CHAPTER 4:THE ACCUSATIONS

Lucas’s condition had improved, but once the machines stopped their constant beeping, his confusion quickly turned into anger. His eyes, still blurry from the coma, locked onto his mother with a fiery intensity.

"Why?" Lucas demanded, his voice shaking with frustration. "Why did you pick a wife for me, Mother? You care more about the Moretti name than you do about me!" His words were raw with pain.

Mrs. Moretti, usually calm and composed, appeared momentarily stunned by his outburst. She stepped closer to his bed, but her usually steady hands wavered as she seemed uncertain whether to comfort or scold him.

"Lucas, please, calm down," she said, trying to soothe him. "This is for the good of the family, you know that."

But Lucas wasn’t listening. His fists clenched as he looked at Kristin, standing at the foot of his bed, frozen. He seethed with frustration.

"Gold digger," he muttered bitterly, glaring at Kristin. "That’s what you are, isn’t it? You’re just here for the money, the Moretti fortune."

Kristin’s chest tightened at his words. She had heard worse insults before, but something about hearing it from him—the man she was supposed to marry, the man whose life she was supposed to help save—hurt more than she expected.

Without a word, she turned and fled from the room, her heart racing. She needed to get away, away from his anger, away from the suffocating accusations.

She slammed the door behind her as she rushed to her room, locking herself inside. She collapsed onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. Her chest ached, her emotions running wild. How had things gotten so out of hand? She never asked for this life—never wanted any of it. She didn’t want to be forced into a marriage with a stranger. She didn’t want to be called a gold digger. All she wanted was to save her father.

Tears soaked her pillow as she cried. She hadn’t signed the contract for money, for power, or for anything other than the hope of saving the person she loved most. But none of that mattered to Lucas. To him, she was just another woman looking for a way into the Moretti fortune.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Mrs. Moretti was trying to calm Lucas down. She could hear his heavy breathing as he struggled to control his emotions.

"Lucas, you have to understand," she said, her voice soft but firm. "This marriage was never about you. It was a business arrangement. The Moretti family needed an heir, and this is the only way to ensure our future."

Lucas shook his head, his voice hoarse from emotion. "So, this is what I am to you? Just a pawn in your game? You’ve ruined my life."

Mrs. Moretti’s face softened, but she held her ground. "No, Lucas. You’re not a pawn. You’re the heir to everything we’ve built. This marriage is about securing the family’s future, but it’s not about you being a pawn. It’s about survival."

"Survival?" Lucas scoffed. "You think I’ll just accept this? Accept her? I don’t even know her!"

Mrs. Moretti sighed, walking closer to him. "I know this isn’t easy. But sometimes, sacrifices have to be made for the good of the family. Kristin isn’t here for love, she’s here to help secure the family’s future. Just like you are."

Lucas closed his eyes, letting his head fall back on the pillow, exhausted. "And what about me, Mom? What about what I want? I didn’t choose this."

For a long moment, Mrs. Moretti said nothing, watching her son struggle. Finally, she spoke, her voice gentle but resolute. "I did this to protect you, Lucas. To protect everything the Moretti family has worked for. You’ll understand one day. Sometimes, we have to make hard choices for the greater good."

Down the hall, Kristin’s tears had slowed, but the emptiness inside her remained. She had no idea how to fix this. She was trapped in a marriage that had never been her choice, and now the man she was supposed to marry hated her. And with every passing moment, it felt like there was no way out.