Jack stood in the smoke and twisted metal without so much as a flinch. Guns were pointed at his chest from every angle, fingers tight on triggers, and his face showed nothing. Not fear. Not anger. Just a quiet stillness that charged the air with the promise of something terrible. Jack's gaze moved past the men, past Greg, and settled on the cot where Juliet lay. The top button of her blouse hung open. Her skin was pale under the harsh fluorescent light. She trembled, eyes at half-mast, the drug still pulling her under. The sight of her like that changed something in Jack's expression. A muscle jumped in his jaw. His shoulders settled lower—the settling of a man who has just made a decision that is final and not particularly kind. One of the enforcers muttered, "Jesus, his eyes are glowing—" but the words died as Greg's voice cracked through the room. "FIRE!" Bullets tore through the air. Jack wasn't there anymore. He moved faster than any of them could track—not a blur, just an

They reached the Forbes living room shortly after. The double doors stood open. Inside, every eye was fixed on the large screen mounted on the far wall. The drone footage showed a massive ship cutting through the water toward the harbor, its decks bristling with equipment and artillery. The Forbes family sat in tense silence—Donald in his usual patriarch's chair, Lydia perched on the edge of the sofa, Cathy beside her with legs crossed, Richard standing by the window with a glass of scotch. Dean Drummonds leaned against the mantelpiece, looking polished and vaguely bored, while David Cross sat sprawled in an armchair, one ankle resting on his knee. Donald Forbes looked up first at his granddaughter, startled. "Why did you return from the bunker, dear? What happened?" Juliet exchanged a quick glance with Jack. He gave the smallest nod. She lifted her chin. "I am not going to hide from Johnny Bowman. Not when my savior is at my side." David's head snapped around. "Savior? Juliet, h

The living room fell into a stunned silence as the live drone feed showed Johnny Bowman's massive ship slowly turning around in the harbor, its bow cutting back toward the open sea. Gasps rippled through the Forbes family and their closest advisors. Lydia clutched the edge of the polished table, her knuckles whitening. Cathy leaned forward in her seat, eyes wide with disbelief. Even the usually unflappable security staff exchanged glances of pure astonishment. "This… This has never happened before," Donald Forbes muttered, his deep voice carrying the weight of years spent commanding boardrooms and empires. He stared at the screen as if expecting the vessel to reverse course again at any second. "Bowman never backs down." Juliet stood a little apart from the group, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Warm relief flooded her, but confusion tangled right behind it. 'How is this even possible? One moment we're bracing for an army at our gates, and now…' She glanced sideways at

The next day, Juliet steered Jack straight into the Brioni showroom without much ceremony. Jack took one look at the mannequins and the price tags visible from the entrance and slowed his steps. "Why all this?" he asked, gesturing at the polished displays. "I could throw on a decent shirt and trousers for the wedding." Juliet halted mid-stride and turned, her expression caught between disbelief and the start of a headache. She studied him for a beat, as if checking whether he was serious. "Are you kidding me right now? If you were marrying some waitress from a corner diner, wear whatever makes you comfortable. But you're marrying into the Forbes family!" "People will be watching. Cameras, society pages, the whole circus. You need to look like you belong next to me. Go to the premium section and ask someone for help. Find something that actually fits the occasion and status." Jack rubbed the back of his neck, weighing her words. "Fine. But I'm setting one condition before I play al

"Lady Seymour, I am a big fan of yours," Juliet said warmly. "It is so nice to see you." However, she kept her fingers on the sleeve of the brown suit while she spoke. Her voice stayed polite even though the situation felt awkward. Juliet had noticed Zendaya during the earlier crowd and recognized her from films and news about the royal family. Meeting the famous widow here, both of them holding the same piece of clothing, felt unexpected. "That's fine. Can you let go of the suit, though? I am taking it." Juliet pursed her lips. The moment she'd first seen this suit on the mannequin, she had decided to buy it for Jack. It wasn't about spoiling him, or trying to win his approval. Jack was still that rude, flirty rogue who tested her patience every day. Yet he had saved her life more than once. He had stepped in when her career faced serious threats. Moreover, Jack was her fiancé. Getting him a high-class suit for their wedding seemed like the smallest thank-you she could offer. Sh