The registry office was smaller than Veronica had imagined.
No elegant hall.
No flowers.
No smiling guests.
Just a simple room, a few chairs, and a wooden desk where the documents were neatly arranged.
It was strange to think that a moment that was supposed to be so important was happening in such a… quiet way.
She looked around.
Outside the window, people walked down the street like any other day. Some were chatting, others hurried past while staring at their phones.
No one had any idea that inside that room, she was about to marry a man she had known for less than twenty-four hours.
"Thinking about backing out?"
Leon's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Veronica looked at him.
He sat across from her, far too calm for someone about to enter a completely unconventional marriage.
"Do I still have time?" she asked.
Leon gave a slight shrug.
"There's always time."
"Funny… yesterday it felt like I had no choice."
"Yesterday your company was about to collapse."
"And today?"
"It still is."
She let out a small breath.
"At least you're honest."
The clerk entered the room carrying a few documents.
"We can begin."
Veronica felt her stomach tighten.
This was it.
No ceremony.
No romance.
Just an agreement.
The man began reading the document in a neutral tone—the kind of voice of someone who had repeated those same words hundreds of times.
"Mr. Leon Alighieri, do you accept to take Miss Veronica Verdan as your lawful wife…"
The words passed, but Veronica barely listened.
Her mind was elsewhere.
At the hospital.
On her mother's exhausted face.
On the company falling apart.
Maybe that was what this really was.
Not a marriage.
A rescue.
"Miss Verdan?"
She blinked.
"I'm sorry… what?"
The clerk repeated:
"Do you accept to marry Mr. Leon Alighieri?"
Silence filled the room for a few seconds.
She looked at Leon.
He was already looking at her.
There was no pressure in his eyes.
No urgency.
Just… waiting.
Veronica took a deep breath.
"I do."
The words came out softer than she expected.
The clerk turned to Leon.
"Mr. Alighieri?"
"I do."
Just like that.
The man gave a small smile.
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife."
No applause.
No music.
Just the sound of a pen gliding across paper as they signed the documents.
Veronica looked at the simple ring the clerk placed on the table.
Leon picked it up first.
He took her hand gently.
His fingers were warm.
Steady.
He slid the ring onto her finger slowly.
For a strange second…
It felt too real.
Then it was her turn.
She picked up the other ring.
Paused for a moment, looking at his hand…
Before placing it on his finger.
"That's it," the clerk said.
And just like that…
It was over.
They were married.
When they stepped outside, the cold air felt different.
Heavier.
Veronica stopped on the sidewalk and looked at the ring on her finger.
It still felt unreal.
"So… that's it," she said.
Leon slipped his hands into his coat pockets.
"That's it."
"Now you save my company."
"It's already being handled."
She turned to him.
"Are you always this direct?"
"It helps avoid problems."
"I think we're going to have a lot of those."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
But before they could continue, her phone started ringing.
She glanced at the screen.
Daniel.
Her heart skipped.
Leon noticed the shift in her expression.
"Something wrong?"
She hesitated.
"No… just a friend."
But the phone kept ringing.
She stepped aside to answer.
"Daniel?"
His voice came through tense.
"Veronica… tell me this isn't true."
She already knew what he meant.
"Daniel—"
"I just saw the news."
His tone was sharp.
Angry.
Confused.
Maybe both.
"You married Leon Alighieri?"
She stayed silent.
That was answer enough.
"My God…" he muttered.
"Daniel, I can explain—"
"Explain what?"
His voice rose.
"That you decided to marry the man who might be behind your family's downfall?"
"We don't know that."
"I do."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"Daniel…"
"You made a mistake."
"It wasn't an easy choice."
"Then undo it."
She opened her eyes again.
"I can't."
Silence.
Heavy.
When he spoke again, his voice was lower.
Colder.
"That man is not who you think he is."
"You don't even know him."
"I know his type."
Veronica glanced back at Leon, who was waiting near the car.
"Daniel, this isn't your concern."
The words came out harsher than she intended.
Another silence.
"I'm trying to protect you."
"I don't need protection."
He exhaled slowly.
"Fine."
But he didn't sound fine.
"Do whatever you want."
"Daniel—"
"Just don't say I didn't warn you."
The call ended.
Veronica stared at her phone for a moment.
When she walked back, Leon looked at her with quiet curiosity.
"Problems?"
She sighed.
"Maybe."
"Want to talk about it?"
"No."
He nodded.
"Fair enough."
He opened the car door for her.
"Shall we?"
She got in.
As the car pulled away, Veronica looked once more at the ring on her finger.
Still unreal.
Somewhere else in the city…
Daniel Armand stood in front of his office window.
News of the marriage was everywhere.
He clenched his fists.
"Leon Alighieri…"
The anger inside him grew with every passing second.
On his desk lay an old photograph.
Him and Veronica.
From years ago.
When things were simpler.
He picked it up.
Stared at it for a moment.
"I promised no one would ever hurt you."
He placed it back down.
His eyes now cold.
Determined.
"If that man thinks he can just walk into your life and take you away from me…"
A faint smile appeared.
But there was no warmth in it.
"Then he clearly doesn't know me."
Because Daniel had no intention of giving up.
And if destroying Leon Alighieri was what it took to get Veronica back…
Then that's exactly what he would do.