Matteo stayed frozen, his pen hovering over a ledger, his brain refusing to process the words.
He had spent two days in a blur of adrenaline and obsession, reclaiming every inch of Anastasia's body as if he could brand his name into her skin.
Now, his lawyer was standing there telling him the brand didn't stick.
"Repeat that," Matteo said, his voice so quiet it was more dangerous than a scream. "And I suggest you choose your next words very carefully."
The lawyer cleared his throat, sweating under the collar of his suit. "Signore Ramirez, her previous marriage is active. It's legal. And under Italian law, your marriage to her is bigamous. It's... null and void."
Nico stepped forward, his hand fisting in his sides. "That's impossible. Was she even in the legal age to be wedded? Also, she's been under our watch for years."
"Apparently not every hour, and she was nineteen years old and very legal," the lawyer replied.
