Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED THE THRONE
The Corvino ledger changed everything.
Investigators used it alongside independent financial records and witness testimony to pursue cases against several criminal organizations.
Assets were frozen.
Businesses were audited.
And powerful men who had believed themselves untouchable faced legal scrutiny.
Aleandro cooperated through legal counsel.
He provided information about his father's operations.
He also began restructuring his own businesses.
It was difficult.
Expensive.
And dangerous.
Irene watched from a distance.
She had no desire to become part of another criminal empire.
One evening, Aleandro found her on the terrace of a small villa.
She was looking toward the sea.
“Bella.”
She turned.
“Yes?”
He approached.
“What are you thinking?”
She smiled faintly.
“That I spent five years hiding in Chicago.”
Aleandro nodded.
“And now?”
“Now I don't know where I belong.”
Aleandro stood beside her.
“You could stay.”
She looked at him.
“As what?”
He hesitated.
Then smiled.
“Someone who tells me when I'm being an idiot.”
Irene laughed.
“You'd need me full-time.”
Aleandro smiled.
“Probably.”
Then his expression became serious.
“Irene, I don't want you to feel obligated to stay because of what happened.”
She looked at him.
He continued.
“You've spent enough of your life making choices because someone frightened you.”
Irene's eyes filled.
For years, powerful men had tried to decide her future.
Her father.
His enemies.
The people who hunted her.
Now Aleandro was giving her something she had almost forgotten existed.
A choice.
She took his hand.
“I don't want a throne.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“I don't want guards following me everywhere.”
“I know.”
“And I don't want to spend my life negotiating with men who think threats are a personality.”
Aleandro laughed.
“That's going to eliminate most of my acquaintances.”
Irene smiled.
Then whispered:
“But I might want you.”
May you like
Aleandro went still.
For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to say.
