Bound by a billionaires vow

y the unfamiliar brightness bleeding through floor-to-ceiling windows. For a moment, she w

turned

on his hips, his phone pressed to his ear. He spoke in fluent French-

er shoulders. The tension in his should

y into the phone, then set it dow

for the robe left at the end of

"We gave them contro

hout looking at him. "And what d

est str

id, pouring espresso in

. "You think I'm

fully. "I think you hav

was crossing a battlefield. "Wh

away. "She said I don't know what you

le

way-and that answer in i

It was over for a long time. But Car

ve she hadn't lost?" L

ould still work together. I underes

love with you and you let her dangle

n't lik

explai

spent beside me was calculated-position, visibility, inheritance. She thought I would marr

ach dropped.

ich makes you dangerous-to h

way. "You still haven't told me what she mean

on to the board two years ago. It nearly cost th

him. "You ruin

y ruined themselves. I jus

edica

phone buzzed. Grandmother. L

on

e arrived at the clinic. It's... it's impressive,

he side of the r

hen he's scared. But he smiled

Stay with him. I'll be

all and turned

g to the

w lifte

my brother. I'm not lettin

driver meet y

," she snapped, alread

e Luca. If you vanish into the city alone, it becomes news

him. "So I'm you

re in this together. That means protecting the people y

nned by the clar

with you,

ha

together. Let them talk. But t

he C

unded by olive trees and modern sculpture. Enzo's room overlooked a small

p in bed. "Look! They gave

ing her eyes. "You're alwa

e quietly. Lucia held her brother's ha

o you

ed. "They put this helmet on me and s

odding at Matteo with the unmistaka

al cortex. We need more imaging, but there's a chance

ught. "He could l

o promise. But ye

d, the air rushi

touched her shoulder. It was nothin

ss felt like more than any

rd Stri

turned to the hotel

an emergency vote-Matteo's

ia asked, pacing the

ning his tie. "With backing fro

're using your marriage as

able. Impulsive. Letting personal m

"And marrying me is t

"No. Marrying you is the r

stop

his voice low and tense. "But this family? This company? It feeds on legacy. On appearan

stood before him. "Then let

. "What do

erful. Not cold-but real. You're a strategist, Matteo.

he asked. "Even a

s. "Enzo needs treatment. And

. "You're not unpolished,

en let's give them som

erous

er to the balcony again. The city lights w

terviews. Joint appearances. Maybe even move your g

s now?" she asked. "

we fake it long enough... ma

t her bre

ing like tectonic plates beneath them-Lucia realized that somewhere bet