After one reckless night with his boss, longtime aide Luca Bellini learns that an advanced bone-marrow disorder may leave him only months to live. He stops hiding behind an intentionally forgettable appearance, quits shrinking himself for coworkers and family, and tries to leave the Moretti organization quietly. Don Dante Moretti refuses to let him disappear. Their volatile attraction deepens while Dante rejects an arranged alliance, protects Luca from Sebastian's attacks, and supports him after a predatory stepfather forces Luca to defend himself. A lucrative three-month marriage contract gives Luca the money and time he thinks he needs to vanish, but the season ends as Dr. Rossi recognizes signs of a serious bone-marrow crisis and Dante realizes Luca may be dying.
