Married at First Sight [On-Going]


    Donovan looked at River, clearly waiting for an answer.


    River took a sip of his coffee, set the cup down, met Donovan''s eyes, and said, "I


    didn''t realize I had feelings for Romina at first. But that night at the business g,


    when I saw her show up with Maddox, something just snapped. I felt really upset


    —jealous even. I wanted to punch Maddox and separate the two of them."


    "That''s when I knew things had changed. It wasn''t just rivalry anymore. After all


    the years of shing, something deeper had taken root. So yes, Brother, since


    you''re asking—I do like Romina. A lot."


    Donovan let out a long breath, as if finally relieved.


    So, River was serious. He wasn''t just ying games with his sister.


    Donovan had noticed that River was bing more gentle with Rominately.


    His tone, his looks—everything about him had softened.


    "Then if you like her so much," Donovan asked, "why are you still asking her to set


    you up on blind dates?"


    River smiled. "If I didn''t, would she even have dinner with me? It''s just a blind


    date. I show up, but there''s no realmitment. Not all blind dates end in


    marriage."


    "But aren''t you worried some of those women might cling to you?" Donovan


    asked. "It could mess things up between you and Romina."


    River didn''t answer right away. Instead, he asked, "Brother, you seem genuinely


    happy about the idea of Romina and me being together."


    Donovan nodded. "You''re a good man. After watching you all these years, I know


    you''re loyal. You''ve never had a scandal, and you''ve always politely rejected the


    women who pursued you. You''ve never misled anyone. That tells me you were


    raised right—and that you''re a real gentleman."


    He added, "Yeah, you and Romina sh. You''re blunt with each other, but that''s


    because you''re rivals. No one is nice to theirpetition—it''s understandable.


    Romina can be fiery too, and just as rude to you. So it bnces out."


    "In business, you''re opponents. But as a man, you''re someone I believe my sister


    can trust


    with her life."


    River smiled. "Thank you for your trust, Brother."


    He was truly grateful that Donovan saw him as a good match for Romina.


    Donovan shook his head. "Don''t thank me. I''m just her older brother. Romina


    makes her own decisions. Not even our grandfather can force her into a marriage.


    If she doesn''t like you, there''s nothing I can do."


    River answered with confidence. "I believe I can win her over."


    Donovan took a slow sip of his coffee and then said, "It won''t be easy. Unless


    you''re ready to make some serious sacrifices, your rtionship won''t move


    forward."


    "What kind of sacrifices?" River asked. "As long as Romina can ept me and


    stop fighting with me, I''ll love her like any devoted partner. I''ll do whatever it


    takes." "Really?" Donovan raised an eyebrow. "You''re the secondrgest


    shareholder of Yantail. You''ve helped build it into what it is today. But Yantail is in


    directpetition with Lafond Group. Have you considered that if you and


    Romina are together, you may not trust each other? Or she may not trust you?"


    "Think about it," he continued. "Will you both feel secure enough to fall asleep


    next to each other at night, or will you be scared the other might stealpany


    secrets in their sleep?" River fell silent.