Heads turned as the beautiful woman in an ivory white dress robed under a white doctor's lab coat walked into the Mansion gates. Her wavey brunette hair swayed as she took each graceful step, climbing up the stairs of the wide front entrance.
At the doorstep, another, much older woman greeted her. "Welcome to our abode, Dr. Russo!" She said, spreading her arms dramatically.
"Thank you for your warm welcome, Sasha." Lilliana Russo greeted, flashing a cordial smile.
"Our La signora is waiting for you. She had been asking about you all day." Sasha said with a bitter edge in her tone. Lily ignored it and followed her upstairs. They stopped before a wooden door. Sasha twisted the brass knob and pushed the door open for Lily to enter.
A frail old woman, tucked in a thick layer of silk bed sheets, slowly looked at Lily. For a moment, she blinked, and soon her weary eyes lit up in recognition. "Cara Mia! (My dear!) Here you are—!" The old lady broke out into a fit of violent coughs.
Lily sat on the chair nearest to the bed and opened her medical bag. Elena Salvadori's health had worsened over these past few days and she had been taking care of her treatments as a replacement for Dr. Steve, the previous family doctor who took care of Elena's medications.
"I heard you suddenly had a heavy fever." Lily's glossy brown eyes softened, along with her voice, as she pressed the stethoscope on Elena's back to monitor her weak heartbeat.
"How are you feeling right now?"
"My throat is killing me." Elena croaked, scratching an unbearable itch in her throat.
"I suggest not to stress your vocal cords by raising your voice and also—"
"You heard her. Please keep quiet and give yourself a good rest so you can get better again." Sasha scolded, her voice coming off harshly. Elena leaned back against the pillows, folding her arms and sulking like a child.
"Even a mild fever can be dangerous for her, so no more cold foods," Lily said, turning to Sasha, the housekeeper, and jotted some medicines for Elena to consume for the week.
"I'm tired of living like this, laying in bed all day like a useless rag doll. It's been ages since I took a stroll in my lovely garden." Elena grieved, letting out a deep, mournful sigh.
"Please have patience. You just need a little more time to recover, that's all." Lily held Elena's hand, which was once soft as a rose petal, now wrinkly, veiny, and thin with age.
Elena stared back at Lily's delicate facial features. "You... you remind me so much of my daughter-in-law. She was so gentle, just like you." She placed another hand over Lily's and said. "It would be a blessing if you marry my eldest grandson."
"I'm a Russo... I can't..." Lily reluctantly pulled her hand back.
"I should apologize for the feud... It was all my fault, but I want to end our enmity. That's why I want you to marry my grandson." Elena said, her weak, graying eyes pleading.
Lily lightly shook her head. "I'm not ready for a relationship—"
"You will change your mind once you meet my grandson. He's very handsome and charming, just like his grandfather was back in our youth—"
"Alright! That is enough! It's time for Dr. Russo to leave." Sasha narrowed her eyes at the old woman, almost threateningly. She appeared so cruel that Lily felt sorry for Elena, but Sasha was dedicated to her job, and sometimes, she had to be strict with the stubborn matriarch of the Salvatore household.
Given that Elena had become more childish and stubborn with age instead of growing wiser.
Lily rose to her feet, walked up to the door, paused at the doorstep, and faced Elena. "Take care."
Elena meekly nodded and closed her eyes to get some rest.
Once they were out, Sasha hurriedly closed the door. "Please don't listen to her. She is demented with age. She will stop talking about it once she is all better."
Lily nodded in agreement and left the Mansion.
Later that evening, Sasha entered the room with some vegetable soup for Elena.
"Why did you have to send her away like that!" Elena shouted, her voice coming out croaky.
"Because you are making an unreasonable demand! She is a Russo! What makes you think they will accept this alliance after all the bloodshed we've caused?" Sasha scolded and sat on the edge of the bed, neatly placing the food tray on the bed table so Elena could eat.
Elena grabbed the spoon from Sasha's hand and devoured the soup angrily. "Lilliana is kind, understanding. She doesn't hold any grudge against us and I think she will be a splendid match for my grandson."
"Let that woman live her life!" Sasha cried out, Elena Salvadori's stubbornness knows no bounds.
Supposedly, Elena was the one who pursued Nicolas Salvadori until he finally surrendered and accepted her as his wife. Later on, they had a long-lasting marriage until the Russos had Nicolas killed.
"It was my son who started it all! If only he hadn't tried to force her mother, he would have been alive today! Everyone would have lived!" Elena choked out, her tears pooling down from her eyes.
Sasha sat closer to her and rubbed the old woman's back. "Please leave Dr. Russo alone. She deserves someone who will love and cherish her. You are just being selfish and childish with your demands." Sasha said in a much softer voice as if coaxing a troubled child.
But the more she tried to persuade Elena, the more adamant she became. "I've heard the Russos were having a hard time with their business because of the bloody Armandos. I want to help them—no—I want my grandson to help them in exchange for Lilliana's hand in marriage."
"You can just help them without pressuring them into this alliance!" Sasha rolled her eyes in frustration and opened the drawer to take out the pills she will need for the night.
Elena placed the pill on her tongue and quickly chucked it down her throat with water before the bitter taste could blend into her tastebuds. She slammed the glass on the nightstand and said. "This alliance will take place through this marriage and that is final!"
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