CHAPTER 2:FIRST ENCOUNTER

Kristin’s heart still pounded from Mrs. Moretti’s words. The weight of the contract she had signed earlier felt heavier than ever as she walked through the halls of the Moretti mansion. Everything around her screamed wealth, but it only made her feel smaller, out of place. She didn’t belong here. But there was no turning back now.

Mrs. Moretti led her down a long hallway and stopped in front of a large door. "This is where you’ll find Lucas," she said, her voice cold. "You’ll stay here with him. Your duty is clear now."

Kristin’s breath caught in her throat. She nodded silently and stepped into the room, her pulse quickening. The room was dimly lit, and the quiet beeping of medical machines filled the air. She blinked, taking in the scene before her.

There, in the center of the room, was Lucas Moretti—lying in a bed, still as death. The machines around him hummed softly, monitoring his every breath. He didn’t look like the powerful billionaire she had imagined. His face was pale, his body unmoving. It was hard to believe this was the same man who had made so many waves in the business world.

Mrs. Moretti walked to the side of the bed and adjusted one of the machines, her face unreadable. "As you can see, Lucas isn’t in a position to handle things at the moment. His family needs an heir, and that’s where you come in. You’ll provide him with what he cannot give himself."

Kristin’s stomach twisted as she looked at the man, the complete stranger who was meant to be her husband. The idea of marrying someone in a coma—someone she’d never met—seemed impossible. This wasn’t a marriage. It was a transaction, a cruel arrangement.

"You won’t need to interact with him now. Just stay with him. Let him know you’re here, that’s all," Mrs. Moretti added, her tone detached, like she was speaking about something mundane.

Kristin stood frozen, her eyes on Lucas. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something about this whole situation was wrong. She wasn’t supposed to be here, staring at a man she’d never met, expected to marry him and have his child. It wasn’t what she had planned for her life—not even close.

After a moment, Mrs. Moretti gave her one last glance before turning and leaving, the sound of her heels fading as the door clicked shut behind her.

Kristin remained standing by the bed, her mind racing. She reached out, her fingers grazing the cold, sterile sheets. There was no warmth here, no comfort. Just emptiness.

As she watched Lucas, something inside her shifted—a strange mix of pity, confusion, and something else she couldn’t quite name. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it made her feel more connected to him than she should. He was a stranger, yet somehow, in his state, she felt a strange bond forming.

But none of that changed anything. She was here now. Bound by a contract. She had no choice