2026-04-30 17:51:52
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CHAPTER 184
Romano's PalaceThe restaurant was already bustling with the lunch crowd when Tony arrived—wealthy businesspeople, celebrities, politicians, all enjoying the exclusive atmosphere and world-class cuisine that had made Romano's Palace legendary.Tony strode through the main dining area, noting with satisfaction the way heads turned, the way people recognized him as the manager of this prestigious establishment. This was his domain. His kingdom. Where he held power and influence.He was heading toward his private office when a flash of elegance near the entrance caught his attention.A woman had just entered—late twenties, stunningly beautiful, dressed in designer clothing that screamed old money and impeccable taste. Her posture, her bearing, everything about her suggested someone from the highest echelons of society.Tony recognized her immediately. Lucy Hartwell. One of the most prestigious young women from the Hartwell family—a family whose wealth and connections rivaled even the Rom
CHAPTER 183
The Next DayTony Romano strode through the lobby of Richardson Industries' headquarters building, his expression showing barely contained irritation mixed with determination. He'd tried calling Mia's office multiple times yesterday evening and this morning, but had received no answer. Which was unusual and frankly unacceptable.After that humiliating incident with the broken-down Ferrari—being dismissed by that nobody Alex Carter, having his father deny sending the Rolls-Royce—Tony had been stewing in rage and wounded pride for days.But he wasn't the type to give up easily. If Mia wouldn't respond to calls, he'd corner her at her office. Would use his charm, his family connections, his business relationship with Richardson Industries to convince her to give him another chance.Tony stepped off the elevator on the executive floor and walked directly to Mia's office suite, his designer shoes clicking authoritatively on the polished floors.Mia's assistant—a professional woman in her t
CHAPTER 182
The convoy of black SUVs moved through the city's nighttime streets, carrying Alex, Mia, her parents, and the operatives away from the Vinda estate.The vehicles were silent except for the quiet hum of engines and the occasional murmur of Jace coordinating with his team via secure communications.Mia sat in the back seat beside Alex, her body leaning against his for support, exhaustion finally catching up with her now that the adrenaline of the night was fading.Her injuries throbbed with every movement, but the pain felt distant somehow—muted by the overwhelming relief of being free, of being safe, of being away from that house and that family.In the seat in front of them, Vivian and Thomas sat in stunned silence, occasionally exchanging glances but saying nothing.Their faces showed people still trying to process what had happened, still trying to comprehend that they'd actually left the Vinda family, that their entire lives had just been upended in a single night.Alex noticed Mia
CHAPTER 181
Alex had been standing nearby, giving Mia space to have this conversation with her parents, but now he stepped forward. His eyes moved from Mia's parents to Tom, still kneeling on the floor, watching this exchange with impotent fury."You crossed a line tonight, Tom Vinda," Alex said, his voice quiet but carrying clearly through the silent study. "You beat your own granddaughter. Sent assassins to kill me. Tried to force Mia into a marriage she didn't want through violence and intimidation. Treated your family like property to be controlled and punished."He stepped closer to the kneeling patriarch. "For that—for all of it—I'm going to make sure the Vinda family ceases to exist as you know it. Your business empire, your social standing, your power structure—all of it is going to come crashing down. Systematically. Completely."Tom's face contorted with rage and fear. "You—you can't! You don't have the resources! You're just—""Call the Greenes," Alex interrupted calmly. "You keep thre
CHAPTER 180
And something inside Mia—something that had been building pressure for years, decades even—finally burst."Yes!" Mia's voice rose, carrying all the pain and frustration and suppressed anger she'd been holding back. "Yes, that's EXACTLY how I've felt! Like someone else in this family! Like an outsider pretending to belong! Like I had to constantly perform, constantly prove myself, constantly measure up to standards that kept changing!"Tears streamed down her face as words poured out—words she'd never allowed herself to say before. "I had DREAMS, Mom and Dad! Things I wanted to do! A career I wanted to build on MY terms! But no—I had to join the family business. Had to take the position Tom assigned me. Had to work in the division he decided I should manage. Had to prove I was worthy of the Vinda name instead of being allowed to just... just BE!"Her voice cracked. "I've been living in the shadow of myself for YEARS! Being who Tom wanted me to be instead of who I actually am! Sacrifici
CHAPTER 179
Mia looked around at the scene of total defeat—at Jace's team standing victorious, at the unconscious and restrained guards, at the subdued Vinda family members—and a question formed in her mind that she'd been pushing aside all night.How did Alex manage to get such skilled men?These weren't regular bodyguards. These weren't even standard elite security.These were operatives who'd defeated the Vinda Elite Force—the family's secret weapon—and then overwhelmed thirty-plus estate guards without breaking a sweat.The level of training, coordination, and sheer capability required for that was beyond anything Mia had encountered in her business world.Beyond anything that should be available to a firefighter, no matter how lucky his inheritance had been.Who is Alex, really? Mia wondered. What resources does he actually control?But those questions could wait. Right now, there were more immediate concerns.Mia's eyes found her parents across the room.Vivian and Thomas sat on the floor n
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