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