Chapter 1

I felt Gabriel’s lips on my chest, strong and possessive, as the world outside the Romano family’s custom Mercedes blurred into nothing.

Stripped bare, I let my long legs fall over his shoulders, the closeness sending shivers through me.

I could feel him pressing inside me, the sensation making my pulse race.

The thrill, the closeness… it made my head spin. His hands gripped my waist as he whispered low and dark:

“Relax… the soundproofing’s in place. No one’s listening. Why are you shy, hmm?”

I clung to him, my heart pounding, love and desire tangled together as waves of pleasure built faster than I could catch my breath. The crescendo hit me, leaving me trembling, unable to hold back a sound.

And then his lips, warm and teasing, pressed against my chest.

When the sudden ring of a phone cut through the haze.

Gabriel’s brow furrowed. He glanced at the screen, then answered. I saw the caller ID: Jack—one of his closest friends from the medical world.

“Gabriel… you’ve lost your mind…”

He cut him off sharply, in perfect German. “Not convenient. Speak in German.”

There was a long, tense silence. Finally, Jack’s voice came, clear and chilling:

“Your mistress two months pregnant. What are you going to do?”

The words hit me like ice. My body went slack, the heat evaporating instantly. Tears sprang to my eyes before I could stop them.

Gabriel, completely unbothered, spoke in his usual calm, calculating tone:

“Grace can’t have children. I’ll let Ella Reed carry the baby to term, and then we’ll make it appear as if the child was adopted—someone from an orphanage she’s never met, a stranger. That way, the heir is secured without anyone suspecting a thing.”

“Don’t you think Grace will find out?” the voice pressed.

Gabriel’s lips curved, confident, almost cruel:

“I’ll make sure she never knows. She’ll never suspect a thing.”

“The moment Grace learns the truth, she won’t hesitate—she’ll walk out of your life.”

Gabriel’s eyes flicked to me. Even beneath me, I saw the corner of his mouth tilt with certainty.

“She loves me too much to ever leave.”

And with that, he ended the call.

Only then did he notice my tears. Panic flashed across his features as his hands cupped my face.

“Grace… why are you crying? Did I hurt you?”

I shook my head, wiping my cheeks. “I’m just tired… yawning. I’m fine.”

He breathed out, relief softening him, before leaning back to kiss me again.

He caught my gaze, holding it with that infuriating mix of mischief and charm.

“What?” he murmured, voice low and playful. “Admiring how thoughtful—and handsome—your husband is?”

I pulled my blouse back on, smoothing it over my shoulders.

“Yes,” I said. “I just want to see clearly—whether the man who claims to love me has room in his heart for more than one woman.”

He stiffened.

Fear flashed across his eyes—just for a second—before he masked it perfectly.

When he looked at me again, his gaze was deep, affectionate, almost drowning.

“Grace,” he said softly, pouting like a wronged lover, “don’t joke like that. You know I couldn’t survive losing you.”

I smiled and gently withdrew the hand he had pressed against his chest.

So he still remembered.

When I agreed to be with Gabriel Romano, I had only one condition.Loyalty.

I remembered telling him clearly:

“If I ever find out you’ve betrayed me—even emotionally—I won’t forgive you. I’ll disappear. And you’ll never find me again.”

Back then, he had played with my fingers, half-smiling.

“And if I do find you?” he teased. “Would you give me another chance?”

I pulled my hand back and looked at him.

“Don’t joke about this.”

“I mean it,” I said quietly. “If you ever betray me—even once—I’m gone. No second chances.”

That was when he realized I meant every word.

He straightened, raised his hand solemnly, and swore:

“On the name of the Romano family, I swear—Grace Miller is the woman I chased for a year before she agreed to be mine. I will cherish her sincerely and never do anything to hurt her.”

Then he added, half-joking but deadly sincere:

“If I ever break this vow—

may I spend the rest of my life never finding you again.”