Bound by a billionaires vow

the polished marble floors. The air inside was cool and still, despite the blistering Italian sun outside. The

nds in his pockets like he had done this a thousand times. Like bringing a st

ything-and absolutely n

le by this house, this lega

frames, and velvet-curtained archways that led into rooms she c

going?" she

he

He didn't need to. Eve

intricately carved with the De Luca crest-a lion rear

ng at her. "But don't let that fool yo

d her chin.

second. Something flickered in his

d open t

t onto a private terrace bursting with flowers-roses, peonies, and lavender in bloom. The scent was

ped in a pale shawl, her silver-white hair pinned neatly bac

ia De Luca-the matriarch, the

harp gray eyes locked on Lucia, and

oice low but clear. "You

ward. "Yes, ma'am

aze sharp and analytical. "You have her spi

ht smile. "She rais

d strength to sur

a bl

shifted to Mat

tiffened

Her tone brook

before turning on his heel and walking ou

ight of her presence. Giulia might have been small, frail even,

" she

with carved wooden arms, her back str

e. The breeze fluttered in

d softly. "But you have your father's d

," Lucia said carefully. "I'm

t Giulia waved her off. "I'm dying, child. Not right now, but soon. Cancer, the doctors say.

wned. "I'

fiercely. And I've made my peace with d

ed her hea

years, nearly destroyed the family's name, and left Matteo to clean up the me

nd you think marryi

"No, cara. I think mar

ted. "I don'

by greed or scandal or expectation. You see things as they are. You don't play ga

lder woman. "You chos

ply. "He loves me. He would do anyt

nd you don't think

ed for one year. Keep up appearances. Attend dinners. S

r?" Luci

ed. Your family's debts cleared. And you'll receive a sm

r dreamed. A future-one her family desperately ne

n who didn't b

ove him,"

. "Good. Neit

. "That's not

agreed. "But

silence fo

Do this for me, Lucia. I want to leave knowing Matt

hakily. "I'll t

glimmered. "Yo

de the doors, hands in his po

at I expected

r is," he

ied him. "

. "That's

pretending we

agreed. "But you must

ed. "And m

rs in Milan by the end of

d out h

ed at it, t

em-something unspoken. An understanding. A contract seal

ibil

the villa, staring out at the moonlit vineyard below. The

n his private study, alone with his

rl from Castello Verde, about

s mad

madness... somethi