ra

iltering through the blinds of the hospit

esent and silent assistant

ick leather-bound folder sat in front of them. The brief euphoria of the previou

ng no time on pleasantries. "You understand

idea what was coming, but the formality of the

bush, are waiting," she continued, her eyes hard as diamonds. "They are waiti

eel. "I will not allow that to h

nd became clear before she said it aloud, and the coldness

shocking. "Clara, you are Damien's legal wife. We need yo

. he's in a coma," I stammered, th

ing my objection as a trivial detail. "We can use his... mate

the polished table toward m

embled as I

was an asset tr

Five hundred m

on the Upp

hares in the Falcone Group's

ond my wildest imaginings, a level of wealth that cou

d all of this is yours," Eleonora stated. "You will be one o

d will be Damien's sole heir. They w

e devil, signed in a

thought of a cold, clinical procedure, of having a child with a man whose m

of Jennifer's smug, triumphant face in my wedding bed. I

e to seize control. T

ting Eleonora's. The hesitation in my eyes

nervous habit from childhood that surfaced o

I said. My voice was quiet, but it

ncenzo stared a

aining strength. "A marriage has certain obligati

ing a procedure. I would be a wife. I would claim this marriage, this man, this child, in the mo

on dawned on Eleonora's face. The sheer

st courage. It was a strategic move. I was declaring that I was a

Very well. The family will honor your commitment.

but with a promise of the most intima