Chapter 10 - The New Empire
Emmett looked pale against the white hospital sheets, but his dark eyes were bright and focused.
I sat carefully on the edge of his bed, afraid to hurt him, but he immediately reached out and pulled me close.
"You really know how to make a wedding memorable, Jenna," Emmett joked, his voice rough but warm.
I let out a wet laugh and gently rested my forehead against his shoulder.
"I quit, by the way," I whispered. "I am never ghostwriting another speech for you again."
Emmett smiled softly and brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
"Good, because I don't want you as my ghostwriter anymore," he replied, his gaze turning serious and deeply romantic. "I want you as my equal partner, in the company, and in my life."
He leaned up slightly and kissed me, a promise of a brilliant, unstoppable future together.
Over the next six months, my entire world transformed into something beautiful and real.
Nicholas, Julian, and Mark were all convicted of federal racketeering and sentenced to twenty years in a maximum-security prison.
My parents lost their luxurious estate due to the ensuing financial investigations and had to move into a tiny, modest apartment.
I merged my writing agency with Emmett's tech empire, becoming the most powerful communications director in the country.
Emmett and I were married in a quiet, intimate ceremony on a private beach in Malibu, surrounded only by people who truly loved us.
There was no kids' table, no fake smiles, and absolutely no toxic family members allowed.
We returned to our new penthouse in New York City after the honeymoon, perfectly happy and completely at peace.
I walked into my home office to unpack my bags, humming a soft tune as I opened my secure laptop.
The screen suddenly flickered, bypassing all of my military-grade firewalls without a single warning.
May you like
A live video feed popped up, showing my father sitting in a dark, unfamiliar room with a terrifyingly calm smile on his face.
"You handled your brother well, Jenna," my father's voice echoed from the speakers. "But the real war for the family empire starts tonight, and I am not as stupid as Nicholas."
