rapes"-spun in her mind like a vulture circling its prey. She knew the audit Hanna was planning would be

that chilled her blood, but it felt like the only way out. She had to prevent them b

o the Ex

e number listed on the contract. It didn't take long bef

es' voice was like s

is is Elena, Anto

I doubt this is a social call. My lawyers s

the estate is yours and that my husband's debts are drowning us. But I also know you have a spe

than immediate ownership of the best vineyards in

of Conv

was betraying her own flesh and blood.

e other end of the line. Elena cont

a seized property; it will be yours by marital right. The brand will keep its prestige, and you'll get the m

O's Re

w more seconds. The hint of a cynical

peated. "It's a medieval proposal,

" she asked, al

l pardons. But I'm warning you: if Hanna isn't on board or tries to rebel, you won't jus

he had just saved the estate, but she knew she had condemned

es, swearing she would protect her mother and her legacy at all costs,

ison o

oward the terrace, where Hanna was leafing through old ledgers in the vain hope of finding an

wn. The stress of these past few days is kill

She slumped into the wicker sofa and began to br

pulated

ut I can't take it anymore. My body is failing me," Elena whispered, faking a faint. "The

hat are you talking a

because I signed documents without reading them. If we don't pay Sergio Montes, he won't just take the San

mother-elegant and fragile-behind the bars of a

rifice

her with pleading eyes. "I spoke with Sergio Montes. I begged for mercy. And he... he g

om? Whatever it

opped the bombshell with a

r over the vineyard. He has agreed to forgive the debt and drop the legal char

ght of

she had been slapped. "Marry him? A man I don't e

's memory! If you don't accept, they'll come to take me away in handcuffs tomorrow morning. Is that what you want

s of a cage. Elena's manipulation had hit the mark: Hanna couldn't let he

l Sergio Montes I accept. But tell him this too: h

this," Elena whispered against her ear, forcing a trembling vo

ther's office. In that moment, the weight of the Román name and t

tears with an elegance that str

her commanding tone. "I want you to wear that blue silk dress yo

n. From her balcony, the San Lorenzo vineyards looked different under

s desk, a marriage contract sat waiting for a single signature. He knew Hanna had accepted; people l

gio thought, "and Hanna Román will learn

e trembling, hidden within the folds of her blue dress. In the main hall, her mother was already

pered, "my life and our famil

black armored sedan pulled up to the main entrance. A man who looked

elegance, and had dark eyes that seemed to scan every secret in the room. As he entered, the air seemed

xtended hand and fixing his gaze directly on

honeyed voice. "She is fully aware of the si

away. She didn't lower her gaze, though his scent

red in a frigid tone. "A pity that bravery i

nature

istant, who placed a black leather folder on

of the Marri

years of mandato

property of Montes Global, though Hanna wil

l evidence of fraud against the Ro

public; any attempt at a prior divo

e a ton. She looked at her mother, who placed a hand over her hear

wner'

ecked the signature with col

. "You've just bought your mother's freedom with your own life. You have two hours to pack

y? But my mother..

plied, turning his back. "And your mother has her

re fixed on her mother, who, instead of showing sadness or outrage at the coldness wit

the scales fell f

te of B

ng her chest in anguish, nor were her hands shaking. On the contrary, Elena walked over to the table to p

utting like glass. "You're just letting m

"Sergio is right; there's nothing left to do here. He will look after you

felt before. Her mother hadn't "sacrificed" her out of love for the estate; she had sold her like

igid G

ne with a raised eyebrow and a l

ren't in the car in ten minutes, I'll tear up the contract a

with mechanical movements. On her way down, Elena tried to hug her again,

io. "You get to keep your freedom and your house. I'm leaving with the man who destroyed us. But

Wolf's

ena's manipulation and Hanna's breaking point. For a second, there was a flash of

e her, maintaining a frigid distance. The car started,

the car sped down the highway. "It took you less time than I t

ists until her nails

anna spat with venom. "She sold me, bu

out a dry,

has a price. Yours has just been