Chapter 3

"I… I'll sign it…"

I forced the words out of my mouth despite the difficulty. If I wanted to live, I had no choice but to compromise.

As soon as I agreed, Bruno's expression softened. He poured me a glass of warm water and handed me my medicine. He even considerately offered me some candy.

I ignored his sudden show of mercy. As soon as the medicine came into effect, I rushed to the floor, littered with glass shards. I couldn't control the grief surging within me.

I gathered the torn photo with trembling hands, carefully placing the pieces in a small pouch from my suitcase.

My mother passed away when I was very young from a relapse of her congenital heart disease. At that time, my father had just started his business and couldn't afford her treatments. The guilt haunted him until the day he died.

When the hospital discovered I had inherited my mother's heart condition, my father started working day and night—all because he wanted me to be healthy. It was his way to make up for the past and redeem himself.

Unfortunately, his health worsened as he worked himself to the ground, and he passed away. Before breathing his last, he entrusted me to someone he trusted in the company by transferring his shares and management rights.

That someone was Bruno.

And yet, this was how Bruno took care of me. Even after seeing me so full of grief, he continued to mock me from the side.

"It's just a photo. Why make it such a big deal?"

I packed everything away, but when I looked at him again, there was no emotion in my eyes.

"My mother didn't like having her photos taken when she was alive, and my father was always busy with work. This was the only photo I had with them."

He froze, then bit his lip. "You didn't tell me that."

I gave him a cold glance, not wanting to argue.

Bruno couldn't stand to see me like this and yanked me off the floor, dragging me forcefully to the bed. He saw me lowering my eyes, refusing to even look at him.

At this moment, he seemed to realize he had gone too far. He reached out to stroke my cheek, wanting to comfort me, but I slapped his hand away.

Bruno's face darkened; he didn't bother to try and console me anymore. Perhaps he thought I was simply throwing a tantrum.

He shoved the asset transfer contract and pen to my face again.

"Sign it and I'll take you to get the photo fixed."

This time, I didn't argue. I quickly picked up the pen and signed my name.

His behavior of offering a carrot and a stick was repulsive. Had he asked nicely, I would have signed it anyway. I had already transferred my assets abroad, so all he would get was an unenforceable contract—in other words, nothing.

Honestly, I never expected Bruno to go to such extremes. Didn't he know that any contract signed under the threat of violence was invalid?

It wasn't until he mentioned the wedding that I understood his thoughts. Despite being unable to hide the deviousness in his eyes, he still pretended to love me.

"We're getting married tomorrow. Why don't we get our marriage registered now? That way, you'll be my wife legally."

I shot him a look and immediately called him out. "So you can simply call this a family dispute after that, right?"

"Are you still angry?"

Bruno frowned. He hated it when I argued against his wishes.

"I'm getting anxious because you're not with me. Besides, once we're married, what's mine is yours too. What's the big deal about registering our marriage? And if you had ever thought of me, you wouldn't have sold your shares anonymously. Husband and wife are supposed to be a team, but you sold the assets that are supposed to be mine. This is just a punishment for that."

I wanted to argue with him again, but he forcibly ran his hand through my hair and finally cupped my face, his eyes staring into mine.

"I won't let you die, so this is all your fault."

When I heard those words, I didn't want to fight back anymore and simply lay down on the bed. I wasn't interested in arguing with him anymore.

Why had I never discovered how shameless he could be before this?

I vividly remembered how kind he had been on our first encounter. He would always take me to my check-ups, and would even go out in the rain to get my medicine. Whenever I called, he'd drop everything to see me. And with my father's trust in him, I was naturally attracted to him.

Upon learning the truth between him and Raine, I finally woke up from my delusions.

Bruno's attitude toward me worsened every time I gave in. Now, his intentions were obvious.

When Bruno saw me continue to maintain my silence, he finally lost his patience. "Fine! Since you don't want to register our marriage, you'll stay here until the wedding!"

I didn't understand what he meant at first—until I heard the click of a lock after he went out.

Immediately, I got up from the bed and walked over to the door. I rattled the doorknob, furious, and then banged on the door anxiously.

"Bruno! Are you keeping me here because you're afraid I'll sue you? I won't do that! Let me out!" I yelled.

If I stayed any longer, I would certainly miss my flight.

I didn't want to waste any more time here.

I refused to play along with Bruno anymore!