Chapter Eight

Scott stood by the large window of his bedroom, the faint glow of the city lights casting shadows across the walls. His voice was calm yet firm as he spoke in fluent Italian, gesturing slightly as if the person on the other end could see his points emphasized by the movement.

“Se investo nella tua azienda vinicola, devo essere sicuro che porterà benefici tanto a me quanto a te,” he said, his tone laced with authority. (If I invest in your vineyard, I need to be certain it will benefit me as much as it benefits you.)

The person on the other line responded, their tone respectful but eager, clearly trying to assure him of the vineyard’s potential. Scott listened carefully, pacing the room.

“Capisco, ma voglio una garanzia,” he continued, his voice taking on a slightly harder edge. (I understand, but I want a guarantee.) “Se metto i miei soldi qui, mi devi promettere che l’investimento non porterà perdite, ma solo guadagni. Altrimenti, non ha senso.” (If I put my money here, you must promise me that this investment won’t bring losses, only gains. Otherwise, it’s not worth it.)

The other person hurriedly agreed, their voice quickening as they tried to reassure him. Scott nodded to himself, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. Just as he was about to elaborate further, his phone buzzed with an incoming call.

He pulled it away from his ear and glanced at the screen. Lydia.

For a moment, his brow furrowed, but then he smiled softly, a wave of anticipation washing over him. He brought the phone back to his ear, speaking in Italian once more. “Mi scusi, devo rispondere a questa chiamata. Ne parleremo più tardi.” (Excuse me, I have to take this call. We’ll talk later.)

Without waiting for much of a reply, he ended the call and switched lines.

“Lydia,” he said, his voice warm but curious. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you this soon.”

There was a pause on the other end before Lydia’s voice came through, tentative but steady. “Hi, Scott. I’ve been thinking a lot about… everything. About your proposal.”

Scott felt his chest tighten slightly, his anticipation building. “And?”

She hesitated, and he could almost picture her chewing on her lip, trying to find the right words. “I’ve decided… I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”

For a moment, Scott was silent, letting the weight of her words sink in. Relief, gratitude, and something he couldn’t quite place coursed through him. “Lydia,” he finally said, his voice softer now, “thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

She let out a nervous laugh. “I hope I’m making the right choice. This is all so… surreal.”

“I understand,” Scott said, his tone reassuring. “And I promise you, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure this arrangement works smoothly for both of us. You have my word.”

Lydia sighed, the sound of her resolve mixing with apprehension. “Okay. When do we start?”

Scott smiled, his confidence returning. “Leave that to me. I’ll handle everything. Let’s meet tomorrow to go over the next steps.”

“Alright,” Lydia said, her voice quieter now. “Goodnight, Scott.”

“Goodnight, Lydia,” he replied, lingering on the call for a second before hanging up.

As he placed his phone on the nightstand, Scott exhaled deeply, his mind already racing with plans. This was just the beginning, but he knew one thing for certain: Lydia had just become a crucial part of his life, and he intended to ensure that this decision would be as beneficial to her as it was to him.

~

Lydia lay back on her bed after the phone call with Scott, staring up at the ceiling with her phone still clutched in her hands. Her mind raced, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling inside her. She had agreed to Scott’s proposal—to a marriage, a contract, a completely new life for the next year. There was no undoing it now. She’d stepped into his world, and whatever came her way, she would have to accept.

She sighed, sinking deeper into the soft mattress, as her thoughts wandered. She tried to picture what life would look like from now on. Living with Scott, attending his family events, and pretending to be his wife. It felt unreal, like she was stepping into a role in someone else’s life.

But there was more to it. Beneath her practical reasoning, a hint of excitement stirred. Scott had been honest, respectful, and clear about the terms of this arrangement. She sensed that he, too, was putting his trust in her—and that, somehow, made the daunting decision feel a little less intimidating.

A dozen questions darted through her mind: What would their first day as a married couple be like? Would his family accept her? And, most importantly, how would she maintain her own sense of self in the midst of it all?

“One year,” she whispered to herself, as if to make it feel more concrete. She had agreed to this for one year. She had to remind herself that this wasn’t a fairy tale, and it wasn’t about falling in love. It was about mutual benefits, helping Scott meet his family’s demands, and securing her own future in the process.

But even as she repeated the logic of it in her mind, she couldn’t shake a strange feeling—a faint curiosity about Scott that seemed to creep in every time she thought about him. The way he had looked at her, a mix of sincerity and vulnerability, and the gentle reassurance in his voice… these things lingered in her thoughts.

She shook her head, exhaling a long breath. Focus, Lydia. There was no room for confusion. She had made her choice, and she would see it through with dignity and strength. She would hold onto herself, keep her boundaries, and fulfill her end of the deal.

As her eyelids grew heavier, Lydia felt the tension in her body slowly unwind. Whatever the future held, she would face it one day at a time. And with that thought, she finally closed her eyes, letting the night envelop her in a sense of resolve and the faintest hint of hope.