Page 245 of Merciless Daddy

His pride was louder.

Gianni stepped into frame.

The terminal marked a secondary face and began tracking it.

Donatella looked at him.

“Do you believe Yelena entered an engagement with you voluntarily?”

“It was her destiny.”

“That was not my question.”

“Our families arranged the match.”

“Did she agree?”

“She would have.”

“Would have?”

“If Salvatore had not interfered.”

My hands went cold.

Donatella tilted her head.

“And now?”

“Now she will honor the arrangement.”

“Voluntarily?”

Gianni looked at me.

I saw the moment he chose humiliation over caution.

“She had a chance at voluntary.”

Donatella waited.

He stepped closer.

“I would have given her a comfortable life,” he said. “Houses. Clothes. Staff. She could have played at authority for as long as she behaved.”

The red recording light remained steady.

“And because she did not behave?” Donatella asked.

Gianni’s eyes stayed on mine.

“Now she signs anyway. And afterward, she will be my property.”

The room went very still.

A soft electronic tone came from the equipment case.

Donatella looked down.