**Chapter 1: Wedding Without a Groom?**Hanna stood on the brink of a significant milestone in her life, although it wasn't exactly by her own choice. An arranged and hurried marriage was far from the romantic scenario she had always dreamed of. Yet, given the circumstances, it was the only option she had to get what she needed at that moment.That morning, Hanna had already received everything she needed to prepare for the wedding. A legion of servants was at her disposal, ready to attend to her. She wondered why all this apparatus was necessary for a marriage that, in the end, was only to fulfill a contract."All this expensive clothing and dedication to make me presentable makes me wish my marriage was with someone I love. After all... why put in so much effort and care into planning something that's false?""One day when this agreement ends... if I think of getting married, I'll never be able to overcome the impeccable organization of the Farrugias. I didn't even have to move for
**Chapter 2: Agreement with the Groom's Father**Morgan walked to the balcony of his second-floor room, staring disdainfully at the number on his cell phone screen. He hesitated several times before making the call. He could barely stand to hear Hanna's voice, especially since he had witnessed firsthand what that family's illness could do to a person. Even though it wasn't contagious, it was unsettling to observe and deeply regrettable.Hanna answered the phone immediately."Hello, Mr. Farrugia?" she asked anxiously. "I thought you were sending a car to pick me up. There's less than half an hour until the wedding! Why are you taking so long?"Morgan swallowed hard, his gaze lost."Miss... Ortiz," he cleared his throat lightly before continuing. "Unfortunately, we'll have to postpone the wedding."Hanna furrowed her brow, confused, as she stared at herself in the mirror, all dressed up. She could hardly believe it."I disagree! This wedding cannot be postponed! If so, then... how will
**Chapter 3: My Disfigured Bride**Morgan stepped out of his room to find the entire family gathered, anxiously awaiting news. As soon as he mentioned the agreement with Hanna, that he would be the temporary groom until his son returned, a deathly silence fell over the room. His ex-mother-in-law, her face twisted in disapproval, was the first to speak out."You made me a promise, Morgan! You can't just break it now. Don't you dare get involved in a new relationship, especially of this magnitude, after everything you've done in the past!" she grumbled, vehemently reprimanding him. "William Morgan!" she suddenly asserted, gripping his suit collar. "Don't you dare renounce your promise! You deserve nothing but the life you have!" she growled, releasing him forcefully.Morgan stepped back, rubbing his throat."I'm not doing this willingly. Ever since my grandmother made this damned marriage agreement, we've all been trapped in this hell, eagerly waiting for this day. Do you think I'm happ
4: Finally MarriedHanna positioned herself beside Morgan, keeping a distance so that neither of them would touch. The atmosphere was tense and silent among the people; it felt more like a funeral than a wedding. The only thing breaking the silence was the sound of camera flashes taking photos as evidence to fulfill the requirements of the will.As soon as the justice of the peace's standard speech ended, both confirmed their desire to marry and signed the papers, joining them in matrimony."Are you satisfied, Mr. Grumpy?" Hanna asked without looking at him."For now, Mrs. Ortiz. Enjoy the buffet. No one will bother you until it's time to leave.""Sure!" she muttered sharply, turning her back on him and heading to a distant table in the banquet hall.As soon as Morgan moved away from Hanna and towards the other guests, his ex-mother-in-law interrupted his steps."Is she really that ugly?" she asked, now mockingly glancing at Hanna."You're enjoying seeing my life turn into hell, aren'
**Chapter 5: Life is Unfair to Hanna**"If that woman comes to this place, she must stay in the annex and not frequent the mansion!" she asserted. Morgan sighed impatiently."Are you afraid that I might give her a chance?" Morgan smiled skeptically."That's not it. After all, it would be hard for you to stay in a woman's life after what you did to my daughter's and grandson's lives. That's why I know if you take the risk, you'll just ruin more lives."Morgan sighed heavily, swallowing his words without arguing with her."Think what you want; if that's the case... you're right then.""Of course I am.""When will you be able to forgive me for that? Are you going to torment me for my entire life? Will you never let this heal?" he asked, distressed."Never! Morgan... neither you nor I will have peace with this!" she confessed, pressing her lips together with bitterness.He stared at her without reaction, adjusting his tie at the same time. Despite being a much larger man than Liara, who w
Ch.6: Morgan's DecisionMorgan ordered some security guards to gather information in Hanna's neighborhood. The search was futile until they interrogated the last person who had seen Hanna; they learned that she had gone somewhere else and that she was okay.Morgan visited Hanna's house accompanied by his mother. Both stood in front of the ruin, walking among what was left, finding even traces of the wedding dress, documents, and Hanna's belongings."It looks like someone was trying to kill her, don't you think?" Abigail asked."Definitely," he confirmed, apprehensive. "But this is really bad. I have to keep this marriage for at least three years, and we barely managed twenty-four hours.""True, like it or not, it will be better to keep her under our nose; otherwise, our family will sink with her.""But we still have to find out where she is.""Couldn't you call her?""I did, the lawyer did too, but she doesn't answer," he commented, restless. "There's nothing here, let's go home now."
**Ch.7: The Security Guards Fetch Hanna**At noon, after her shift, Hanna sat in the cafeteria, opening the email Morgan had sent her. A skeptical laugh accompanied each line her eyes scanned. The supposed assassination attempt he referred to served merely as a pretext for a list of impositions that ultimately catered to his own interests.Hanna would live in the Farrugia mansion, but not exactly in the same house as the Farrugias. An annex, like a second separate house, was her designated place. Access to this part of the property was through another door, completely independent of the main entrance. To see any family member, Hanna would need to leave the annex, cross the garden to the main entrance, and request permission."What does he want? To keep me a prisoner?" she questioned herself skeptically with every line she read. "Having to keep hiding my face... Well, that won't be bad. This way, I'll avoid him developing any interest in me." She sighed thoughtfully, briefly recalling M
**Ch.8: Cunning Is My Middle Name**As soon as the car stopped, she hopped out, heading towards the pharmacy. No one knew what the uniformed girl with a cap covering her face was planning, but her mischievous smile was evident."Bandages, ointments, protectors... Gentian violet and..." She hesitated for a moment before asking for the harmful pink substance.With a grin from ear to ear, the bouncing girl returned to the car. The security guards informed Morgan about the stop at the pharmacy and the route taken, while Hanna discreetly applied a white ointment to her face, creating white spots that covered something.Excited, she sighed upon arriving at the place that reminded her of her unhappy marriage. Suddenly, Murilo came to mind. Deep down, she felt guilty for rejecting him, but she was already married, with no options. Although she considered him a good prospect for the future, it would be unfair to leave him waiting while she fulfilled the agreement.After passing through the larg
Chapter 186: The Dream of the BeginningThe day of the trip had finally arrived. Hanna would return with her entire family, along with Morgan's family, and, most importantly, Lory, who absolutely did not want to miss this moment.It was still morning when the suitcases were being brought and placed in two cars, but there was still someone who would be traveling with them. Even after all the intrigue, Davis was there. He couldn’t even look Hanna in the eye—not out of disrespect, but after the numerous times he had been to prison and appeared in the newspapers, his dignity was completely shattered; he only had respect left.Rudan, on the other hand, had distanced himself from Davis, maintaining only a friendly relationship, but he still showed up. He parked in front of the Farrugia mansion, but before entering, something caught his attention.He got out of the car and walked toward the woman sitting on a step across the way, in front of the Farrugia mansion."Don't you ever get tired of
Chapter 185: Back to Me"Are you drunk? You already know that I don’t love you anymore, not after you let me be taken by that bastard.""I didn’t think it would get worse. I gave you to him to save you from something worse, but Davis was an idiot...""So letting me go was the only way you found to protect me? Seriously?" she asked skeptically, with teary eyes."At that moment?" He sighed heavily, staring at the ceiling while she rested against his chest. "I was stuck in a wheelchair, couldn’t do anything for you, I didn’t even know if I’d be able to walk again..." he confessed. "Back then, you couldn’t even fight for yourself, not without resources. But money isn’t everything, Hanna. What do you plan to do? Live your whole life alone while our son needs a father figure? When he grows up, he’ll miss me and wish I was around, and I want to be a present father and husband. Just let me do that.""Why?" Hanna muttered indignantly, hitting his chest. He just held her in his arms."Like it o
Cap. 184: A Real Dream"What’s going on?" Gabriel asked as Hanna ran back."Where is he? How could they have disappeared?" she asked desperately, looking to her grandmothers, who were clearing their throats. "You!" she pointed accusingly at the two ladies."But... what do they have to do with it?" Gabriel asked, concerned, heading toward the bedroom."They were acting strange, they were the last ones to enter the room. I left both of them sleeping, and now I’ve lost them..." Hanna muttered, lamenting."No..." Gabriel sighed thoughtfully as he heard the lullaby. "They’re still here, I can hear the crib’s music. They must have moved them somewhere else." Gabriel figured it out as he analyzed where the sound was coming from, then opened the bedroom door, freezing before entering.When Hanna got closer, she almost stumbled backward in shock."How? Is this a dream?" she asked confused as she saw Morgan lying on the bed, sleeping with the newborn baby resting on his chest and his son beside
Chapter 183: Kidnapping Morgan?The two elderly women watched the man with curiosity."What are we going to do? I'm sure it's him, right?" Heydi asked, while Ruby looked around as if she was about to do something suspicious."It's definitely him, and it's clear he's suffering because of that stubborn girl," Ruby said."I've got an idea!" Heydi exclaimed, smiling slyly at Ruby."What crazy scheme is your mind coming up with now? It's already bad enough that we're in a bar," Ruby said, and then she pointed at Morgan, who was unconscious at the bar. He was still mumbling something.They listened carefully and realized he was lamenting something, the death of someone. They kept listening and discovered it was because of his son's death, which made Heydi even more determined to carry out her plan.The two women helped Morgan to his feet, though they nearly collapsed under his weight. They didn’t have the strength to lift such a large man, but they managed to drag him out of the bar, despit
Chapter 182: The Pressure of Not KnowingHanna’s grandmothers watched her closely over the days. Gabriel told them everything that had happened in Hanna’s life while she was married to Morgan. Who was Morgan? They wanted to know every detail of it all.Days went by as they saw Hanna struggling, wearing herself out, and each day the baby was getting closer to being born. Morgan had no clue where she was, and he couldn’t even figure out where Gabriel was. All he knew was that Gabriel had become a prosecutor. Although growing anxious, Haniel was the only bridge still keeping him grounded. He had returned to the mansion, and now there was a new bed in the room where Haniel slept. Both he and the boy were arranging toys on a new shelf."When is Willy coming home?" Haniel asked excitedly."Oh... he’ll be back. You’re going to be his big brother," Morgan replied as the boy smiled brightly."It’s going to be so good to have a little brother, I’m excited..." he sighed, thrilled."Yes... it’s g
Chapter 181: Consequences of Every ActionAfter the assassination attempt, Liara woke up three days later in a hospital bed, her life precariously hanging by threads. Morgan, consumed by rage and the need for justice, wished with all his might that she survive just so she could pay for everything. Her admission to a maximum-security psychiatric hospital was a one-way road.Frustration took hold of Morgan as he faced Gabriel's office, now sealed. The "Sold" sign felt like a taunt, a reminder that his target had slipped through his fingers. Anger bubbled inside him. Gabriel had planned everything carefully, disappearing without a trace. Where would he go? What would be his next move? With each question, Morgan's obsession intensified.While Morgan pored over the clues, trying to figure out where Gabriel could be hiding, Gabriel adjusted his tie in front of a mirror in an airport bathroom. The anticipation was palpable as he waited for the two ladies.Soon, he would be reunited with his
Chapter 180: Hanna's CounterattackHanna asked Mr. Ford for help to leave the mansion without being followed. He then showed her another exit from the vast estate at the boundaries of his property, leaving Hanna breathless at the sheer scale of it all."You must be wondering how I have all this, considering I stopped being a Farrugia, right?" Mr. Ford asked, his eyes shining with pride. It was as if he had read her mind. "As Luna's friend and savior, it's obvious my daughter tells you everything... I got all this through the divorce, in the division of assets. Morgan took over everything after I left and managed to multiply what he had by over twenty times what I currently have—and it’s still growing," he commented, a faint smile on his lips.Hanna grew thoughtful. This man, who initially seemed so distant and cold, now revealed a complexity that surprised her."You really seem happy for him," she remarked, breaking the silence."Ah... he’s my son. I've always been very proud of and l
Chapter 179: Morgan's AttackGabriel arrived at the Ford mansion unannounced. Hanna was worried about the urgency with which her uncle had contacted her; she even thought something might have happened to his patients."Gabriel..." Hanna sighed, full of guilt."No suspense, what's going on?" Her voice was firm, demanding an immediate response."First of all, I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do, and Haniel needed a guardian present..." His eyes avoided hers, evading her accusing gaze."What did you do?" Her voice was a whisper, laced with anger."I gave Morgan rights as Haniel's guardian, and now he's taken him to the mansion," he explained, and Hanna paled. Her lips pressed into a thin line."What do you mean?" Her voice was a low growl."What you heard—Morgan took Haniel to his house earlier today," Gabriel seemed to shrink under her fury."Why this sudden decision?" Her voice was cold and calculating."He wants to see you. That’s why. He said you can fight for custody in court, but y
Cap.178: My Way of Bringing You"It's not like I never wanted to, but when you have a child with such a severe illness, you're afraid the next one will suffer the consequences. But I don't have that fear anymore, not in the situation I'm in. That's why I'm going to have a child and do my best to ensure they have a happy life by my side and with the woman I love," he said with conviction, trying to maintain a serious posture, but his eyes betrayed the intensity of his emotions. He knew she was listening and misunderstanding everything."My God... how you've changed and... why are you opening up like this?" Luna asked, startled by the intensity in Morgan's voice. "Besides, I thought you loved Hanna," she said indignantly."I spent so much time looking for her, and now I know she's fine and doesn't want anything to do with me. Am I so insignificant that I should humiliate myself chasing someone who runs and hides?" he said indifferently, but his voice carried a tone of resentment. Then h