Chapter 10 - The New Dynasty
Six months later.
The heavy iron gates of the federal penitentiary closed. Inside, Arthur Croft, Victor Blackwood, and Marcus Blackwood were beginning their consecutive life sentences for murder, racketeering, and fraud. The Blackwood empire had been liquidated, its assets seized by the federal government.
Seraphina stood on the balcony of Croft Tower, looking out over the glittering Manhattan skyline.
She wore a sharp, tailored white suit. She was the undisputed CEO of Croft Pharmaceuticals. She had spent the last six months purging the corrupt board members, halting all unethical drug trials, and rebuilding her family’s legacy into something Leo would have been proud of.
The door to her office opened. Julian walked in. He wasn't wearing a security uniform or tactical gear. He wore a perfectly fitted charcoal suit, stepping into his new role as the Head of Global Operations for Croft.
He walked out onto the balcony, slipping his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"The international markets just closed," Julian murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her neck. "Croft stock is up twelve percent. You did it, boss."
Seraphina leaned back against his chest, the warmth of his body grounding her. The nightmare was over. The girl who had walked down the aisle in a suffocating gown was dead. In her place was a queen who had burned an empire to the ground and built a better one from the ashes.
She turned around in his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck.
May you like
"No," Seraphina smiled, looking deeply into the eyes of the man who had fought for her when the whole world wanted her dead. "We did it."
Julian kissed her, the city lights reflecting in the glass around them. It wasn't a fairy tale ending, because fairy tales were for the weak. It was an empire, forged in fire, built on truth, and ruled by them alone.
