LOGINA gasp left Rosa’s lips as she collided with him.She winced, squeezing her eyes shut in anticipation of pain—but instead, strong arms caught her protectively, steadying her before she could fall.“Hey, careful,” a deep, concerned voice murmured near her ear.Rosa slowly opened her eyes and found Samuele looking down at her.“Sorry,” she mumbled softly.Carefully, she steadied herself and stepped out of his embrace, straightening quickly. She already knew Luciano would be watching.And when she turned—She found him glaring at Samuele with burning fury in his eyes.“Stay the fuck away from my wife,” Luciano growled.Before anyone could react, he stormed forward and shoved Samuele hard in the chest.The doctor stumbled several steps backward.Rosa let out a horrified squeal. “No—please, don’t hurt him!”Luciano’s glare immediately shifted to her.“It was an accident,” she added quickly, almost in a whisper.“You called him here, didn’t you?” Luciano asked coldly, his eyes narrowing wi
Oh God… all of this—the beautiful setup, the flowers, the lights, the effort Luca had put into making this night perfect—was for her… only her?The realization made Lucy’s heart flutter, her chest filling with a warmth she couldn’t contain. Love—deep, overwhelming, undeniable—surged through her as she looked at the man before her, down on one knee.All she wanted, in that moment, was to hold his face in her hands and kiss him—deeply, breathlessly—until he understood just how much she loved him.“Lucy Riva,” Luca began, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes, “you are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on—beautiful inside and out.” He paused, a faint, almost dangerous smile touching his lips. “And if you say no… I don’t think I’ll survive it. I might just throw myself off this roof rather than take another breath without you.”Lucy’s eyes narrowed at him even as she giggled behind her hand, still covering her mouth.His proposal sounded more like a threat than a c
This evening meant everything to Luca—and to Lucy, even if she didn’t know it yet. Rosa had no intention of ruining it. She had given her absolute best to make this proposal perfect—something so romantic and unforgettable that no one had ever experienced before… and no one ever would again.Lucy, however, was under a completely different impression.She believed Luca had arranged a surprise date for Rosa and Luciano. According to him, Lucy just had to bring Rosa to the venue, while he would make sure Luciano arrived. In her mind, they were simply playing cupid—helping the two spend time together in a beautifully romantic setting.She had no idea…The entire setup was for her.A night meant to change everything—reshaping her life and opening the door to a future brighter than she had ever dreamed. Luca gently took Lucy’s hand, guiding her inside.And Luciano held out his hand for Rosa. She didn’t even look at it—just stepped out of the car on her own and brushed past him.Luciano let
Marcus’s eyes widened—and so did Julian’s.“You’re lying,” Marcus muttered, though the certainty in his voice had faltered.Rosa tilted her head slightly, a faint, amused smile playing on her lips. “Well, why don’t I call him?” she said lightly. “You can say hello yourself.”For a brief moment, even she couldn’t believe she was using his name—the very man she had never wanted any ties with—and calling him her husband.But she had learned quickly.In a world like this, you survived by playing the same game as the wolves around you.“What’s going on here?”The deep voice cut through the tension, making everyone turn.Rosa smiled.Julian and Marcus, however, went pale.Luca Santoro stood a few steps away, his presence quiet but commanding. His gaze moved to Rosa first—checking, assessing—before shifting into something colder as it landed on the two men.“Madam, are you alright?”The formality of his tone, the respect in the word Madam, left no room for doubt.Rosa’s claim had just been
Rosa had agreed to the meeting because the author, Julian Vance, insisted on the venue—a high-end restaurant just a few blocks from her office. It was the kind of place where deals were made over crystal glasses and whispered promises, where reputation carried as much weight as the words on paper.Soft amber lighting spilled across polished marble floors. The faint clink of cutlery and low murmur of conversation blended with the distant notes of a piano. Everything about the place spoke of quiet power.She stepped inside alone, her heels striking the floor with measured confidence. Her expression was composed, professional—but her mind was already working, anticipating the negotiation ahead.Until she saw the table.Julian Vance wasn’t alone.Seated beside him, leaning back like he owned the room, was a man she knew all too well—Marcus Thorne, owner of Thorne & Petals, the rival house to Prose & Stanza, known for his cunning and questionable tactics in the business. For a fraction of
Rosa sat in her chair, watching as Luca paced around her office. She waited patiently for a while, giving him space to prepare himself and speak, but he was clearly too anxious and scared to voice what he wanted from her.After a few minutes, she glanced at her wristwatch. “Okay, Luca,” she said gently. “Take your time and decide exactly how you want me to help you propose to Lucy. I have a meeting I need to attend now, but I'll be back.”Luca stopped in his tracks and glanced at Rosa with a flicker of hope. “We will figure it out together, okay?!" she assured him with a smile. “I’ll return right after my meeting.”Even though she was busy, Rosa truly wanted to help Luca. More importantly, she loved Lucy and wanted her to be happy; she knew Lucy liked Luca and would be overjoyed to spend the rest of her life with him.Luca smiled, his shoulders relaxing. “Thank you, Madam.”Rosa nodded. “In the meantime, if you want to order something to eat or drink, I’ll ask my assistant to get it f
“But know this—Luciano Mancini doesn’t need a signed document to make a deal.”Rosa’s eyes flew open, and she quickly shook her head.“No, I didn’t mean to end our arrangement.”Her reply lit something in Luciano’s eyes.But Rosa had never intended to end it—not yet. Not until she became pregnant wi
Panic surged instantly, flickering across Lucy’s features.“Who is he?” she whispered, her breath hitching as her eyes darted across the lobby. She quickly zeroed in on three men who had entered the hospital in Rosa’s wake.“I don’t know,” Rosa murmured. Her voice remained steady, yet an underlying
The hum of the jewelry store lights was the only sound in the shop as Lucy’s shift came to an end. She had already cleared an early exit with her manager, as Renzo was with her today. A younger girl was already stepping in to take over her station at the counter.Lucy walked into the back office—th
After finishing the paperwork at the hospital, Rosa left in a taxi to meet her lawyer, but her mind was still reeling from Laura’s words. So, the wedding hadn't been canceled after all. Luciano’s earlier declaration must have been a product of pure impulse and rage.Luciano Mancini was famous for f







