The Temporary Wife: Luca and Valentina's Story(33)

I walk up to her and kneel in front of her, my hands wrapping over hers. “Where did you go?” I ask, my voice breaking. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“Rosa,” she reprimands me. “I’ve told you so many times I went for a walk. Stop asking me,” she snaps.

My heart drops as she yanks her hands out of mine. She doesn’t recognize me. Tears start to gather in my eyes, and I inhale sharply.

“Valentina.” I look up to find Luca standing by my side, his hand outstretched. I thought he’d left, yet here he is. There’s no anger in his eyes. There’s only compassion and unwavering support that I’d never expect from him. I place my hand in his, and he helps me up.

“Didn’t I tell you not to follow me?” I ask him, my voice weak.

He smiles at me and gently brushes my hair out of my face. “I thought I told you I’d never let you go?” he replies. “How could I walk away when you need me the most?”

I sniff as a tear runs down my face, and he catches it with his thumb, his expression so tender that it takes all of me not to burst out crying.

Luca places a hand on my shoulder and gently guides me toward the medical team, a serene expression on his face. I look up at him, and he smiles encouragingly. “It’s okay,” he murmurs. “She’s fine, Valentina. That’s all that matters for now, okay?”

I nod, and he places his hand on my lower back as his doctor gives me an overview of my grandmother’s condition. “I would recommend a caretaker,” he says, his voice soft, almost as though he’s reluctant to say anything at all. No doubt he’s seen the state of our house. It’s small, and all of our possessions are old. It’s obvious we can’t afford round-the-clock care. “Her condition will continue to worsen, and at times, she might become violent. It’ll frustrate her to forget things, and soon, she’ll start to struggle with simple tasks. She needs assistance.”

I bite down on my lip, my heart heavy. I can’t afford that, and even the best insurance wouldn’t cover all of it. I want to get her the best care possible, but how am I supposed to do that? Considering my funds, there’ll be no way for me to monitor if the staff I hire are treating her with kindness. With my budget, they’ll likely just do the bare minimum. In six months, I’m about to be without a job too.

I glance up at Luca, regret weighing heavy on me. I’ll have to stay in my job, but if I do that… can I bear to watch him get married? His earlier words resound through my mind, and I look into his eyes, my lips moving before I even realize what I’m doing.

“There is something I want, Luca,” I tell him, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiles, a victorious glint in his eyes.





Chapter Twenty-Three





Luca

The atmosphere is tense between us as I lead Valentina into my home office. We’ve been here together uncountable times, but never regarding a deal quite as important as this one.

I didn’t realize it until the words left my lips, but this is what I want above all else. I want Valentina as my wife. Strategically, it’s the right decision.

Making her my wife will prevent her from leaving, and it rids me of Natalia. Having her in my bed will be a nice added bonus.

I grab a blank sheet of paper and hold it up. “I won’t be making the same mistake twice,” I tell her, my tone disgruntled. “I finally understand how all the men you’ve dealt with throughout the years felt. You’re a vicious fucking shark, Valentina Diaz.”

Valentina smiles and crosses her arms. “What can I say? I learned from the best.”

I smile back at her and shake my head ruefully. Yeah, Valentina is a weapon that can’t fall into enemy hands. She’s fully capable of crushing me if she so pleases, I have no doubt.

“Tell me what you want in return for marrying me, Valentina.”

Her eyes roam over my face, her expression carefully guarded. I wonder what it is she sees, what it is she wants from me. Everyone has a price, and ultimately, Valentina is no different. No woman I’ve ever met has looked at me and wanted me for who I truly am.

Without my wealth and the prestige of the Windsor name, I’d be nothing. In the end, a transactional marriage suits me best. When there are clear boundaries and expectations, there’s no room for disappointment or hurt.

Valentina hesitates, and I involuntarily tense. “Are you sure you want to do this, Luca? There’s a chance your grandmother won’t let it slide, and she’ll take away your inheritance. Is that a risk you’re knowingly willing to take?”

I smile at her and pick up my pen, ready to draft our contract. “It’s a far smaller risk than you might think. You know how much my grandmother likes you. Do you truly believe she’ll punish me for supposedly following my heart? I’ll tell her I’m in love with you, and I couldn’t see a future without you. Tell me, Valentina. What do you think she’ll do, knowing that she was the one who pushed you onto my path in the first place?”

She looks away, knowing I’m right. I wouldn’t get away with this ploy if it had been anyone but her.

“Luca, she might like me, and she might think I’m a good asset to the company, but that doesn’t mean she’d want me to join her family.”

“If that was true, she wouldn’t insist that you join for family dinner so often.”