Gianna lay in her hospital bed, staring at her phone with growing resignation. Her mother's words kept echoing in her mind, mixing with the harsh reality of her situation.The debt, the sabotaged business deals, Giovanni's ultimatum—it was all too much.Vincent wasn't worth this hassle. He'd brought nothing but problems since the moment she'd married him.Maybe Isabella was right. Maybe the smart thing to do was cut her losses, divorce Vincent, and try to negotiate some kind of arrangement with Kevin. At least Kevin had resources, connections, the ability to actually help instead of just creating more chaos.She picked up her phone, scrolling to Kevin's contact information. Her finger hovered over the call button.Before she could press it, a sharp knock interrupted her thoughts."Come in," Gianna called, setting her phone down.Marcus Chen entered, looking completely different from the uncertain man at their last meeting. He was practically glowing with enthusiasm, carrying a leather

The villa felt both familiar and foreign when Gianna returned from the hospital that evening. The doctors had cleared her for discharge with strict instructions about rest and proper nutrition. She'd nodded along to their advice, already planning the dinner with Kevin that would properly thank him for saving her business.Vincent was waiting in the foyer when she entered, as if he'd been standing there for hours. Behind him, she could see the dining room table set with careful precision—candles, fresh flowers, multiple dishes arranged with restaurant-quality presentation."Welcome home," Vincent said quietly. "I made dinner."The aroma drifting from the dining room was incredible—herbs and spices, perfectly cooked proteins, the kind of complex layering that came from hours of careful preparation. Gianna's stomach responded involuntarily, reminding her she'd eaten nothing but hospital food for the past day.But looking at Vincent standing there in his worn clothes, with his calm expres

When Gianna arrived at La Bella Vista, she noticed immediately that something was different.The restaurant—usually bustling with wealthy patrons—was completely empty except for the staff and Kevin waiting at their private table."Kevin," Gianna said as she was seated, "where is everyone? It's prime dinner hours."Kevin smiled, gesturing around the empty space. "I rented out the entire restaurant for the evening.""The entire—" Gianna's eyes widened. "That must have cost a fortune.""It did," Kevin admitted easily. "But you're a married woman, Gianna. I didn't want people gossiping about you being seen with me. This way, we can have a proper conversation without worrying about rumors spreading."Gianna felt something shift in her perception of Kevin.The gesture was thoughtful, protective even. Not the action of a spineless puppet, but of someone who understood discretion and reputation."That's... very considerate," she said slowly."I try," Kevin replied with practiced modesty. "Bes

The following weeks brought a transformation to Gianna's professional life that felt almost miraculous.Strong Inc's partnership opened doors that had been firmly closed before—new clients approached Moretti Accounting with lucrative contracts, industry publications featured her firm in glowing articles, and invitations to exclusive business conferences began filling her inbox.Her company's name was becoming synonymous with excellence and reliability, all thanks to the Strong Inc connection that she still believed Kevin had secured for her.Each morning, Gianna followed her skincare routine religiously, applying Claudia's "homemade" healing paste with careful precision.The results continued to astound her—she slept better, woke feeling refreshed and energized, and her skin maintained a healthy glow that makeup could never replicate.One morning, standing in front of her bathroom mirror, Gianna really looked at her face for the first time in weeks. She turned her head slowly, examini

Gianna left the villa early the next morning, her briefcase packed with documents for several client meetings scheduled throughout the day.Her first stop, as always, was Café Meridian—a trendy establishment in the business district where she could review contracts over a proper espresso before heading to the office.The café was moderately busy with the usual morning crowd of professionals hunched over laptops and tablets.Gianna claimed her favorite corner table, ordered her usual double espresso, and spread her work across the polished wood surface.She was so focused on a complex financial report that she barely noticed the man who sat down at the table directly adjacent to hers.He was unremarkable in appearance—mid-thirties, wearing casual business attire, absorbed in his own laptop. Just another professional getting work done.What Gianna didn't notice was the small device positioned carefully on the edge of his table, angled directly toward her keyboard.Or the way his eyes occ