Gianna stared at Stephani with growing horror and confusion. "Yours? What are you talking about?""Vincent and I have history," Stephani explained with possessive certainty. "Real history. A connection that predates your pathetic contract marriage by years. And the only reason I'm having this conversation with you—the only reason you're standing in my suite instead of being thrown out by security—is because I need to understand what hold you think you have over him.""Hold?" Gianna repeated, her mind struggling to process this bizarre direction. "I don't have any hold over Vincent. It's a contract marriage. A business arrangement. There's no—""Then why did he spend the entire evening at the charity gala protecting you?" Stephani demanded, her composure cracking slightly to reveal genuine anger beneath. "Why did he avoid me? Why did he maintain distance from me while staying strategically positioned near you?"Gianna had no answer. She'd been confused by Vincent's behavior all evening

The sudden aggression made Gianna flinch. This wasn't the poised billionaire from the charity gala. This was someone unhinged by emotions Gianna didn't fully understand—obsession, jealousy, possessiveness all mixing into something volatile and dangerous."I—yes, I know what Vincent does," Gianna stammered, trying to appease the sudden anger. "He does security work. Private security. He has skills in that area and—"Stephani laughed. Actually laughed—a harsh, bitter sound that echoed through the enormous suite."Security work," Stephani repeated mockingly. "Private security. Oh, you poor, naïve fool."The contempt in her voice was withering. Gianna felt her face flush with renewed humiliation and rising anger."You know nothing," Stephani continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "You married a man—made a legal commitment to someone—and you know absolutely nothing about who he actually is or what he's really capable of.""I know enough," Gianna replied defensively, though even to her

Gianna sat frozen, too stunned to react or reply. This level of care—this obvious affection and concern—was so far beyond anything their contract had specified or their relationship had developed that her mind couldn't process it.Vincent had maintained distance all evening. Had avoided her at the charity gala. Had disappeared without explanation. And now here he was, showing more genuine emotion and concern than he'd displayed in their entire marriage.His thumb brushed gently across her cheek, checking for bruises or marks. "Gianna, talk to me. Are you hurt?"She couldn't find words. Her throat had closed with confusion and something that felt disturbingly like hope—hope that this concern was real, that Vincent actually cared about her beyond their contractual obligations.Across the room, Stephani watched this display of affection with an expression that was rapidly transitioning from shock to absolute fury. Her hands gripped the arms of her chair so tightly her knuckles had gone w

Gianna wanted to protest that she was fine, that the medical team at the hotel spa had already examined her for injuries. But as she opened her mouth to speak, a wave of dizziness crashed over her with unexpected force.The adrenaline that had been sustaining her through the attack, the transformation, the meeting—all of it was wearing off simultaneously. And beneath that fading chemical support, her body was finally acknowledging the trauma of being T-boned at an intersection.Delayed concussion symptoms. The woozy, disconnected feeling that came when the brain had been rattled and was only now registering the damage."How—" Gianna's voice came out weak and confused. "How did you know about the accident?"Her legs felt unstable suddenly. The elegant hotel lobby seemed to tilt sideways, her vision blurring at the edges.Vincent's arm immediately wrapped around her waist, supporting her weight before she could collapse. His other hand came up to steady her shoulder, and suddenly Gianna

The moment Vincent stepped out of Gianna's bedroom and closed the door behind him, his entire demeanor transformed. The gentle, concerned husband who'd tenderly tucked his wife into bed vanished completely.In his place stood the Supreme Commander—cold, focused, and absolutely furious about the attack on someone under his protection.Vincent's expression hardened into something that would have terrified anyone who saw it. His posture shifted from protective care to predatory purpose. The rage he'd been suppressing while attending to Gianna's needs now surfaced with crystalline clarity.He left the mansion without looking back, his mind already focused on the conversation waiting for him.At the gate, the elite squad captain stood at attention beside one of the armored vehicles. He straightened further as Vincent approached, recognizing the shift in his commander's bearing."Sir," the captain acknowledged crisply."Status on the principal?" Vincent asked, his voice carrying military pr