The Devil Who Claimed Me

Mila’s breath hitched. Her hand flew to her mouth.

Valentina froze beside her. "What? How?" Her voice trembled.

"I’m not sure," the guard said quickly. "Lucas is critical. He needs immediate surgery. The boss is shaken. He asked me to bring Miss Mila—now."

"Mila..." Valentina turned to her, desperation in her eyes. "Please save him."

Mila didn’t respond. Fear gripped her chest.

’What if Dominic was hurt, too?’

But she forced it down. Right now, she wasn’t just Mila. She was a doctor, and she needed to save a life.

"Let’s go," she said, already moving.

"I’m coming with you."

Valentina followed without hesitation.

At the hospital...

Dominic was pacing restlessly in the reception, his steps uneven, his face dark with worry.

The moment he saw Mila, he rushed forward.

"Mila..." He pulled her into a tight embrace. "You’re finally here."

Mila could sense him trembling slightly. She had never seen him so disturbed before.

"Tell me what happened?" she asked.

Dominic pulled back. "I’ll explain everything to you later. But now, you have to save him. I can’t lose him."

For the first time, Mila saw fear in his eyes. She swallowed. She was terrified, too. But she had to stay calm.

"I’ll do my best," she said quietly, then turned and walked toward the operating wing.

"I’ll do my best," she said quietly, then turned and walked toward the operating wing.

"The patient is critical," she said. "The bullet is lodged very close to the heart. The surgeons here refused to operate. They are afraid he won’t survive. And if anything happens to him, Mr. Russo will burn this hospital down."

Fear was evident in her eyes, her face pallid.

Mila scanned the reports, her mind already mapping the procedure.

"It’s risky, but not impossible," she said calmly.

She closed the file. "Prep the OR."

The door closed behind them.

Dominic stared at the closed doors, his jaw tight. His heart slammed against his ribcage.

"Lucas, be safe."

Valentina stepped closer. "He’ll be fine."

Dominic let out a harsh breath. "I told him to wait. I gave clear orders. But he didn’t listen."

He felt helpless and angry at the same time. "I knew it was dangerous. But he didn’t care. He wanted to end this, no matter the risk. So he didn’t wait for me."

Valentina’s eyes dimmed. Guilt crushed her.

It was her fault. She had misunderstood Mila and dragged her into the dungeon. To save her, Dominic had rushed back to the island, abandoning the mission.

Her chest tightened.

She had accused Mila of putting everyone at risk, but in reality, it was her mistake all along. Her impulsive decision had endangered the mission and the entire team.

"I’m sorry," she said immediately, her voice heavy with guilt. "This is on me. I should’ve told you what I discovered, but instead, I acted on my own. I let my anger take over. Because of me, you abandoned the mission, and Lucas ended up like this."

Dominic sighed. "What’s done is done. It’s no use regretting now. Now we can just pray Lucas pulls through this."

That silenced Valentina. She turned toward the door, waiting for Mila to come out.

Inside the operating room...

Mila’s focus was firm, her hands steady. She could see the bullet.

"Suction."

The blood pulled. The assistant doctor cleared the field.

Mila’s grip tightened on the forceps as she tried to pull out the bullet. But it was slipping slowly.

"The bullet is inching toward the heart," the assistant doctor warned. "Careful. "If it shifts, the heart will be damaged."

But Mila remained calm as if she knew what she was doing.

The monitor beeped unevenly.

Lucas’s condition was dropping.

"The BP is dropping," the doctor said again, his tone turning urgent. "The pulse is weakening."

Tension was rising.

But Mila didn’t panic. Her eyes remained fixed on the bullet.

"I’m almost there. Hold suction steady," she instructed.

The assistant complied.

Mila’s breath slowed. She adjusted her angle and changed the grip, avoiding putting pressure that could push the bullet further toward the heart.

Then slowly, carefully, she pulled out.

A collective sigh was released in the room.

"The bullet is out," the assistant said. "Vitals stabilizing. Congratulations, Dr. Mila. You did it."

It was only then that Mila looked up, relief flooding her. She saved Lucas.

"Close him," she said before stepping back.

The assistant’s hands moved skillfully, stitching, repairing, restoring.

Mila removed her mask and gloves before leaving the operating room.

Dominic was in front of her in seconds.

"Mila—how is he?" he asked, grabbing her shoulders. "Tell me he is fine."

"Relax," Mila said soothingly. "The operation was successful. He is out of danger."

Dominic shut his eyes briefly, relief crashing through him.

"Thank you... Thank you so much."

He hugged her.

Valentina watched silently. Relief, guilt, gratitude – all tangled together.

If Mila hadn’t been there, Lucas would be dead. And it would have been her fault.

She couldn’t stop thinking about what she had done to Mila earlier that day.

She had nearly destroyed Mila’s hands, despite knowing she was a surgeon. If their plan had worked, Mila would never have been able to perform a surgery, and Lucas wouldn’t have survived.

The thought made her heart tremble.

Mila noticed her. She stepped back, her cheeks flushing.

"I’ll go clean up."

She walked away.

Dominic’s expression shifted, his eyes burning with rage. "Everyone involved in this..." he muttered. "I’ll make them pay."

He dialed a number.

"Meet me in the parking area."

He strode away.

Valentina caught his arm. "What are you going to do?"

"Finish what we started."

"I’m coming with you."

"No," he said sharply. "Take Mila back to the mansion. Her safety is your responsibility."

Then he left.

Valentina straightened her back. "I promise I’ll keep her safe," she vowed.

She had learned her lesson. The jealousy and resentment she once felt for Mila had faded completely, leaving only gratitude behind. Mila hadn’t betrayed them. She had saved Lucas.

"I was wrong before, but not anymore."

With that resolve, she went to find her. As she moved down the corridor, she spotted Mila at the nurse’s station, speaking with a doctor. She walked toward her.

"Mila..."

Mila stopped talking and turned.

"Are you done here?" Valentina asked.

"Yes, it’s done. Where is Dominic?"

"He left to deal with something urgent," Valentina replied. "He told me to take you back."

Mila nodded and followed her silently.

From a distance...

Serene watched everything. "So this is how it is," she murmured. "Valentina, I thought you were my friend. But you switched sides."

Her face darkened. "You are now protecting Mila. But you didn’t come to see me. You don’t care if I end up disabled. She is now more important to you."

She ground her teeth. "Fine. Since you all don’t value me, don’t blame me for what I do next."

She pulled out her phone and dialed.

"I’m ready to work with you."