Chapter 10 - The New Beginning
Six months later, the dark and violent days of my past felt like a distant nightmare.
Seraphina had been convicted on multiple federal charges and was locked away in a maximum-security prison for the rest of her life.
The Volkov cartel had entirely collapsed without Ivan's ruthless leadership.
I had reorganized my businesses, shifting entirely into legitimate shipping and real estate ventures.
The sprawling mansion, once a cold and lonely fortress, was now filled with warmth, laughter, and sunlight.
My shoulder had healed perfectly, leaving behind only a scar to remind me of the night I fought for my family.
Grace and I had married in a quiet, private ceremony in our beautiful rose garden.
She was no longer the frightened maid, but the strong, radiant queen of my heart and my empire.
Amara, whose blonde hair had finally grown out, ran through the hallways with a joyous, unburdened spirit.
That evening, the three of us sat together at the massive dining room table.
There were no empty chairs, only plates filled with delicious food and hearts filled with profound gratitude.
We had survived the absolute worst of the criminal underworld and built a paradise of our own.
Late that night, Grace was cleaning out a dusty wooden chest in the attic to make room for winter coats.
She discovered a false bottom in the chest, pulling out a single, encrypted cell phone.
May you like
The dark screen suddenly lit up with a bright notification for a new text message.
The message read, "Julian trusts you completely now; proceed to phase two of the assassination."
