Chapter 1
When they walked out of City Hall, Maddalena Albergo stared at the freshly printed document, still a little dazed.
She had really just married a man she’d only met twice.
She looked up at him.
Emilio Loredan was dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored black pants, standing tall and straight-disciplined like a soldier, yet carrying an air of quiet nobility.
Sensing her gaze, he turned. Sharp, commanding eyes framed his chiseled features, though when they met hers, his expression softened slightly.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I was supposed to meet your family today, but there’s a problem with an overseas project I need to deal with.”
Maddalena didn’t seem bothered. Her tone remained warm. “It’s okay. There’ll be time for that later.”
Emilio nodded. “I’ll come back to get you in a month. In the meantime, if there’s anything you can’t manage, just call me.”
Since his company was based in New York, they had agreed that Maddalena would move there before getting mar- ried.
“Okay. Thank you,” she said with a nod.
Emilio started to walk away, then paused like he had remembered something.
Looking back at her, he said, “See you next time, Mrs. Loredan.”
His voice was calm and polite, but when Maddalena heard him say “Mrs. Loredan,” her ears tingled a little.
She took a second to process her new identity, then smiled and said, “See you next time.”
By the time Maddalena got home from the City Hall, it was already late afternoon. She pulled out her suitcase and quietly started packing.
Suddenly, she heard a noise at the door. She turned to look and saw Silvano Cavanna walk in.
She had not seen him for half a month. He wore a silver-gray suit, looking calm and distant behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
“Tori is moving in tomorrow with her kids. Clean up the guest room. And don’t bother her unless it’s important.” He said while loosening his tie.
Everything he said was clearly meant to protect Vittoria Moroni.
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Chapter 1
200 IVoucherS
Six months ago, Silvano had gone overseas to handle a big problem with a foreign order. Unexpectedly, there was a riot, and he went missing.
When Maddalena heard, she forced herself to stay strong, kept his grandmother company, and searched for Silvano nonstop. She used up almost all her energy in those six months.
Just when she was losing hope, he suddenly showed up at his grandmother’s birthday party-alive-and brought the woman who saved him, Vittoria, along.
Yet, Maddalena could see it clearly even if no one said it out loud. From the way they stood together and the way they looked at each other, there was definitely more than just gratitude between them.
“Just have the housekeeper clean it up,” Maddalena said calmly.
Silvano paused, then glanced sideways at her. “Don’t you have anything to say?”
Ever since he came back, Maddalena had been on edge, constantly going after Vittoria. Even after he told her again and again that there was nothing going on, she never believed it.
He had expected her to get upset today, or maybe even make a scene.
“No,” Maddalena replied, still calm. “Vittoria saved your life, so letting her stay in your house makes sense.”
Even as she said it, a bitter laugh echoed in her mind.
What kind of “lifesaver” needs a man to hold her in the middle of the night, comfort her in his arms, and let her kid
call him “dad”?
Clearly, this whole gratitude thing had gone way past the line.
Strangely, Silvano did not feel relieved like he thought he would. Instead, a wave of anxiety hit him, like Maddalena was slipping further and further away from him.
He hesitated, then quickly added, “Tori won’t be staying here forever. Once she settles into New York and finds a job, she’ll move out.”
“Great.”
Since Maddalena is moving out soon, how long Vittoria stays does not matter anymore.
“By the way, about our engagement…”
Silvano cut her off, his face showing a flash of impatience.
“Let’s talk about the wedding another time. Things are really hectic at work right now. I don’t have the energy to deal with wedding plans.”
And right as he finished, his phone started ringing.
