Chapter 19 - THE NEW REALITY
Two weeks later.
The fallout from the arrest swept through Chicago’s elite like a tidal wave. Vance Capital filed for total bankruptcy, its assets liquidated to pay off federal fines. Tyler Vance was sentenced to twenty-five years without parole, while Vanessa—stripped of her luxury estate—moved back to her parents' house in disgrace, ignored by the very high-society circles she had sacrificed everything to join.
At the Fierro estate, the sun shone brightly across Lake Michigan, illuminating the lush green lawns where Lily was running with a golden retriever puppy Giovanni had gifted her for her birthday.
Jessica stood on the terrace, holding a cup of steaming tea, watching her daughter laugh freely.
A pair of strong arms wrapped gently around her waist from behind. Giovanni pulled her close against his broad chest, resting his chin softly against her shoulder.
"The board finalized the full transfer this morning," Giovanni murmured softly into her hair. "One hundred percent voting control is secure. Nobody can touch us now."
Jessica leaned back into his warmth, setting her tea down on the railing. "And the three-year contract?"
Giovanni reached into his breast pocket, pulled out the cream parchment document they had signed on her first night, and slowly tore it in half.
Jessica turned around in his arms, her brown eyes searching his face in surprise. "Giovanni?"
"I don't need a contract to keep my wife, Jessica," Giovanni said quietly, his dark eyes filled with a deep, fierce tenderness he had never shown to another human being. "The contract was for business. But what happened between us... that wasn't in the paperwork."
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Jessica smiled, her hands rising to touch his sharp jawline, her fingers lingering over the faint silver scar on his chin. "You were supposed to be a fake husband."
"And you were supposed to be a quiet nurse," Giovanni replied softly, leaning down until his lips met hers in a deep, lingering kiss that tasted of ocean air and absolute promise.
