Then Rosa returned to Renzo’s ward.
It was a shared pediatric oncology room with four beds, where other children and their attendants stayed as well.
She sank into a chair near the wall beside Renzo’s bed and rested her head against it, closing her eyes.
A short while later, a nurse approached and told her that Dr.
DeLuca wanted to see her.
Her heart fluttered as memories of yesterday rushed back—how worried he had been when he came looking for her, how he had appeared like a ray of sunlight in her darkest moment, giving her strength with his quiet kindness.
That alone was enough.
But the thought that he might feel something more than simple sympathy for a patient’s mother terrified her.
She couldn’t allow that.
Not now.
Her life was a mess.
There was no room for romance.
No space for love stories.
Only survival.
Taking a deep breath, she got up and walked to his office.
She knocked.
A quick “Come in” followed, as if he had been waiting for her.
“Rosa,” he said when she entered, a note of impatience in his voice.
“I’ve been waiting to see you all day.”
She looked at him in surprise.
“I even tried calling you, but you didn’t answer or return my calls,” he added, his tone edged with complaint.
Rosa lowered her gaze, feeling embarrassed.
She hadn’t had time to pick up his calls—she had been on duty at the jewelry store, the job that had begun and ended on the same day.
And then her phone had been stolen on the road.
“I’m sorry… my phone got lost,” she lied, feeling awkward.
A soft sigh reached her ears.
Then she heard footsteps approaching.
When she lifted her head, Dr.
“That’s not a problem.
I’ll buy you a new phone.
In fact—let’s go right now.”
His sudden offer caught her completely off guard.
“No, there’s no need.
I can buy one myself,” she protested, defiance flashing in her eyes.
He ran a hand through his hair—an unusual gesture for someone usually so composed.
“I know… I was just—” He hesitated, searching for the right words.
“I just want to help… in any way I can.
Please.” He paused, looking at her with quiet intensity.
“I couldn’t arrange the funds for you, and now this… let me at least buy you a new phone.”
He sounded nervous, unsure of himself.
But Rosa felt strange when she saw nothing but concern and pity in his eyes.
She didn’t want that.
“It’s fine.
There’s really no need to buy anything,” she said gently but firmly.
“I’m serious, Doctor.
And I’m already grateful for everything you’ve done.
You arranged that meeting for Renzo.
I can’t thank you enough.
I’ll try somewhere else.”
Her gratitude was sincere.
“Please… call me Samuele, Rosa.”
The quiet urgency in his voice made her look away.
“You’re still here this late?” she said, knowing his consultation hours were long over and trying to steer the conversation away.
“I had a surgery that ran long,” he replied.
Rosa wasn’t sure whether it was the truth—or just an excuse to still be here when she arrived.
But she nodded and said, “If there’s nothing else, I should take my leave.
Good night.”
“Wait, Rosa.”
She halted and faced him again.
“You don’t have to go anywhere else for treatment funds,” he said, his tone suddenly grave.
Rosa frowned in confusion.
“I’ll pay the entire treatment cost.”
His declaration stunned her.
Her heart began to pound.
So her suspicion had been right.
“Why?” she asked sharply.
“Why would you pay for my son, Doctor?”
The cruel reality of the world had taught her one thing—nothing came free, and no one helped without expecting something in return.
She was a single mother, but no one would take advantage of her.
As if sensing the anger in her voice, Samuele shook his head.
“No, no, no—you’re misunderstanding me.
I don’t want anything in return.
Please trust me.”
”Then why would you pay such a huge amount?” she asked again, suspicion lacing her voice.
“I just want to help, Rosa.
I wanted to before, but I didn’t want you to feel bad about it.
Now I just want to help—and honestly, it’s nothing for me.
I can make it back in just a few months,” he said with a nonchalant shrug.
Rosa studied him, still unsure whether he was telling the truth.
“Whatever the case, I can’t accept such a large sum,” she said firmly.
“It would weigh on my conscience.
No… thank you for thinking of us, but I will manage somehow.”
Seeing the resolve on her face, Samuele didn’t dare offer again.
He knew she might start seeing him as a man with hidden motives, taking advantage of a woman in need.
That was why he had hesitated in the first place and turned to the charity board instead.
He had even used his influence to try to convince them.
What had gone wrong—and how her application had been rejected—was still beyond his understanding.
“Okay, then let me buy you a new phone,” he insisted politely.
“Doctor, please…” Rosa began, but he cut her off.