Anna could hear the whispers as she opened the door leading to the office with the same questions clouding her mind with every step she took in,

What did he want to talk to her about?

She had stayed outside the door the entire time, finding the mental and physical strength to reach for the door knob. She was nervous. She just kept praying that she wasn't about to hear yet another bad news. She didn't imagine that she'd be the first person in the family Sophie Trusk would want to talk to first. What was wrong? Did she already agree to not do it? Did she come to personally tell her that? She didn't even know what to say or how to introduce herself the moment she got in. The last thing she needed was another family member thinking of her as undeserving to be heir of Trusk industries or judging the choices she made. She knew she had to leave a right impression. At least she had to try.

Breathe Anna

She told herself as she closed the door behind her. She could see the doctor's warm gaze rest on her, his warm smile encouraging her to reciprocate likewise.

"There she is."

The doctor announced so the lady sitting across his table could hear but the lady didn't move as Anna had expected her to. Instead, Anna watched her raise her cup of coffee to her lip and take a tiny sip. It had to be her; Sophie, Sophie Trusk.

Anna knew a lot about scents and so she could catch Sophie's the moment she walked in. The sweet but yet powerful smell of her cologne somehow made Anna a bit tensed everytime she took a breath. It was like that was all the air in room smelt like and her shiny black hair, it was so long and beautiful. One of the longest Anna had ever seen but that wasn't what got most of Anna's attention. It was how the color red adored her skin perfectly like it was made for her. Anna could tell her red dress was Chanel just from looking at it. She also had matching long heels.

"Please, have a seat Mrs Trusk." Anna turned to the doctor as he gestured the empty chair beside Sophie. She nodded lightly and then moved to the empty chair beside the lady.

Anna sat quietly, trying not to make a sound.
She was trying so hard to keep her eyes to herself too, maybe that could help her with the reputation she needed to build. If she was going to pull off her plans for her people, she needed to at least, have a Trusk on her side and she chose Sophie. Anna could notice every move Sophie made even without directly looking or paying attention. She watched her drop the coffee cup gently on the table, dropping one hand on each other and placing them gently on her crossed legs.

"Anna, I'd like you to meet a very important guest,"

The lady scoffed and chuckled lightly. They both turned to look at her while Anna's gaze just met her side view. Her perfect skin took Anna's attention first and then how that red lipstick made her lips so perfect, so beautiful.

" I'm so sorry." Sophie said trying to stop herself from laughing as loud as she already was. "It's just that I spent the entire evening and the time at the airport preparing the perfect introduction." She turned to Anna and smiled even more. "I wanted to be the one to do it first."

She was even more beautiful when she smiled.

"Oh." the doctor said. "Forgive me. I'd leave you to it then." Anna watched how her smile widened right before she turned back to Anna and cleared her throat.

How on earth could someone be so beautiful? She was just like everyone said, she really was the female version of Angelo. Her eyes were brown and pretty. Her nose was perfectly pointed and her lips carved to project and compliment the rest of her face and her smile, well it was the most sincere smile she had ever gotten from a human in years.

Now she could see it, now she thought of it, she could not imagine how Nathan could turn his back on someone like this?

"You must be Anna," she said stretching her hand for a shake "I've heard a lot about you."

Heard a lot about her?

Anna needed a second to fully understand how on earth that was even possible. For all she knew, none of the Trusks had kept in touch with Sophie since she left. They didn't even like her enough to have a conversation about her. How could they even talk about her in a good light?

Anna slowly reached for Sophie's hands. She could already feel how different it was on hers. How flawless. She drew a deep breath, taking in all the confidence she needed. At least one of the Trusks could smile at her like that, maybe there was a chance Sophie could end up liking her.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm really glad you were able to make it," Anna kept shaking her, "and grateful too."

Scoff

"I'm really sorry Anna." Sophie slowly took her hands away, throwing them back on her legs "I should have responded to your mails earlier but these days I barely have the time or energy to be out of my bed or reach for my computer."

It's fine. The most important thing is you're here now.

Those were the words Anna was about to say before The Doctor distracted her when he started to clear his throat. They both turned to him

"Mrs Connor here has agreed to be a kidney donor for Mr Trusk." He went on to explain the situation, going straight to the point. Anna needed that anyway.

" Oh please Adam," Sophie made sure to cut him off right on time. "You're still the same, always with the formalities." She turned back to Anna, "Sophie is just alright."

Sophie Connor. Connor, that had to be her last name now.

Anna could still remember the how Shink had told her of how much Sophie had fought just to have that name. Just to build the family she had now. Yes, Shink sure knew his work. He made sure to do a background check on all the Trusks even before she chose André as a potential target. His information gave her the keys she needed into the mansion. Sophie's story almost sounded like a fairy tale except for the fact that Sophie was still fighting for her happy ending.

It was no wonder Sophie's name wasn't included in her father's will anyway. He made that clear when he asked her to choose between leaving with her teenage love and running his legacy. Her choice was clear when she had left the mansion without saying goodbye. It broke Nathan's heart when she left but what hurt him most was the fact that she chose to be with a Gardner's son over her own family.

He chose to forget about her and forbade everyone in the mansion from talking or reaching out to her. He forgot he had a daughter and soon, it was almost as if the rest of the world did too. Anna could remember seeing Sophie for the first time at André's funeral and that was from a distance. For all she knew, Sophie didn't get down from the black suv at that time. Andre once told her that after Anna and her husband had succeeded in achieving their dreams of owning one of the best hospitals in Australia, she had come back home to ask for her fathers blessings but Nathan's heart didn't budge still. Didn't look like he was a forgiving man. He never forgave her for what she did, for abandoning and bringing shame to the family's name. Whatever that was. Anna could remember how Nathan refused to see Sophie when she stopped by the mansion during Andre's wake.

No wonder she didn't mind missing his funeral. He was never really a good father to her anyway.

Anna exhaled

"Really?"

Anna had to be sure she heard right. She looked Sophie straight in the eye and didn't blink for a second. Did Sophie just say she was going to give Angelo a kidney? This was a woman that probably didn't even have history with Angelo. How was it even possible?

Sophie nodded lightly

"We are going to conduct some tests to make sure Sophie is a suitable donor for Angelo. I'd also advise we wait till her husband gets here. We still need his consent for surgery."

"Um Doc," Anna could recognize the tone change in Sophie's voice and the frown that slowly found its way on her lips as she slowly turned to the doctor

"Mrs Connor?" He smiled.

"About that, I was wondering...can we proceed with the surgery before my husband gets here?" She asked "You see his plane doesn't get here till tomorrow and I kind of need to get this done and over with. I already got him to sign the consent letter and forwarded it to your mail so it's all good."

"Really?"

"And I mean I already conducted all the necessary tests back at home and compared it to Angelo's results Anna sent to my mail, I'm sure I'm a match."

The doctor turned to Anna for a second to know if she was on board right before he turned back to Sophie

"I mean it's possible to begin preparations for the surgery right away if your husband has really given his consent but we'd still have to conduct tests, hospital policy-"

"Then we do the tests again."

"Sophie, I don't understand the rush-"

"It's just-" Sophie cut him off and sighed right after. " I'm a busy woman Adam. I intend to spend my time wisely. I just want this to be over."

The doctor looked at her. It didn't look like he was convinced. Neither was Anna.

"Okay." He agreed "We could go on with the surgery after I have confirmed your husband's consent in my mail and we get the results." Sophie inhaled sharply

"Fine. " she raised her hands a bit in the air. "You're the boss." She turned to Anna and smiled. Anna had no idea she was smiling right back.

"You don't need to worry." Anna felt Sophie's warm hands wrap hers gently, for some reason, Anna suddenly felt comfort inside of her. It felt like she could trust this woman that she barely even knew already.

"Nothing is going to happen to him. I promise you."

That was it. Those were the words Anna was dying to hear all week. That was hope. Angelo was finally going to be okay. He was going to live again.
She exhaled in relief

"Thank you"