로그인Aria Vale was meant to walk down the aisle until three hours before her wedding, she walks in on her fiancé with her best friend and disappears without being seen, leaving her entire future behind. Romano Ciel, heir to one of Europe’s most powerful cartel empires, is given an ultimatum: marry within thirty days or lose his place as successor to his long time enemy. Marriage is the last thing he wants until a chance encounter puts a runaway bride in his path. As Aria struggles to rebuild her life, disturbing secrets begin to surface. Her apartment is searched, anonymous warnings appear, and every attempt to uncover the truth about her past leads to another dead end. One needs protection. The other needs a wife. What begins as a temporary arrangement soon pulls them into a dangerous web of lies, betrayal, and a decades-old secret powerful enough to destroy both their families.
더 보기Romano’s POV“Aria?”Silence followed, I got no response, my grip tightened around the phone.“Aria.”When she finally spoke, her voice barely sounded like hers.“Someone was watching us.”Every instinct I had sharpened instantly.“What do you mean?”“I found a photograph.”She paused. “Of us.”I was already moving toward the door.“Dante.”He looked up immediately.“Get the car.”His expression changed the moment he saw mine.“What happened?”“Someone got into Aria’s apartment.”The room went silent and within seconds we were moving. I returned the phone to my ear.“Aria, listen carefully.”“I’m listening.”“Are you still inside the apartment?”“Yes.”“Leave.”My tone left no room for argument.“Go downstairs and wait outside the building.”A small pause followed.“Okay.”“Don’t touch anything else.”“I said okay.”For some reason, hearing her answer that way brought a small amount of relief.“Stay where people can see you. I’ll be there soon.”Then I ended the call, Dante glanced a
Aria’s POVI woke up disoriented. For a moment, I didn’t recognize the room.The ceiling was unfamiliar, the sheets smelled different. Sunlight poured through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Milan, then everything came back.The wedding, Luca, Sofia, Romano, the car, Romano offering me spending the night in his mansion, everything. My chest tightened instantly.I sat up slowly and pressed a hand against my forehead, yesterday felt like a nightmare. Unfortunately, it had actually happened, a soft knock sounded at the door but beforeI could answer, a woman stepped inside carrying a tray.“Good morning, Miss Vale.”I stared at her, she smiled politely.“Mr. Ciel asked us to make sure you had breakfast.”Of course he did, the thought should have annoyed me. Instead, it made something warm and uncomfortable settle in my chest.“Where is he?”“He left early this morning.”The feeling disappeared immediately. “Oh” Why was I disappointed? I barely knew the man.The woman left after pl
Romano’s POVThe car remained quiet after Aria got inside, the quietness was heavy and awkward; those kinds that followed a toxic conversation.Milan’s lights blurred past the tinted windows while she sat beside me still wearing the wedding dress she had run away in. Her hands stayed folded tightly in her lap as though holding herself together required physical effort.Most people fell apart after betrayal, but Aria seemed determined not to and seeing that interested me more than it should have. “You always pick up strangers from the street?” she asked suddenly.I glanced at her.“No.”“Then why me?”A reasonable question, I looked out the window. “You stepped in front of a car.”“That explains why you pulled me back.”Her gaze narrowed.“It doesn’t explain why I’m in your car.”A faint smile threatened to appear, she asked too many questions. “I haven’t decided whether that was a mistake yet.”For the first time since I met her, something resembling amusement flickered across her
Aria’s POV“You almost got yourself killed.”The stranger’s hand was still wrapped around my wrist, I pulled away immediately I realized. “I’m fine.”The lie came too quickly.His gaze moved over me once, taking in the wedding dress, the slipping veil, and the tears I hadn’t realized were still falling.“You don’t look fine.”Something about the blunt honesty made my chest ache.Behind us, guests continued entering the hotel where my wedding was supposed to happen in less than three hours. White flowers decorated the entrance. Everything looked beautiful but it was all built on fakery. My phone vibrated in my hand, it was Luca. The sight of his name made my stomach twist.I stared at the screen until the call ended.Then another came.And another.And another.The stranger noticed.“You should answer.”A bitter laugh almost escaped me, if I answered, what exactly would he say?What could possibly explain what I’d heard?The calls finally stopped and a message appeared instead.WHER
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