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 deep

chair 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