Across the city, Kevin Romano finally left the hospital. The night had been a rollercoaster—triumph with Dr. Webb's arrival, humiliation when Vincent's claims about Dr. Jensen proved true, satisfaction at Rocco's exposure, and the lingering ache in his cheek where Vincent had slapped him.But overall, Kevin considered the evening a win. He'd driven a wedge between Vincent and Gianna. Had made Gianna choose his side, even if briefly. Had planted seeds of doubt that would fester regardless of what happened afterward.Kevin drove to a location he'd been given earlier—a dive bar on the outskirts of the city, the kind of place where questions weren't asked and cameras didn't work. He parked in the back and entered through the rear door.The man was waiting in a corner booth, exactly as he'd been that night weeks ago when Kevin had been drinking himself into oblivion after the scandal. The same night those photos had mysteriously appeared and then been twisted to humiliate Kevin instead of

Right there in the middle of the living room, her pride and dignity and carefully maintained composure abandoned in an instant, Gianna fell to her knees and the words tumbled out before her brain could stop them."Please don't leave."Vincent stopped mid-stride, his hand on the door handle. He didn't turn around."Please," Gianna repeated, her voice cracking. "At least—at least not yet. Give me time to process this. To—to get my affairs in order so it doesn't become a scandal. Please, Vincent."The silence that followed was excruciating. Gianna remained on her knees, tears streaming freely now, her entire body trembling with emotions she couldn't control.Vincent stood frozen at the door, his back to her. Rafael, visible through the window, shifted uncomfortably in the car, clearly able to see what was happening through the glass."Three days," Vincent said finally, his voice flat and emotionless."What?""You have three days to get your affairs in order." Vincent's hand left the door

"This is business." Stephani's voice turned cold. "You failed to divorce Vincent. You failed to uphold your end of our bargain. So now you lose everything—the international contract, the Palazzo shares, your pathetic attempt to break free from the Benedettis and Romanos. All of it goes to Giovanni, who at least has the decency to deliver results."Gianna felt the walls closing in. Those shares were her lifeline. Her way out of the suffocating grip of old family alliances. Her proof that she could succeed on her own merits.And Stephani was taking them away out of spite."There has to be another way," Gianna said, hating the desperation in her voice. "Another arrangement we can make—""There is." Stephani's smile returned, sharp and predatory. "Divorce Vincent. Today. Right now. Sign the papers I'm sure he's already prepared, and I'll reconsider the share transfer."Gianna's hand instinctively went to her pocket where she'd tucked the unsigned divorce papers this morning. They'd been o

Back at the mansion, Vincent was in his private office, phone pressed to his ear, his voice carrying an edge that made even hardened operatives nervous."How could you let the devil get into my backyard without my knowledge?" Vincent's tone was ice over steel. "Pablo Castro has been in this city for over forty-eight hours, and you're only confirming his location now?"Rafael's voice came through the secure line, tight with tension. "Sir, he's using countersurveillance techniques we taught him. He knows our protocols, our blind spots—""Because I trained him!" Vincent cut him off. "Which means you should have anticipated his tactics and adapted accordingly! Instead, he's been conducting reconnaissance on my wife for days while my own intelligence network was apparently asleep!""We've increased surveillance—""Too little, too late." Vincent's hand clenched on the desk. "Where is he now?""Last confirmed sighting was three hours ago, east district. We lost him near the industrial zone."

Gianna rushed through the hospital corridors, her mind conjuring worst-case scenarios. Another cardiac event. Complications from the treatment. Something Dr. Jensen had missed. The fear that had gripped her when Nonna first collapsed came flooding back.She burst into Room 307, breathless and terrified—And stopped short.Nonna Elisabetta sat propped up in bed, looking more vibrant than Gianna had seen her in months. Color had returned to her cheeks. Her eyes were bright and alert. And she was laughing—actually laughing—as she moved a chess piece across a portable board.Across from her sat a young resident physician, clearly losing the match, his expression a mixture of concentration and good-natured defeat."Checkmate in three moves, Doctor," Nonna said with satisfaction. "You're improving, but you still telegraph your strategy too early."The resident grinned. "One of these days, Mrs. Moretti.""Keep practicing." Nonna waved him away affectionately. "Now shoo. My granddaughter is h