◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ My desperate mother was at it again. If my father hadn't pushed her into the world of corporate finance, matchmaking could've been her full-time job. Her first prospect two years ago was Kel. Obviously that didn't work out. Now it was Adreana caught in her crosshairs. Mamma was both subtle and overtly intrusive whenever she tried teasing us to reveal our "relationship status". And my date, being the textbook people-pleaser that she was, could only smile, laugh, and reluctantly agree to everything my mother threw into their discussion. I sat inches away from Adreana, my bare foot touching her shoes under the table. For the past two hours, I tried to actively participate in their conversations, but only when they needed me to answer a question or give an opinion on something Luxoria-related, and whenever Adreana would ask about my past life in Brichese. At some point, my brain refused to tolerate another round of chit-chats. So I excused myself ten minutes ago to do

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ It's crazy how two weeks could redirect the rest of your life. I just met this woman. By mere chance. But now I already hated thinking of her sleeping with someone else. Dating some guy who would most likely just take advantage of her. Take her for granted. Even weirder, I couldn't imagine myself spending the next years of my life with another woman. It was driving me nuts. It was like the first few months of living with Mykaela. Only, it felt ten times worse with this one. This beautiful human being. "You still want me there?" "Where?" Adreana pouted, her shapely brows wrinkling as I stroked her cheek. If Mamma saw us right now, with Adreana kneeling before me and grasping my hands, my mother would probably assume the worst. "You said you want me to come over, before you pee on the stick." Adreana nodded and gave me another smile, the kind that fiercely tugged at every single one of my heartstrings. Shit. I'd really thought I could just fuck her a few times and

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ The goal was simple. Cheat the clauses, then cash in my inheritance. I'd just found a loophole. And it should be something I could use to my advantage. The plan: 1) Find a fake wife. 2) Get married somewhere. 3) Collect my money. 4) Split the cash. 5) Get a divorce. It was doable. Plausible. Not too easy, but not that difficult to pull off, either. Sure. I could've picked a better day, another place, and a more reasonable time to pitch my idea. But since honesty and transparency was today's theme, I should just get it over with to see if there's any chance she'd agree to it. "What?" Adreana blinked a few times, perhaps just letting my answer sink in. Her dazed look revealed just how much shock my words managed to deliver. "I need someone to pretend to be my wife. For some time." Adreana faked another grin, her dark and long brows creasing. "Pretend?" My jaw clenched. "A year tops." "One year?" "Preferably." Six months could work, but, to be sure, a full y

◆ LORENZIO ◆ An incessant buzzing noise beside my head jolted me out of my sleep. I sat up on the bed and glanced at the nightstand clock. Bollocks. Not even dawn yet. I rubbed my eyes. I itched the old white scar on my forehead, right on my hairline. It wasn't that old, though. Under bright lights, I could still trace Mykaela's clean stitches whenever I stared at the pale scarring up-close. As my brain fought through the groggy haze, I tried to concentrate on the noise. It was my phone. Vibrating somewhere. I slid my fingers under my other pillow and grabbed my phone as it buzzed louder in my hand. Unregistered number. Florence area code. One of the lawyers? No. I had all of their numbers saved on this account. Yawning, I switched on the bedside lamp, half-expecting a familiar voice to fill the other line, and half-dreading another slew of bad news. "Lying piece of shit." Oh, great. It was my dearest brother: Leandro Enrico Tomassini. Someone gave him my new number. But it wasn'

◆ LORENZIO ◆ "Two weeks. Bring her back here. " "Yeah. Yeah. Heard you the first time." "Stronzo." [Asshole.] "Nice talkin' to you, too." I scowled at the number on my screen after the beep. The petty threat behind his words did nothing to lull the violent images forming in the back of my mind. It wasn't an absolute bluff⁠—I just got an email from one of his lawyers confirming my suspicion. Considering his obsession with Alodia didn't wane, I'd bet good money he would punish whoever he deemed complicit in his ex-girlfriend's disappearance. Even Rafa, who only hung out with my brother a handful of times, knew Leandro was the type to bribe cops and hire a hitman just to get rid of witnesses or anyone who dared to stand in his way. Shite. I'd better call Rafa now. Warn him. Convince him to give up her whereabouts. With my phone, I shut the bathroom door and sat on the edge of the cold tub. I doubted a recent video clip of a healthy, happily pregnant Alodia would be enough for her