Chapter 149 The Hope

"Do something, Doctor," Alexander commanded in a tone that brooked no argument. As the Duke, his authority was absolute in his territory, and no one dared defy his orders. "We've done everything we can. He's receiving the best possible treatment and medication. All we can do now is wait and hope for the next twenty-four hours," the doctor replied, a look of helplessness on his face. "Excuse me; I need to attend to my rounds," he added as he stood up and left the room. Matteo and Alexander remained seated, still unable to process the grim news. There was nothing left to do but wait for twenty-four hours and hope that the Italian Don would regain consciousness before time ran out. "What are we going to do now?" Matteo mumbled, lost in thought. "We'll figure it out. First, we have to wait for Alessandro to wake up—we only have twenty-four hours," Alexander replied, his tone cold and indifferent, masking the fear in his heart. He was terrified of what he would tell his sister if anything happened to Alessandro. "He has to wake up," Matteo said, his voice growing more confident and optimistic. Alexander turned to face Matteo, surprised by the determination and hope on his friend's face, as if he were certain Alessandro would wake up at any moment. "Yes, he has to," Alexander nodded firmly, agreeing with the lawyer. The Italian Don had to wake up soon, with so many prayers and hopes sent to God for him. They both got to their feet and began to leave the doctor's office. Matteo headed to the operating room to be with his friend, as they were now transferring Alessandro to the ICU. Alexander went to the billing desk to handle his sister's discharge formalities. Just then, his phone rang, and he pulled it out of his breast pocket. His assistant had arranged new clothes for him, and the Duke had changed at the hospital since he didn't have time to go home. He frowned when he saw the caller ID—it was Chloe, his girlfriend. "Why is she calling right now?!" he muttered, clenching his eyes shut and furrowing his brow. His mood was too sour to talk to anyone. But thinking it might be urgent, he reluctantly decided to answer. "What's the matter, Chloe?" he asked, his voice edged with impatience. "Alexander!" Chloe's voice sounded distressed, instantly making the Duke uneasy. "Where are you, Chloe? Are you alright?" he asked, his tone shifting to concern. "I'm fine," she assured him. "I rushed to the hospital as soon as I heard that you and your family were attacked and admitted," she murmured, her voice laced with worry. Of course, the news channels! he thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But there's a woman here in the hospital causing trouble for me," Chloe complained, making Alexander frown. "Where are you?" he asked, clenching his teeth. The thought of someone daring to mess with his woman fueled his annoyance. "I'm in front of the oncology department," she replied. Alexander didn't wait to hear more. He sprinted toward the oncology department, his urgency palpable. Stopping a passing hospital staff member, he quickly learned it was on the second floor. Without wasting a second, he took the elevator up. As soon as the doors opened, he searched frantically for Chloe. Finally, he spotted her, locked in a heated argument with a girl whose face was hidden from him, her back turned. The girl wore a white top paired with a long, flared navy blue skirt, her long blonde hair swaying as she firmly shook her head in disagreement. "What's going on?" he asked in an authoritative tone as he stopped beside Chloe, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Thank God you're here," Chloe sighed in relief, leaning into his embrace. "Look at this woman," she complained, pointing at the girl standing before them. "She is fighting with me for nothing and won't let me go from here." Alexander's intense and annoyed eyes shifted from Chloe to the girl. His dark gaze locked onto her amber eyes, and for some reason, he couldn't look away. The girl squinted, challenging him, and the Duke realized he was staring. He cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "What's your name, miss?" "It doesn't matter," the girl replied defiantly. "But your girlfriend definitely needs some manners," she added, huffing as she placed her hands on her hips. Alexander's eyes darted to the badge on her shirt. It read 'Hazel.' The name sounded familiar!