LOGINLorrie Elmundo never imagined that saving her family would cost her freedom. Burdened by her father's crushing debts and desperate to protect her sick mother and younger brother, she accepts an offer that changes her life forever. Marry Lorenzo Dimitri. At thirty-four, Lorenzo is the feared head of the Dimitri Syndicate—a man whose name commands respect, fear, and absolute obedience. Cold, calculating, and devastatingly handsome, he agrees to a one-year marriage contract for reasons known only to him. He offers Lorrie wealth. He offers her protection. He offers her his family name. But he never offers love. Lorrie promises herself she will endure twelve months and walk away with her heart intact. She doesn't expect Lorenzo's possessiveness. She doesn't expect his jealousy whenever another man smiles at her. And she certainly doesn't expect the way his icy gray eyes soften when he thinks she isn't looking. Lorenzo Dimitri has spent his entire life believing love is a weakness. Until the woman he bought becomes the only person he cannot afford to lose. And when enemies threaten to take her away, Lorenzo is willing to burn down empires, betray allies, and kneel before the woman he once considered nothing more than a contract bride.
View MoreLorrie barely slept that night. The heavy parchment envelope Lorenzo had given her still rested on the dark mahogany surface of her bedside table, its presence a constant weight in the quiet room. Her mother's specialized medical treatments, private care, and hospital security were entirely paid for—settled in full for another twelve months.He hadn't made a grand gesture of presenting it. He hadn't demanded her groveling thanks, nor had he even stayed on the balcony long enough to watch her process the news. He had simply done it, framing it as a matter of cold, tactical efficiency.It made absolutely no sense. Every single time Lorrie thought she finally had Lorenzo Dimitri figured out, every time she convinced herself he was nothing more than a heartless tyrant carved from stone, he did something that completely shattered her assumptions.The next morning, Lorrie walked into the grand dining room fully expecting another quiet, agonizingly tense breakfast. Instead, she found Lorenzo
The heavy double doors of the study closed with a definitive click behind the three syndicate visitors. The sprawling mansion immediately seemed quieter. Too quiet. Lorenzo remained standing motionless beside the floor-to-ceiling window, his hands tucked casually into his trouser pockets as he stared out into the grounds.Matteo waited until the heavy footsteps fully faded down the corridor before speaking. "They're worried, boss.""They're opportunists," Lorenzo corrected smoothly, his voice cutting through the silence. "They smell blood in the water.""They think you've become distracted by your domestic arrangements."Lorenzo shifted his gaze out toward the sprawling garden. His sharp gray eyes landed on Lorrie, who was walking slowly among the blooming rosebushes with Maria. For a brief, microscopic fraction of a second, the harsh lines of his expression softened. Then, the mask returned, absolute and unyielding."They're wrong."Outside, the mid-afternoon air was crisp, carrying
Lorrie woke long before the sun had even begun to hint at the horizon. For a fleeting, blissful moment, she forgot where she was. Then, her eyes adjusted to the sheer opulence of the room—the heavy silk curtains, the towering windows, and the suffocating silence of the estate.Reality rushed back in. She was Mrs. Dimitri. A wife by a legally binding contract, and effectively a prisoner by circumstance. She let out a heavy sigh, tossing the plush velvet duvet aside, and climbed out of bed.Downstairs, the mansion was already unusually frantic. Extra tactical guards patrolled the sprawling corridors, and several unfamiliar armored vehicles were parked in a neat row outside the main entrance. Men wearing sharp suits and discreet earpieces moved through the estate with military precision, adjusting the perimeters.Lorrie’s brows furrowed as she encountered Maria near the grand staircase. "What happened out there?"Maria lowered her voice to a cautious whisper. "Mr. Dimitri ordered the sec
The mansion erupted into absolute chaos. Guards rushed across the sprawling estate, their heavily armed tactical units taking up defensive positions. The rhythmic sound of tactical boots pounding against the marble floors echoed through the night, a grim reminder of the world they lived in. High-powered searchlights cut through the darkness, illuminating every hidden corner and shadow of the Dimitri property.Through it all, Lorenzo never took his eyes off Lorrie."The doctor," he commanded, his voice sharp and low. "Now."Within minutes, the family physician arrived at the study, carrying his medical bag. "It appears to be only a minor scratch, Mr. Dimitri," the elderly doctor murmured, carefully disinfecting the tiny cut on Lorrie's cheek before placing a small bandage over it. "No stitches required. There will be no permanent scar."Lorrie offered a polite, tired smile to the physician. "I'm fine, really. I've had worse paper cuts."The doctor chuckled softly, trying to ease the te












Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.