The Temporary Wife: Luca and Valentina's Story (The Windsors)

Grandma hesitates, and then she grabs a photo from her purse. She hands it to me, and Valentina and I stare at it in surprise. “That’s the two of you, days after Valentina was born,” she explains as we take in the photo of me at age five with a
baby in my arms. I look terrified but enamored, and Valentina looks tiny. “Luca, your mom and dad had gone to visit Val’s parents, and they’d taken you with them. You were positively smitten with her, and they’d joked then that they should arrange a marriage between the two of you. After all, Val is technically a Garcia, and your fathers were friends

Mateo walks up to my desk, his gaze filled with the same remorse that’s in his uncle’s eyes. “I never knew about you,” he says, his voice soft. “If I’d known I had an older sister, I never would’ve stood by and let things be. You wouldn’t know this, but I’ve quietly admired you for years. You were an inspiration to me long before I found out that we’re related, and if you’d give me a chance, I’d really like to get to know you. I will respect whatever choice you make, but I want you to know that these aren’t just
empty words. Both my uncle and I would like to make up for what happened.”

He hands me a stack of documents, a shaky smile on his face. Luca’s hand wraps around my shoulder as I stare at the papers, my eyes widening. “You’re giving me shares to Garcia Ltd and ReInsure?”

stare at the documents and look up at him. “Clever,” I murmur. “The Garcia shares are a true gift, I’ll admit that much, but ReInsure? Giving me that means I’ll have to salvage and rebuild it, or it’ll be my loss.”

Hugo grins at me. “Truthfully, I’m not to blame for that. Your husband told me the only way I’m allowed to so much as speak to you is if I give you everything your father gained by walking away from you, right down to the land that ReInsure’s headquarters were built on. Of course I hope you’ll rebuild it, but it truly is up to you. The Garcia family isn’t so weak that we can’t sustain the loss of one single company amongst everything we own. If you want to blow the whole thing up, I’ll make that happen for you. Since you’re a Garcia, I have no doubt you’re every bit as temperamental as your little brother is. Perhaps that would appease you a little.”

I lean back in my seat and shake my head. “If I damage the company any further, it’ll affect the employees, and they’ve never wronged me.” I look up at my uncle and smile coldly. “I’ll turn it into Windsor Insurance.”

I expected him to be offended, but he merely smiles at me and nods. “Whatever you want, Valentina. It’s yours.”