lness, the kind reserved for VIPs who required absolute discretion. In
ndow, his gaze lost in th
e coastal highway. Behind him, in the massive hospital bed, Valeria lay in a deepchair in the corner, flipping through a f
sy pages. "You've been here for forty-eight hours. The press has been fed the narrative: a tra
ad settled in his chest that black coff
ternoon," he said, his voic
, snapping the
he best plastic surgeons can't fix. You'll see her later. You can't leave Valeria
e in three days, the image of Clara trapped in the car, her eyes locked on his as he backed away with Va
expression
n. You saved the person you could reach faster. Don't let irratio
nical justification
see Clara. He had to look her in the eyes, explain, promise to make it up to her. He'd bu
ro. There was nothing he
announced, striding out of the suite
loor, Alexander adjusted the collar of his wrinkled shirt, bracing himself for the te
s down the sterile hallway bef
that screamed old money, a black leather briefcase in his hand. His posture
e man asked, his accent polish
my PR team has issued a statement. Get o
briefcase, pulled out a thick manila envel
firm Dubois & Associates," he said. "And I'm not here about
der fr
ss dealings in Paris. Yo
it on pure reflex. "My client is Mrs. Clara Montenegro. Although, as of this
elope as if it were a bomb. With clumsy fingers, he tore it open and p
e breath from his lungs: PETITION FO
"It's a sick joke. Who hired you? My mother? A competitor? Clara doesn't have the money
Dubois said, adjusting his glasses with infuriating calm. "I
hen he found the section, his eyes widened, readin
vision of liquid assets, shares in Montenegro Enterprises, re
ssolution of the marriage and demands a rest
. Not a single cent of the billi
re. It wasn't the trembling scrawl of an injured, sedated woma
him. "No, she's in shock. Traumatized. She doesn't know what she's signi
y, certifies that my client is of sound mind," Dubois replied with utter indifference. "There will b
s heel and walked t
nce. He crushed the papers in his fist and bolted d
off the white walls as he burst through
dy to tear the papers up in front of her, to yell at her to
ds died in
om was
he monitors were off, their dark screens reflecting his own pale, haggard face. No flowers, no pe
e pillow, a single obj
s feet feeling like lead. He reached
nd platinum band he had slipped onto h
spered, spinning around as he
ad entered, hold
cautious but devoid of the usual de
e where my wife is!" Alexander bellowed, closing
reproach of someone who knew exactly why he hadn
for her. She signed all the liability waivers." The nurse's voice was firm. "She has left the hospital, Mr. Mo
e's my wife! She's
plied with icy finality. "Now, if you'll excuse me
r was le
led divorce papers in one hand and the
nctively searching for a sign, a trace of her. But there
asked for his money because money
elling him that he, Alexander Mont
red, but standing in that empty room, Alexander
fingers, leaving behind only a cold ring
/1/123912/coverbig.jpg?v=61f75d5a200332f4f1b61d8f39a7e619&imageMogr2/format/webp)