Chapter 15
Zion had missed his final chance to acquire Virell Industries, but by the time we returned to the States, the family empire had already imploded on its own.
The Virells had multiple branches, and once the scandal broke, every faction was too busy protecting themselves to maintain any unified front. The infighting tore them apart from within.
I saw Celeste at the police station. The kidnapping had been her elaborate setup from the beginning-she was threatened by my abilities and terrified that if I gained power, I wouldn’t share the profits the way Damon did. So she’d decided to eliminate me permanently.
What she hadn’t counted on was Zion switching out her hired kidnappers the moment she returned home. Now she was facing serious jail time for conspiracy and attempted murder.
I also ran into Evander there. He’d lost weight, his eyes sunken and hollow like he hadn’t slept in weeks. When he saw me, he let out a bitter laugh.
“My stupid brother really threw his life away for you.”
I frowned. “Do you think he deserved better?”
Evander bit down hard on his lip, his eyes reddening as he stumbled out of the station without another word.
A few days later, I placed flowers at Renric’s grave and whispered a few quiet words to his headstone. Zion suddenly spoke up behind me.
“I’m thinking about getting rid of this scar.”
I looked up curiously. “Why now all of a sudden?”
“You might like me better without it.” His voice was unusually uncertain.
I was completely confused. He glanced awkwardly at Renric’s headstone. “You loved him, didn’t you?”
I actually laughed. “What are you thinking? I was just telling him that we’re done-that even if there’s a next life, he shouldn’t come looking for me.”
Zion’s expression visibly relaxed, but when we got home, he still rushed to have the scar removed. I couldn’t help but find it endearing-even with the scar, he’d been devastatingly handsome in his own way.
What I didn’t expect was that the first thing he did after the surgery was hand over complete financial control of his empire to me.
“Mr. Albrecht trusts me that much?”
“What happened before-that was my fault.” His apology came out stilted and awkward. “From now on, Albrecht Industries’ finances are entirely in your hands.”
I smiled. “Is Mr. Albrecht really planning to spend his whole life with me?”
“You… well, if you’re not happy, you can always divorce me. I won’t force you to stay.”
I laughed and took his hand. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re the best partner I could ask for.”
He studied my face. “Just partners?”
I corrected myself with a grin. “Husband.”
A faint blush colored his cheeks. “Yeah…”
