ucas' hospital room while tightly holding Damien Monteverde's
in
ocat
ria
sband who genuinely loved her. But reality destroyed those dreams long ago. Now, she was being asked to marry a man who lo
monitor echoed softly inside the quiet hallway. Her chest tightened painfully. If she refused Damien... Luca
te
ckly enter
d a smile. "How
a weak grin. "I
joke li
it's
refully fixed his blanket. L
e crying
ooked away. "
n't lie
it her l
d softly. "
furrowed i
r w
ing a b
yes widene
you wouldn't have t
op
o hard beca
uc
're alwa
udden sharpness in h
egretted it. She gra
she whispered shakily.
ilently. Tears slowly
only family
"And you're my favo
n her chest. For several seconds, silence fi
ething happens
ok her head. "Nothin
wha
uc
ously. "Promise me you'll fi
nger be living for herself. Before sunrise arrived, Ariana finally made her decision. With trembli
nded cold. Ariana swallow
the whole room. Then Da
oo
appi
rel
th
enly felt humiliated. Like she had
will prepare
or Lucas," Ariana
kno
rtly after. Ariana slowly lowered her phone while staring blan
ened quietly inside a private chap
d decor
ling g
rom
a simple white dress provided by Damien's assistant. The fabric was beautiful. Elegant an
e. But his expression remained unreadable. Cold, distant and untouchable. Ariana realized something painful at th
sacred union be
rds floating inside the air. When it was finally time for the rings, Damien slid the diamond ring onto Ariana's fin
now kiss
ation flashed across his face. The room became a
y. We can
uckled nervously.
n. His touch felt surprisingly warm compared to his cold personality. Their eyes met briefly. Then Damien leaned down and kissed her lightly. Sof
came Mrs. Monteverde. But instead of happiness... She only felt trapped. Outside
tial agreem
d confused.
ed calmly. "R
Even their marriage came with ru
e lea
ansion looked like something from a movie. Huge chandeliers. Luxury cars. Massive staircases. Everything screamed wealth
home, Sir
lt judge. They are whispering silently among themselves. Ariana awkwardly tigh
man grandfather fo
designer dress stood near the staircase with crossed arms
hed softly
unger sister. Unlike Damien, Va
ghed lightly. "She looks
nstantly. Damien's expres
oug
ward Ariana while smirki
blinked
ly have talents, right? Crying? Mani
ed from humiliation.
again. "That's w
Damien wa
simply shrug
ispered: "Don't get too comfortable he
way gracefully. A
at her briefly
ow
sults e
n't make i
uddenly realized something. This
heir old apartment. Everything looked dark and expensive. Minimalist and cold. Just like Damien.
he left side o
nodded
ill teach you proper eti
rowed slightl
t the Monteve
htening around her chest. "I don'
on't n
do you expe
oked directly at
hit her p
u really treat this lik
use i
Then Damien walked toward a drawe
are the
at him in disb
ecessary. Avoid scandals. Do
ned more with ev
e colder. "Don't fa
ly hurt. Not because she loved him but because of how
"This arrangement works
d herself to
several seconds. For some reason, he
You can sleep on the be
slightly. "You
kno
l. Three days ago, she was begging doctors to save her brother. Now she was inside a billionaire's mansion married to the coldest m
ed immediatel
other's surgery preparat
y filled her e
yment has be
into her all at once. Lucas would live. For the f
" she whisper
ying silently. Across the room, Damien noticed her tre
hing w
ly wiped her
dy heard enough.
e hospital called. His
nodded once.
m quietly. "You rea
id I
hy
slightly. "Wh
rely kn
because of his grandfather. Maybe because of guilt. Or maybe because eve
s laptop calmly.
night- neither of them slept peacefully. Because despite living under the
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