Ariel was really trying hard to believe it wasn't Damian who did this but her mind was telling her otherwise, since he was so determined to seek revenge, it could be one of his ways to hurt her but is that not way too much?
But Ariel still believed he would never harm their daughter. Despite his claims that she wasn’t his child, deep down, he knew the truth. Ariel didn’t want to entertain those dark thoughts, but she felt that confronting Doctor Ryda would reveal the truth about what had really happened.
"Now that we’ve stabilized the baby, we need to discuss the real issue," the doctor said, his tone serious. "She requires urgent medical attention, which comes at a cost. We’ve done our best, but you will need to cover her bills, along with additional expenses for her ongoing care. If not, the consequences could be severe."
Ariel and Oliveira exchanged worried glances. It was a disheartening moment; they had no money left and they knew the doctor is talking about money. The little they had saved was spent preparing for a the most disheartening party she could never have wished to be part of talkless of spending a dime, their contract with Villa's Empire had expired a month ago too, leaving them without a salary.
"Where are we supposed to find the money?" Ariel thought, feeling the weight of despair. She took a deep breath, looked at the floor, and then rubbed her face in frustration. "So, how much are we talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"$500,000 to start," the doctor replied. "If there are any additional costs, we’ll inform you."
Ariel’s eyes widened in disbelief as she turned to her mother, confusion etched on her face. How could they possibly come up with such a staggering amount, even if she had been financially stable, she don't see herself being able to easily provide that amount.
"You can't be serious! For a child? Where am I going to get that kind of money?" Ariel exclaimed, her voice barely a whisper, filled with despair.
The doctor's face hardened. "Madam, you should be grateful we saved your daughter's life. Money can be earned back, but life cannot. If you can't provide the funds we've requested, I can't guarantee your child's life. You need to find the money, even if it means borrowing. This is about your daughter, and you should do whatever it takes."
Ariel and Oliveira exchanged a look, their faces etched with worry. Hope seemed to dwindle with each passing moment. Not only were they facing this impossible financial burden, but they also had 24 hours to retrieve their belongings from their old house before it was demolished.
"Okay, we'll see what we can do.....," Oliveira started, but her voice trailed off, her words caught in her throat.
"We... we'll get back to you when we have the money. Thank you," she managed to say, her voice shaky.
With heavy hearts, they left the doctor's office and returned to their daughter's ward. Oliveira helped Ariel sit beside their child on the bed, and Ariel gazed down at her daughter, her heart heavy with worry.
Ariel watched as Gabriella breathed steadily and smoothly on her sickbed and wasn't moving any part of her body, a reminder of Ryda's words: the baby was as strong as her father. If Gabriella hadn’t been so resilient, she might not have survived long enough to reach the hospital. The thought brought tears to Ariel’s eyes. Ryda was actually right, Gabriella is a strong girl and she wished nothing but for the baby to keep on pushing till all this is over, she should try not to die or else she's dying with her, she isn't ready to live without her baby.
“Ariel,” Oliveira said gently, “I think you should stay here and look after the baby while I go find some money. I’ll also transfer our properties to my apartment downtown since Damian was so serious about us leaving the house for him.”
“I’ll see if I can borrow money from anyone, and I’ll try to reach out to Matthias for help,” Oliveira continued. Ariel nodded, tears streaming down her face.
“And if you can reach Damian, please let him know it’s his child. I believe he’ll be moved and will help us. Try your best to talk to him and beg him for me, tell him everything including the test DNA paper was just a manipulation to send him away, he would understand and give in once he realised that Gabriella is truly his child” Ariel urged.
Oliveira understood that what Ariel was asking was nearly impossible; she couldn’t even bear the thought of facing Damian. Nevertheless, she nodded in agreement.
“Just try to stay calm and take care of your baby. Look after her and if you need anything, give me a call, I’ll be back in a short while m,” Oliveira reassured her.
 
                    | Villa's Hotel |
Damian watched with growing irritation as the hotel staff began to act strangely around him and his team. Their whispers and sidelong glances felt like a constant judgment, a silent accusation. He couldn't understand why they were acting this way. He was paying top dollar for every room, more than they could ever hope to make in a single day.
Fueled by anger and a desire for complete control, Damian decided to take drastic measures. He contacted the hotel's CEO and bought the entire hotel, then immediately fired every single employee. Now, only his team, a select few security guards, and himself remained. He needed to feel safe, especially during this tumultuous time.
The truth was, Damian suspected that some of his former acquaintances were jealous of his success and might try to harm him and they might surely be among those of the hotel staffs. He couldn't risk it. Buying the hotel and clearing out the staff felt like the only way to ensure his safety. Because having them around could be dangerous, they could try to poison his food or better off finding another way.
Later, as Damian relaxed in the hotel's grand parlor, a glass of chilled wine in hand, he watched a movie on the massive screen.
"Sir..." Jerry, majestically entered the room interrupting Damian's easy life flexing. Damian looked up, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. He seemed to have forgotten why he had summoned Jerry. But got his gaze fixed at Damian waiting for him to tell him why he's there.
"You called for me," Jerry reminded him. Damian nodded, a thoughtful expression settling on his face.