Chapter 1 - I NEVER ASKED HER
Use the supplied opening as the official Chapter 1.
It ends when Hannah Mercer publicly tells Gabriel Vescari to stop calling her his girlfriend.
Instead of humiliating her, threatening her, or doubling down, Gabriel turns toward the hospital board member and admits:
“She isn’t my girlfriend.”
Then he looks directly at Hannah.
“I never asked her.”
He admits that he wanted the answer so badly that he began behaving as if he had already received it.
Then Gabriel walks away.
But before he reaches the ballroom doors, he stops.
Turns.
And does the one thing nobody in the room expects.
He looks toward the two security men who have quietly followed Hannah for weeks.
“Marco.”
His security chief straightens.
“Sir.”
Gabriel keeps his eyes on Hannah.
“Effective immediately, nobody follows Nurse Mercer unless she asks.”
The entire ballroom goes dead silent.
Marco hesitates.
“Mr. Vescari—”
“That includes you.”
Gabriel looks at Hannah one final time.
“No car.”
“No security.”
“No deliveries.”
“Nothing she didn’t request.”
Then he leaves.
For the first time in years, Gabriel Vescari publicly gives up control instead of taking more of it.
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And Hannah has absolutely no idea that within twenty-four hours, she is going to ask for his protection herself.
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