ログインMarcelina's POV I didn't remember falling asleep.One second, I had been sitting there—tense, stubbornly awake, and refusing to let myself relax. And the next... everything had gone quiet.When I opened my eyes, it took a moment for anything to make sense. Then I shifted slightly and felt a warm soft blanket draped over me.My brows pulled together as I glanced down, brushing my fingers against the fabric. It wasn't something I had put on myself. I would remember that.Which meant someone else had.I exhaled slowly and lifted my gaze upward only to land on the subtle stitching along the headrest in front of me.D.V.The initials were customized into every leather like a signature. And somehow, even something that small was enough to irritate me all over again.I dragged my eyes away from it and turned slightly toward where he had been sitting. And for a second, I just stared at the vacant seat, my brows drawing together.Where did he go?Not that it mattered, but the thought came uni
Domenico's POVBy the time we arrived at the private airfield, the jet was already prepped and waiting. The crew stood in position and the engines hummed low, ready for takeoff.The pilot stepped forward first, followed closely by the rest of the crew."Welcome, sir." He greeted, and they all bowed.Without so much as a glance in their direction, I walked past them in silence, my attention already elsewhere as I ascended the steps and boarded the jet.Behind me, my newlywed bride offered the crew a polite greeting before ascending the steps. I didn't look back as she followed—didn't need to. I could feel her.Tension clung to her like a second skin—sharp, volatile, and barely contained beneath the surface. It followed her up the steps, into the jet, and into the quiet space between us.She was angry.Not confused. Angry.Because I had walked into her neatly arranged life and torn through it without permission. Because I had not given her enough time to say goodbye to anything she he
Marcelina's POV My throat tightened.I hadn't even told Xavier yet. And now this.Of course, Domenico would choose to say it like that. Like it was nothing more than a fact written on paper.Xavier looked between the two of us now, confusion turning into something sharper. "You're joking." No one laughed.The silence stretched again and finally, Xavier stepped away from me."Marcelina," he said slowly, his eyes never leaving my face. "What the fuck did I just hear?"My throat tightened and I couldn't speak.Xavier's eyes narrowed slightly. "Marcelina?"I swallowed hard. I could feel Domenico watching me, waiting."Yes," I said quietly."Yes, what?" "We got married." The words tasted strange coming out of my mouth. Like they didn't belong to me. And as expected, Xavier let out a short, disbelieving laugh."This has to be some kind of joke." The silence stretched again as he looked back at me. "When?" "Yesterday,"The disbelief on his face deepened."Was a gun pointed at your head
Marcelina's POV Silence filled the room.Then he took another step toward me. And once again, I stepped back."You didn't answer your phone." "I've been busy" "And now," he continued calmly, "You're standing three feet away from me like I'm contagious." I crossed my arms defensively. "Why are you making this a big deal?" "Because it is a big deal." He tilted his head slightly. "You've never missed before."His words hung in the air.And the worst part was... He was right.In the entire time our arrangement had existed, I had never missed. Not once. We were just two people who understood exactly what the other wanted.Which made this moment even worse.Because suddenly I had no idea how to explain why things had changed.Xavier studied my face for another moment before speaking again. "Did something happen at the hospital?""No." "Did someone say something to you?"I shook my head."Then what is it, Marcelina?" "I told you," I said firmly. "Nothing.""Then why do you look like y
Marcelina's POV"I... um... Xavier..."Lord, I was short of words.On the other end of the line, Xavier chuckled softly. "Nice to know you still remember my voice. Lately, you seem to forget a lot of things,""What—" I frowned. "Why are you calling this early?" My mind immediately went to the hundred things he could be doing instead.Xavier Jenkins was a senior neurosurgeon. His mornings were usually packed tighter than an emergency room.At this hour, he could be in surgery. Or reviewing patient scans before a complicated operation. Or sitting through one of those endless departmental meetings the hospital loved to schedule.He could even be doing rounds, checking on post-op patients, and scaring the interns with his impossible standards.Calling me was definitely not on that list."Well," he said dryly, "because the two men outside your apartment won't let me get any closer." My stomach dropped."You're... outside?" "Right now," he confirmed. "Thought I'd stop by since you've app
Marcelina's POV We had been married for less than ten minutes, and he was already fiddling with the ring like it didn't belong there.A strange feeling pricked at the back of my chest—something between irritation and embarrassment.Maybe this whole thing had finally sunk in for him. Maybe he was realizing what a terrible decision this was.Good.Because I had known that from the very beginning, I had tried to make him change his mind, I had..."She would be a good companion during the lonely days," he finally said and my heart dropped.Lonely days.The words echoed in my head, heavy and unsettling.So that was how this was going to be.Not a marriage. Not even the illusion of one.Just... coexistence.I stared at him for a second, something cold settling in my chest as the meaning slowly sank in.There would be lonely days."Don't you dare involve my friend in this," I said through gritted teeth. "She already has a life—one you've partly ruined by getting her fired from the clubhouse
Marcelina's POVThe two men escorted me to the car just after nine in the morning.Corey has never left my side since that day. And as the only friend and family I had left, she slid into the backseat beside me and squeezed my hand, watching me with concern that she wasn't even trying to hide."Yo
Marcelina's POVThe men looked at each other. Then one of them reached into his jacket and pulled out a phone. He tapped the screen once and after a few seconds, he held it out to me. "The boss will speak to you," Of course, he would.Without hesitation, I snatched the phone from his hand and pu
Marcelina's POV Anger shot through me so quickly I almost laughed. "I'm sorry," I said slowly. "Did you just say I'm not permitted?" "Yes." I blinked, then I pointed at my own chest."This is my house." Silence."I have a job," I continued, my voice rising. "A life. You don't get to stand outs
Marcelina's POVI woke up with a stiff neck and a dull ache running down my back. And for a moment, I didn't remember where I was. But then the ceiling of my living room slowly came into focus, and I realized I was lying on the couch.Everything hurts.My body felt heavy, like I had run a marathon







