The hall was quiet, too quiet. Anna held her breath as she squeezed on tightly to her purse. She could feel her hands trembling under the table even as she managed to keep a straight face while she stared at Juliana and Micheal who were sitting right across her, trying to process what it was she had said.

Juliana let out a weak exhale. She had exactly run out of words but Micheal took up the pace. 

"So let me get this straight Anastasia," he started. "You want us to consider donating one of our kidneys to Angelo?"

She could recognize the look on micheal's face. It was fear. But it was definitely not fear for Angelo. He looked more like he was more terrified of her request .

"You need us to give a kidney to Angelo?"
He repeated. Anne could feel her fingers drumming anxiously on her purse. She was nervous.

Think about what the doctor said Anna, this is a state of emergency. You're personal feelings don't matter right now. Angelo needs this.

Being back at the Trusk mansion was the last thing she ever thought she was going to do ever since the last time. She knew how much she was not welcome in that house but somehow, something about Angelo being on his death bed made her consider a whole lot of options she never thought she ever could.

Anna drew a deep breath as the words "do it for Angelo" kept repeating in her head.

"Uh-" Anna started.

"Not immediately."

She held her breath as the doctor cut in to help her out. He could tell how nervous she was without even letting her speak. Thank Goodness. "We'd need to conduct a test to know if you both or any of you are suitable donors."

"I thought the hospital had a list for people in need of these things? And people who could already help?"

"Mr Trusk, we already included your brother's name to the list but there quite a number and no one is really excited to give out a kidney nowadays. In as much as I wish I could, it would be really difficult to manipulate the line in favor of  Mr Trusk. I'm afraid it might be too late before it gets to his turn seeing that he isn't responding to dialysis. We have to search for outside options. A friend of Mr Trusk's already volunteered but hers wasn't a match. I think the possibilities of finding a perfect match is with his family. "

"Step family." Michael corrected. "We're not even fully related. What's the possibility ours can be a match?" He whispered under his breath.

Anna sighed. She knew this was where she had to step in. She had to at least try to convince them to try. She leaned closer.

"Mother,"

Juliana glared at her in disgust. Anna could see it but she wasn't paturbed.

"I know you and Angelo haven't gone along well in the past, but he is still your son. He's sick and he's dying. You can't just let him die, we can't let him die. You have to help him."

Juliana scoffed and adjusted her shawl.

"Not this Atian bird telling me what and what not to do." She said. Anna exhaled. Exactly what she thought. She and Juliana could never get along.

Mum," Michael tapped Juliana gently. He knew he had to remind her to be careful with what she said. Especially when there were non family members in the room.

"Remind me why you're even bothered by this?" She asked her. "I thought you wanted nothing to do with this family?"

"Look," Micheal cut in before Juliana said anything worse. "Anna, I get that you're only trying to help but it's not that easy. Even if mum was a match, she can't possibly be a donor." Micheal added.

"She has records of hypertension. A surgery like that, living with just one kidney can threaten her life. We get that Angelo really needs this but we have to put our own safety first, no matter the reason."

Anna turned to Michael. He was right. How on earth could she have forgotten about Juliana's health condition?

"What about you Michael?" the doctor asked. "Any health conditions we should know about? Something that could stop you from being a donor? "

Anna left her gaze on him. As far as she knew Michael was healthy. She could see how nervous he was immediately. He tried to speak but he was out of words.

"M-me?"

The doctor nodded.

Michael scoffed.

"You want me to give Angelo one of my kidneys?"
He asked like that wasn't what the discussion had been about all along. The doctor and Anna exchanged confused glances before he slowly turned back to Michael.

"It's going to do us all a lot good that is if you're a suitable donor of course."

Michael placed a finger beneath his jaw thinking hard. Was it really something he wanted to do? Could he actually sacrifice a kidney for Angelo?

"W-well-" he stammered. He wasn't sure. He wasn't sure he wanted to.

"My son is not going to give up any of his kidneys." Juliana cut Michael off before he could even have the time to consider it. "He's not an eligible donor."

The doctor turned to look at Juliana slowly.
Michael and Anna too. How did she know that?

"He isn't?"

"Yes."

"Mum how do you-"

"I just know Michael." she cut him off and then turned to the doctor. "My son can't donate any of his kidneys. I don't want him to. We should just stick to the initial wait plan."

"What about you?" Anna froze. She didn't need to look directly at Michael to know she was the one he referred to. She turned to Michael.

"No one said Atians can't be donors did they? I'm sure you guys have kidneys too. I heard it's more than two. "

Anna sighed. Was that a joke or just plain ignorance? Everyone knew Atian's shared almost the same characteristics with humans. Over two kidneys? There was no such thing neither had there been any records of Atians being kidney donors or any kind of donors at all to humans.

"We uh, we can't be sure of what the side effects of  what an Atian kidney might do to a human. There's a whole lot of genes involved. The Atian genes are by far the most complex of all living beings. It would be hard determining if they are suitable donors or not since they are um, well - different. We can't bet Mr Trusks' life on it right now."

Anna rolled her eyes at Michael.

"I'm afraid you'd have to find another donor doctor."

Julian's words brought Anna's attention back to the room.

"Now if that's all you came for, we'd have to excuse ourselves. The maids would make sure you're properly entertained. You can see yourselves out when you like."

Juliana got up quickly and Michael followed, still indecisive. Anna watched the both of them walk away from the living room. She watched Michael follow her without a word wondering why a grown man like him still let his mother control everything about his life.

"I guess you were right."
Anna sighed at the sound of the doctor's voice.

"Mrs Trusk is really a tough one to crack. I guess we have to explore other options then. Do you know anyone else that could possibly be a donor? Maybe friends? Other relatives?"

Anna shook her head. As far as she knew, Patricia was the only friend of Angelo's she knew about. There was no one else she could think of. Sam was very far from the country at the moment and she wasn't even sure if he was a suitable donor.

"What about Miss Simone?"

Anna turned quickly to the doctor.

"Do you think she'd be interested in being a donor?"

"Who?"

"She's the only member of Angelo's family we have to consider right now."

"Angelo's sister?"

Half sister anyway. How on earth was she supposed to contact someone she had never seen? All she heard about Simone Trusk were just stories.

Her name wasn't exactly popular around the house. All she knew was she was Nathan  and Juliana's first child and she left the country when she was really young.

Not left exactly.

She ran away from home when she was sixteen with a guy six years older than her. It broke everyone's hearts especially her father's. Her actions put a really great stain on their family's name and so, it made her father turn his back on her.

He disowned her and forbode anyone from talking about her because according to him, she chose a gardner's son over her own family.

According to Gabriel, no one really heard from her till years after when she and her husband started their own hospital. She came home, to get her father's blessings but nothing had changed. Nathan never changed his mind even after he found out how rich they had become. He didn't forgive her till his death and that had to be the reason why she wasn't even mentioned in his will.

She never liked her father. That explained why she wasn't at his funeral either. Even though there were rumors she was at Gabriel's funeral, Anna had no chance to really see her. It didn't look like she wanted to be seen.

Anna scoffed.

"I don't think so doc. There's no way Simone is going to agree to this. She's been gone for quite a long time. I don't even think she is close to Angelo either. Let's just say her relationship with the Trusk family isn't that great."

"How sure are you about this?"

"Sophie cut all ties with her family many years ago and that was her family. There's no way she would come all the way for a half sibling talk more of handing one of her kidneys over. How do I even get her to listen to me? How do I even get to her at all?"

" If you know another option, I'm open to
Suggestions. From the way I see it, Simone Trusk is the only chance we have at saving your husband's life. We sure cannot wait on that list or for a donor to step forward. You have to find a way to reach out to her. You have to try. "

Anna held her breath, thinking hard. As hard as she could.

" I have to head back to the hospital now. "
She watched the doctor get up slowly buttoning his jacket. "There are still a lot of things that need my attention but I'd be sure to let you know if something comes up."

Anna got up too.

"Thank you so much doctor."

She exchanged handshakes.He smiled and then nodded.

"I'm just doing my job Mrs Trusk. Do take care of yourself."

Anna hesitated and then nodded in agreement. She knew she had to. She was the only one in the position to do that. All she had was herself. Anna exhaled as she watched the doctor walk away from the room with his hands in his pockets till he was out of sight.

She sighed as she slowly threw herself back into the throne-like seat.

What on earth was she supposed to do?