Chapter 4 - THE ENIGMA OF LUKA MORETTI
Back in the brightly lit maternity corridor, Nurse Sarah hurried over with her blue medical clipboard held tightly against her navy blue scrubs. Her face had drained of all healthy color, her lips trembling as she recognized the intimidating tattoos tracing up Luka’s neck.
"Mr... Mr. Moretti, I didn't realize you were inspecting this wing of the facility tonight," Sarah stammered, her fingers clutching the patient charts. Luka didn't break eye contact with Elena, merely extending a scarred hand to pluck the blue clipboard right from the nurse's grasp.
Elena watched in sheer bewilderment as the senior nurse stepped backward into the shadows, terrified to cross paths with the mysterious underworld figure. "Take this child inside room four-twelve immediately and prep her discharge papers before I lose my temper," Luka commanded softly.
Sarah nodded frantically, practically snatching the baby carrier and helping Elena shuffle toward the private recovery suite without a single argument. Elena's mind raced with a thousand frantic questions, her legs shaking under her thin pink gown as she crossed the threshold.
The private room was astonishingly luxurious, featuring imported leather armchairs, a mahogany desk, and a widescreen television instead of standard ward equipment. A basket of white orchids sat on the side table alongside federal legal documents bearing embossed gold notary seals.
"Sit down before your knees buckle entirely, Elena; you've had a catastrophic evening," Luka stated as he stepped smoothly into the private suite. He placed the blue medical clipboard gently onto the mahogany desk, his dark leather jacket making a soft rustling sound.
Elena sank into the leather armchair, pulling the newborn closer while keeping her wide, fearful eyes locked onto the dangerous stranger. "Why are you doing this? I don't know you, and I certainly can't afford whatever games you're playing," Elena whispered defensively.
Luka pulled up a chair directly across from her, resting his forearms on his knees with an intimidating display of calm authority. "You don't need to know me yet, but you do need to understand that your ex-boyfriend just signed away his parental rights permanently," Luka replied.
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Elena gasped softly, shaking her head in total disbelief as she stared at the official court documents resting on the desk before her. "That's impossible... Julian never filed anything like that; he swore he would fight me for custody if I ever asked for support," she protested.
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