Chapter 3

Enzo stared at the case without reaching for it.

I glanced at the bottle.

“My family works in pharmaceuticals. I can read an expiration date.

“This expired eight months ago, and the seal's broken. Give it to someone who's already ill, and you could send them straight to the ER.”

A few guests couldn't quite stifle their laughter.

“He brought that instead of lifesaving medicine. Unbelievable.”

“The Harts haven't even transferred the money yet, and this is how he treats them.”

Camilla's expression hardened.

“Who packed this?”

Viola stepped forward, tears instantly spilling down her cheeks.

“I did. I just wanted to make it up to Clara.

“I felt terrible after the medicine was traded for the diamonds. This morning, I found the supplements my mother left me. I thought they might help Mrs. Hart get her strength back.”

She pressed a hand to her chest and choked back a sob.

“They're one of the few things I have left from my mother. I could never bring myself to open the bottle. I didn't know it had gone bad.

“You can think it's worthless, but why humiliate me in front of everyone? It means more to me than anything.”

A few guests looked sympathetic.

“She meant well.”

“It belonged to her mother, after all. There's no need to be so harsh.”

I could almost have laughed.

It wasn't their mother lying in a hospital bed, waiting to die. Of course they could afford to be generous.

I picked up the bottle and turned to our company's head of quality control.

“Daniel, would you check when this was manufactured?”

He took it and examined the label.

“This company was founded three years ago. According to the lot number, this bottle was produced two years ago.”

I looked at Viola.

“Didn't your mother die ten years ago?

“How did she leave you something that wouldn't be made for another eight years?”

The people who had defended her fell silent.

Someone laughed.

“She even dragged her dead mother into the lie.”

“Did she think no one would read the label?”

Viola's face flushed. She jerked her head up.

“He's on your payroll. Of course he'll say whatever you want!

“I'm not lying. Having money doesn't give you the right to call me a liar just because I have no family to defend me!”

“Dr. Hall is here too.” I glanced across the room. “He came to verify the medicine and arrange my mother's treatment. Should we ask him to take a look?

“Or did I buy him off as well?”

Dr. Hall had barely taken a step when Viola snatched the bottle away.

“Enough!”

She rushed to Enzo, turning her tearstained face up to his.

“She just wants me gone. As long as I live at the estate, she'll never agree to marry you.

“I'll leave. I'll move out today. I won't cause you any more trouble.”

Enzo pulled her into his arms. His expression turned cold.

“The Harts are businesspeople. Since when do you get to speak to me like this?

“I'm offering to make you my wife. That alone should be an honor for your family. Don't push your luck, Clara.”

I looked at his hand resting on Viola's waist and gave a faint smile.

“You broke the agreement. Now you're trying to force me to sign it?

“Or does Don Ruscetti really think he can trade an expired bottle of supplements for twenty million dollars?”

A vein pulsed at his temple.

He stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“I already have a lead on another dose of R-9.

“Call off the marriage, and my men stop looking. When your mother's running out of time, we'll see if you can still talk to me like that.”

He thought he had me cornered.

In my last life, I had signed. We had paid. And what had it bought us?

My mother had died anyway.

The promised medicine had been an excuse to keep squeezing money out of my family. Nothing more.

I forced down the hatred rising in my chest and met his eyes.

“My mother is no longer your concern.

“And neither am I. This marriage is off.”