ana'

white. My voice was a raw mixture of frustration and disbelief as I turned to Massi

His eyes weren't even focused on me-he was too busy scribbling his name on the contract, his hand moving effor

able. The sound echoed through the room, the thud making the t

utburst. He simply leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark and un

eam, to throw something, to punch Ivan in his smug face until the smugness drained out

. "This isn't about you. It's about the survival of the Moretti name. Think about

pulse a relentless throb in my ears. "I don't

hadn't realized he was standing there until he spoke. His presence filled the room instantly, suf

do this. It's for the good of the family." His

I wanted to do was scream at him. I had been fighting for my freedom, for my

If I did, I might break. I clenched my jaw, holding back tears

uture. I was supposed to choose who I married, not have it dictated

red. No one cared wha

wled, shaking my head furio

rish. He didn't care. It was clear from the way he moved that this was just

as though he were speaking to a child throwing a tantrum. "The deal

e talk to me like that? How dare he treat me as if I were just some pawn in his family's game? My fists

s st

y eyes narrowing into slits. "Do you really think I'll just

, his expression still unreadable. He stood, the ch

ase crawling up my spine. Ivan Valkof was a man who knew how to re

free to hate me all you want. But this marriage is a business transaction, nothing more. You'r

elieve he was treating this like some casual inconvenience. But the more I fought it, the mor

e the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes. "We're done

st me, Adriana. I've been patient with you, but this is for your own good. You'll sign it, and you'l

d in a cage, bound to a man I couldn't stand, living a life I didn't choose. A future

er surging through my veins, but I was running out of opt

above a whisper. My hand hovered over the paper, the sharp

but I wrote my name. It was the only thi

ight of my decision pressing down on me with all the force of a thousand pounds. My eyes b

er than I had ever heard it. "We'll ma

mpassive. My heart was pounding in my chest, but I didn't let them see it. I wouldn't show t

e, I was

choice. It was

nd to a future I c