"I Begged a Complete Stranger to Kiss Me at a Gala—And Terrified My Cheating Fiancé."

I sat near the tinted window, watching the rain streak across the glass, reflecting the golden neon lights of the Chicago skyline.

Dominic sat beside me, pouring two fingers of amber bourbon into a crystal tumbler, placing it gently into my hands.

"Drink," he commanded softly. "It stops the shock."

I took a small sip. The liquid burned down my throat, slowly bringing warmth back to my numb fingers.

"Why?" I asked, turning to face him. "Why do you have my mother's estate files, Dominic? A man like you doesn't investigate small-time political candidates out of charity."

Dominic rested his elbow on the leather armrest, his silver hair catching the passing streetlight glow, highlighting the thin scar above his left eyebrow.

"Your mother, Eleanor Carter, was my chief architect thirty years ago, Vivian," Dominic said quietly. "She designed Bell Tower. She was the only person in this city who didn't look at me like a monster when I was building my business."

I blinked, stunned. "My mother... worked for you?"

"She was my friend," Dominic corrected gently. "When she fell ill ten years ago, she asked me to keep an eye on her daughter from afar. I promised her I would never interfere in your life unless you were in real danger."

He leaned closer, his eyes turning to slate grey.

"Eighteen months ago, Ryan Bennett entered your life. Three months ago, my intelligence team noticed suspicious transfers leaving your mother's trust fund. I gathered the evidence, waiting for the right moment to hand it to you."

"And tonight... was that moment," I whispered.

"You walked up to me in that ballroom and asked a complete stranger to kiss you," Dominic murmured, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "You showed more fire in ten seconds than Ryan Bennett has shown in his entire pathetic life."

The car smoothly glided into the private underground garage of Bell Tower. The elevator took us directly to the penthouse floor—a sprawling glass palace overlooking Lake Michigan.

Dominic walked over to a massive mahogany desk, opened a leather-bound folder, and pulled out a gold pen.

"Ryan and Madison believe they have twenty-four hours before the legal system catches up to them," Dominic said. "By tomorrow morning, Ryan will attempt to transfer the remaining funds out of state. Madison will try to sell her shares in your family's boutique firm to pay off Ryan's debts."

He slid the gold pen across the desk toward me.

"Unless you strike first."

I walked over to the desk, looking down at a document titled: APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY & CORPORATE RECEIVERSHIP.

"If you sign this," Dominic explained, "I will deploy my legal team to freeze every asset attached to Ryan Bennett, Madison Carter, and the Bennett Political Action Committee within sixty minutes. By sunrise, they won't even have enough cash to buy a cup of coffee."

I looked down at the paper, then at my mother's signature in the black envelope.

For two years, I had shrunk myself to make Ryan look bigger. I had forgiven Madison's sharp slights and cruel snickers because she was my sister. I had played the quiet, sweet, supportive woman while they plotted to starve me.

No more.