dangerous, and the man in front of her was right—what had happened to her could easily happen again and endanger her baby. However, she had come far enough to know that she wouldn't give up easily, especially with a child on the way and an opportunity in her hands.

"Your determination is admirable," he admitted with a smile and a sigh of relief because he now knew she would be fine. "You're not alone in this, okay? I'm here to help you with whatever you need, and we'll work together to ensure you and your baby are healthy and safe. And if you ever decide to tell Greed and Mrs. Sofia, I'll be here to support you through that conversation as well."

Tears finally welled up in Lizzy's eyes as she thanked the doctor for his support. He could only smile at her and offer a comforting hug, something he wished his mother had received on the day she left him in that basket in front of the Cefalù mansion.

At the same time, behind the room's door, someone's agitated breathing seemed to find no solace. Greed's world came to a halt around him, and the doctor's words kept echoing in his mind, filling his heart with anger and guilt.

Shortly after, the doctor left the room, and Greed didn't hesitate to follow him. Simultaneously, in a dark and empty room, Sofia listened attentively, her eyes harboring a spark of mistrust.

"I knew it... I trusted her, and it turned out my poor son was right; she's just another common pest," she muttered angrily until a malicious smile slowly spread across her face. "No matter! Even those pests have their insecticides."

Exiting the room, a terrible shiver ran down Lizzy's spine as she struggled to get up from the bed to return to her duties. Every part of her ached, and the day seemed long and exhausting, but no one had told her about taking a break. So she discarded her hospital gown, changed back into her maid's uniform, and, despite the pain that coursed through her, went straight to work.

As the day progressed, she noticed the atmosphere deteriorating with hateful glances from Greed's men and sympathetic glances accompanied by whispers from the other staff. Lizzy took a deep breath and tried to ignore the murmurs that tore at her soul.

When the day finally ended, she closed the door to her small room with a sigh of relief. After an exhausting day at work, she longed for rest and a moment of peace.

However, just as she began to relax, she heard a soft knock on the door, causing her to furrow her brow, wondering who could be calling at this hour of the night. Cautiously, she opened the door slightly, and a chill ran down her spine as she met the serious gaze of one of Greed's men.

Lizzy swallowed hard, and her first instinct was to lock the door.

"The boss wants to see you in his office," the man told her with a harsh and authoritative voice before sighing heavily against the closed door. "He asked me to escort you. So I'll kindly ask you to get ready and come with me."

It was unusual for Greed to call her to his office at this late hour. In fact, he had never called her at this hour since she arrived. As a response, Lizzy bolted the door.

"The chief wants to see you in his office," the man repeated when she refused to come out.

A moment later, Lizzy opened the door, and both of them headed to Greed's office as instructed.

Upon arrival, she found him seated behind his desk, surrounded by documents and high-quality liquor bottles. However, what surprised her was that Greed, with his disheveled hair, open shirt, revealing part of his chest, and a glass of whiskey in his hand, didn't fit the image she had of him at all.

Greed looked up when he saw her enter and immediately directed a grimace at the man who had accompanied her, silently signaling him to leave.

"Come in and have a seat," Greed ordered. Although his voice sounded deep, and his gaze was piercing, she could see the tiredness etched on his face.

Lizzy nodded, furrowing her brow, and sat down, not having any idea where this conversation was going.

"I have a very important business event in two weeks," Greed began in a low tone. "It's going to be a big event, and I want you to accompany me."

"What... with me... why...?" Her eyes displayed a clear mix of confusion and curiosity that captured Greed's attention.

Greed flashed a suggestive smile; his lips curved slightly with a touch of mischief.

"Because I want you to pretend to be my fiancée," he announced in a low voice.

A heavy silence fell over the room, leaving Lizzy completely stunned, while in stark contrast, Greed seemed utterly sure of his words.

"Sir, I'm not sure if that's a good idea..." she began, her voice trembling slightly. "Isn't there someone more suitable to perform that role with better professionalism?"

"Of course, I have other options," he admitted. "But I don't want anyone else. Furthermore, you asked me for a chance to prove yourself as a loyal and reliable worker. Well, this is the only chance I'll give you."

She seemed to hesitate, her brown eyes searching for a logical response in Greed's, but found nothing but intensity and challenge.

"Alright, but... what exactly do I need to do?"

"You just have to accompany me as my fiancée to that event and perhaps... in some other things," he said. "You'll wear elegant dresses, and I'll provide all the security you require." He took the last sip from his glass.

"Don't get your hopes up, servant. You'll only be my fake fiancée through a legally binding contract you'll sign as part of the deal," he stated with a firm and persuasive tone, his eyes searching hers intently. "As a reward, every now and then, I'll offer you a generous sum of money that you can use as you see fit."

Lizzy fell silent for a moment, weighing Greed's offer. Her body trembled, and her palms grew sweaty. She couldn't deny that the offer had convinced her solely with the thought of the money, but she also understood that it could complicate things and bring more humiliation than she had already experienced.

"Sir, I don't know..." she began, but he interrupted her by sliding an envelope full of money across the desk to her. Lizzy opened the envelope, and her eyes widened when she saw the amount.

"It's more money than you could earn here even after years," he continued. "You came looking for work, and you got it. You asked for an opportunity, and I'm giving it to you. I'm handing you all that money on a silver platter for such a simple job. Why would you waste it?" He smiled, taking the last sip of his drink. "If I were you, I'd take that chance without hesitation, especially with a child on the way. So, what do you say, Lizzy? Do you accept?"