Chapter 11 - The Fall of the Fiancée
Veronica gripped the pistol tighter.
“If I shoot you now, I can still walk out of here.”
“If you shoot me, Marcus puts a bullet through your head before my body hits the floor,” Adrian stated plainly.
“And if by some miracle you kill us both, my men will hunt you to the ends of the earth.”
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Rain began to patter against the tall windows, echoing the day she had tried to poison him.
Veronica looked at Marcus, who hadn't blinked.
She looked at Adrian, who stood like a stone wall.
Finally, she let out a shaky breath and dropped the gun onto the carpet.
Marcus immediately stepped forward, kicking the weapon away and zip-tying her hands behind her back.
He ripped the bag from her shoulder.
“What happens now?” Veronica asked, trying to retain a shred of dignity.
“Do you kill me?”
“I don't kill women,” Adrian said, lowering his gun.
“But your father does.”
Veronica’s head snapped up, genuine fear flashing in her eyes.
“What did you do?”
“I sent the audio recording of you admitting to failing the assassination, and the financial theft, to your father.”
Adrian checked his watch.
“Ten minutes ago.”
“No,” Veronica whispered, her voice breaking.
“You know how the Marzanos treat failure, Vittoria. He will disown you. He will hunt you himself to save face.”
“Please, Adrian. Don't do this.”
“You tried to kill me. You tried to frame an innocent mother and leave her child an orphan.”
Adrian’s voice possessed no mercy.
“Marcus, put her in a car. Drive her to the city limits and drop her off with nothing but the clothes on her back.”
“Boss,” Marcus nodded, grabbing Veronica’s arm.
She struggled, tears streaming down her face, screaming curses at Adrian as she was dragged out of the study.
Adrian stood alone in the quiet room for a long moment.
He turned to Grace, who was still standing by the door, pale and shaking.
“Are you alright, Grace?”
“I... I think so,” she stammered.
“You saved my life,” Adrian said softly.
“Both you and Lily. If you hadn't taught her to set the table, I would be dead.”
“We just wanted to do our jobs, Mr. Moretti.”
“You did more than that.”
Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy envelope.
He held it out to her.
“What is this?” Grace asked, hesitant to take it.
“It is a deed to a house in upstate New York. Fully paid for. And a trust fund for Lily’s college education.”
Grace gasped, tears welling in her eyes.
“Mr. Moretti, I can't accept this.”
“You can, and you will,” Adrian commanded, though his tone was gentle.
“You can stay here and continue working if you choose, with a significant promotion. But I wanted you to have a choice. A real one.”
May you like
Grace took the envelope, pressing it to her chest.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
