Isabella stared at her mother, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Negotiate? You make it sound so simple.”
Celia chuckled softly. “It’s not simple. Nothing in this world is. But it’s possible. You hold more cards than you realize, Bella. Enrico didn’t marry you just because your father offered you. I am sure He saw something in you, something valuable. And that means you have leverage.”
Isabella sat back, thinking about her mother’s words. Could it be true? Could she really negotiate her way out of this? She hadn’t considered leaving as anything but a form of escape, running away, hiding, severing ties. But what her mother was suggesting was different. It wasn’t about fleeing, it was about standing her ground, making an offer Enrico couldn’t refuse.
As if reading her thoughts, Celia cont
