The sunlight hitting the mountain peaks was too bright. Seraphina woke up in the oversized silk bed, the weight of the diamond ring on her finger feeling heavier than a shackle. She hadn't slept; she had spent the night watching the glass wall, waiting for a shadow that never moved.
A sharp knock at the door signaled the end of her peace.
"Miss Rossi, the medical team is ready for you," Rocco’s voice came through the door. "Please dress in the attire provided in the white box on your vanity."
Seraphina opened the box to find a stark white clinical robe. It was a cold reminder: in this house, she wasn't a guest or even really a wife. She was a specimen.
Rocco led her down to the medical wing. Unlike the rest of the villa, this area had no famous paintings or plush carpets. It was a worl
