“A man is sometimes not satisfied with just one wife. They want more.”That was what Martin heard from outside the room as he stepped out of the bathroom, drying his wet hair with a towel. The bedroom door hadn’t been fully closed.Last night, he had intended to tell Quinn everything—about his trip to Norvane and about becoming Valentina’s “fake husband.” But Quinn had already fallen asleep, and he didn’t want to disturb her. So he waited until morning.Until he overheard that conversation.Leaning his head out of the bedroom, Martin said, “It’s just pretend.”The moment he said that, Quinn—who had looked enthusiastic just seconds ago—burst into laughter.“Hahahaha!”Meanwhile, Valentina’s eyes widened, her mouth slightly open in shock.“This is just a joke, okay?!” she shouted at Martin. “Don’t flatter yourself. Besides, who would even want to be your second wife?”A few minutes earlier, when she realized Martin apparently hadn’t told Quinn about the plan yet, Valentina had recounted

"You’re not just a manager, are you?”Turning her head slightly, Quinn looked at Valentina with a light yet inquisitive gaze that clearly demanded an answer.For the past three months, Valentina had only introduced herself as the manager of the Havenport branch of Gianni Varelli—the most respected fashion brand in the world.But how could a mere manager be picked up with security protocol this tight?“Are you Madame Varelli’s daughter?”She was referring to Silvana Varelli—the woman who built the ultra-luxury brand Gianni Varelli with her own name.Leading a company valued at over half a trillion, placing it among the ten highest-valued companies in the world, she was widely addressed as Madame Varelli.“Why didn’t you tell us before?”Though her tone wasn’t harsh, there was urgency in Quinn’s voice.Anyone in her position would have felt the same.Until now, Valentina had never mentioned anything about her background except that her family lived in the capital.That made Quinn feel t

Thirty minutes later, after passing through the crowded downtown district, they arrived at the edge of the city—an area covered in countless varieties and colors of Damascus roses.Spanning nearly a thousand hectares, the fields supplied the raw materials for Pharmakon, the phenomenal perfume crafted by the legendary Gianni Varelli, widely regarded as one of the most exquisite fragrances in Norvia’s history.A crossbreed of various rose species grown in different countries, the flowers were said to bloom at their finest only in the highlands now renamed Gianni Hills.As they drove past the vast sea of blossoms, the Rolls-Royce gradually slowed before coming to a stop at a gate guarded by four alert bodyguards.“Are you serious?” Valentina complained to the driver, who had stepped out and opened the rear door for her. “You still want me to be examined? Do you think I’m sick?”Since her husband had died three years ago from a mysterious illness, Madame Varelli had enforced strict proced

“Oh my God! You’re absolutely crazy.”Quinn couldn’t hide the amused laughter on her face when she saw what Valentina had just done.Taking a bodyguard’s clothes—such a thing had never even crossed her mind.“So? My idea isn’t bad, right?” Valentina said, handing the leather shoes to Martin.The man simply smiled without saying anything.Earlier, he had refused to take the driver’s clothes because the difference in their body builds was far too great.Now, since the bodyguard’s build wasn’t that different from his own, there was no reason for him to refuse.Poor bodyguard, Martin thought.He had never agreed to do something like that to someone without a reason.But for now, with time being so tight, he had no choice. I’ll replace it with something better later.The black Phantom began moving again. Not far ahead, it finally stopped in front of a three-story mansion that looked incredibly luxurious.So luxurious that, if the naming of “palace” weren’t legally exclusive to buildings ow

“What are you saying?”Without even lifting her face—her hands moving as if she were sinking deeper into her stitching—Silvana spoke casually.Yet her tone still sounded intimidating in Valentina’s ears.“What do you mean?”“Mother, I’ve said it clearly. I do not want this arranged marriage.”Though not as soft as before, Valentina’s tone remained controlled.“And I’m also speaking on Valentina’s behalf. She would refuse it too.”“Oh, is that so?” Silvana replied lightly. “How can you be so certain of what your sister is thinking?”“Mother, it’s obvious. How am I supposed to explain that to you?”Valentina had lost her patience.At this point, she finally understood why—unlike Gianna—she had always felt uncomfortable speaking with her mother.It was because she could never say what she truly wanted to say.Just as she hated living in this house because she could never be herself.But today, she would not hold back anymore.“Neither Valentina nor I want this. I don’t want to keep prete