"Fuck!." Valentino cursed. "And just picking any woman isn't possible?.."

"I could get robbed right before my eyes.." Francis muttered, taking another gulp of his whiskey.

"Una tale idea stupida (such a stupid idea).. I mean how does your old man want you to get married, and have an heir when you have no intention to?!." Valentino asked.

"I don't know.."

"I mean, you were basically planning on staying single for the rest of your life.." Valentino said laughing.

"Hey!.. but you are right though. Having a relationship was never one of my priorities.. I wasn't even planning on looking for a girlfriend until hours ago." Francis muttered.

"Plus now that I need to.. I need to find someone who I'll actually like, someone who at least I'm a little bit interested in. And we both know that's going to take a LOT of time, and before that happens the shares would have already been taken away from me and I can't let that HAPPEN!." Francis thundered.

"What in FUCKS name I'm I going to do?!."

"Well?..I have an idea but I don't know if you consider approving it.." Valentino said it was itching his cheek.

"I'll take any advice right now!."

"Well.. I was thinking, since you can't find love in a matter of weeks a month maximum, why don't you try.. A fake marriage."

"What?.." Francis asked, confused.

"Fake marriage.. I simply mean find someone to get married to, get her pregnant then get your rightful shares to the company after all the shit is settled, break up with the person.. then it's all over.." Valentino smirked while taking a sip of his drink.

Francis stared at his friend, his face emotionless, he didn't get one word of what Valentino was saying.

Valentino sighed in frustration. "A Contract marriage!. I'm talking about getting married but only on paper, you don't have to necessarily have feelings for the person to do that. Plus it's much more easy to handle.. if everything is set on the contract there won't be any problems arising in the future, as long as the terms and conditions are applied you would be free of any complications.."

"It's not bad.. but I need an heir or an heiress whichever comes first, how do I go about that?!."

"Look uomo (man).. you'll have to find a woman first, then talk about the money you're going to pay her–..

"Pay her?! Do I need to do that?!." Francis stared his eyes wide open.

"You don't think a WOMAN would do all this for free do you?!. But there's nothing to worry about just find a lady who's well mannered and respectful and make sure she's not a money hugging slut.. good luck finding those kinds of women in Italy.." Valentino laughed, muttering the last sentence.

"I still have a few weeks to find the future Mrs. de'Medici.. I believe I'll find one." Francis said confidence in his voice.

"Good luck tizio (dude).. cause you're gonna need it.."

**

LOCATION:- NEW YORK, AMERICA.

A FEW DAYS LATER..

AT THE TOWNS LOCAL HOSPITAL.

Juliana's POV

I knocked three times on the wooden door before I heard a voice telling me to come in. I walked into the office seeing the male doctor I've gotten to know for the past eight months.

Doctor Farley, a father of three lovely yet annoying kids. He was a middle aged man with little white hairs at the side of his head.

"Hello Juliana.." Dr Farley greeted me as I entered his office.

"Good afternoon Dr Farley.." I said, closing the door behind me. "Come on in Juliana.. please have a seat.." He gestured to the plastic chair in front of him.

"Thank you sir.." I sat down in front of him.

"So what brings you here today?.. if I remember your mother doesn't have any check-ups today..''

"Oh uh, I know that.. and I already checked on her, the nurse already told me her condition is on the safe side for now.. and that's what I came to talk to you about." I said as I rubbed my nose.

"I actually came here today to tell you that the uh money, for the transfer for my mother's treatment is complete now.." I said.

"Well that's nice..your mother can finally start her therapy." He smiled. "I'll just call up a friend in Italy he–..

"Wait!. Italy?! My mother's treatment is going to be in Italy?!." I was shocked.

"Oh yes.. I forgot to tell you there's this friend of mine who migrated there after our college education.. he's the best doctor around, especially in your case since he specializes in leukemia patients.. the best in the business is what he is, he owes me a favor so i called him up and hearing about your situation, he decided to help you out." He said adjusting his glasses.

"That's going to cause me more money though right?.. and lots of it?.." I asked.

"Yes but I know you.. you're a strong willed woman and you'll be able to handle this for your mother's sake, she really needs you right now–..

"DR FARLEY! DR FARLEY!." A nurse yelled as she ran into the office.

Scaring me out of my pants I stood up, Doctor Farley following suit. "Calm down nurse Judy and tell me what's wrong?.." He asked.

"t-The uhh p-patient you're handling who has leukemia just had a heart attack. She's in critical condition, now she's unconscious and she's not responding to anything!." The nurse rushed out her breathing even.

Dead.

Everything felt dead to me right now. It was like the world stopped moving. It felt like they shot me with a bullet straight in the heart.

I turned to look at Doctor Farley who was staring at me in equal horror. We both raced towards the exit, we practically ran through the hallway without stopping until we reached my mother's room.

And truth be told.. a group of nurses surrounded my mother, there was a lot of noise, but the beeping sound of the machine connected to my mother was the loudest for me.

"Momma?!." I called out trying to push through the group of nurses but Doctor Farley held my arms preventing me from even nearing the bed.

"Let me go!.. my mother's in danger!." I cried out as the beeping sounds got even louder. "Juliana calm down, we can't work properly with you in the room you have to stay outside!." He said, pushing me towards the door.

"I can't leave my mother here she needs me I not going to–

"JULIANA!!." He yelled, snapping me out of my confused state. "We'll do our best for your mother. All you have to do is get ready cause after this she'll need to be transferred immediately.." He said before slamming the door in my face.

I sat down on the tiled floor, my nose runny and my eyes puffy. I used the back of my sleeve to clean my nose, sighing in frustration.

This has been happening for the past five months, now that I have the money I'm not going to let my mother die, not now. I'll need to get everything ready for my mother's transfer. I can't let this happen again.

I don't think my mother could handle the next attack.