His greatest love.

Chapter 15.

Dr. Malik stepped out of the operating room, tugging off his mask. The moment Gio spotted him, his shoulders tensed.

"How is she?" Gio's voice was sharp, urgent.

"The surgery went well," Dr. Malik began, his voice steady but precise. "We were able to correct the arrhythmia and repair the damaged tissue. She's in sinus rhythm now, blood pressure is stable, and oxygen saturation is good. We've transferred her to the ICU for close observation over the next forty-eight hours — the first day is critical. We'll keep her on continuous cardiac monitoring and adjust her medications as needed to prevent any recurrence.

Gio let out a long breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Relief softened his eyes.

"And Dr. Pierce?"

"She's in another surgery right now."

"Aren't you supposed to be with her?"

"Yes. She sent me herself—to give you the good news about your aunt." Malik's calm, deliberate words carried the faintest undertone of amusement.

Gio tried to hide the flicker of a smile. "Such a charmer. Thank you."

"Maybe you should buy her dinner," Malik quipped with a grin before walking off.

Gio returned to his aunt's hospital room, settling at the small table near the window. His laptop glowed with the nearly-complete revisions of a business contract when Matteo strolled in, leaning lazily against the wall.

"How's Zita?" Matteo asked.

"Better than ever. Surgery went perfectly." Gio leaned back in his chair, exhaling like the air was finally safe to breathe.

"Well, that's good. No more attacks."

"You can say that again."

"You're working," Matteo said, dragging the chair opposite Gio and spinning it around so he could lean on the backrest. "You ever take a break?"

"Not when idiots keep bringing me problems." Gio didn't look up from the screen.

"Oh, speaking of problems..." Matteo smirked. "You're gonna hate me for this."

"I already hate you."

"That place at Filders—the one you love for coffee?" Matteo waited just long enough for Gio to glance up. "Closed."

Gio froze mid-keystroke. "What do you mean closed?"

"They're tearing it down. Reconstruction. Maybe a year before they reopen... if they reopen."

A long pause. Then, Gio sat back in his chair, expression somewhere between disbelief and murder. "You came here just to ruin my day?"

"Pretty much." Matteo grinned like a man proud of his work. "Worth every second."

"You're enjoying this way too much."

"Oh, absolutely. You should've seen your face—it's the same one I had when you robbed me at blackjack."

"First, I didn't rob shit. That was your fault."

"Was it though? Either way am enjoying this little set back you are facing."

Gio closed the laptop with a slow, deliberate click. The sound wasn't loud, but it had that you've just triggered something vibe.

"You remember what happened the last time someone made me this mad over coffee?" Gio asked, voice deceptively calm.

Matteo leaned back, completely unfazed. "Yeah. I was there. You nearly put a guy in the ICU."

"Nearly?" Gio tilted his head.