CHAPTER 44

Hearing what Valentina just said,

Maximilian hesitated, his throat dry. Valentina's gaze was unwavering, pressing him for an answer.

He exhaled slowly, glancing away.

"She doesn't know," he realized. "She has no idea what she's wearing."

Again his mind flashed back to his grandfather's stern voice, the words etched deep into his memory:

"The moment you see a woman wearing that ring, no matter who she is, no matter where she comes from—you must do everything to stay in her good graces. If you fail... everything we have built for generations will crumble in less than an hour."

The weight of that warning settled heavily on his shoulders.

Even now, he didn't know why.

His grandfather never explained.

But one thing was certain—he wasn't willing to test the truth behind those words.

At that moment his jaw tightened.

Valentina tilted her head slightly, watching him.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"