Nobela ni Triple G

BONUS CHAPTER 3: LEGACY ON ICESt. Paul's Cathedral had never held a more unusual funeral service. At Emma's insistence, Charlotte and baby Frankie were present in the front pew, their soft baby sounds occasionally punctuating the solemnity with reminders of continuing life. Franklin would have approved—he'd always believed children belonged wherever family gathered.The church was packed beyond capacity. Hockey legends sat beside business executives, longtime household staff mixed with socialites, and fans who'd never met Franklin but understood his importance to Boston sports filled every available space. Outside, local news crews broadcast the service to thousands more who wanted to pay their respects to the man who'd built a hockey dynasty and raised a granddaughter who'd carried it forward.Emma sat between Alek and Natasha, holding Charlotte while trying to process the magnitude of her grandfather's impact. She'd known Franklin was respected, even feared in business circles. But

Franklin took his last breath at 6:47 AM, just as the morning sun fully illuminated the garden he'd spent forty years tending. Charlotte was sleeping in Emma's arms, and baby Frankie had finally settled against Alek's chest. The monitors stopped their steady beeping, replaced by a silence so profound it seemed to echo through the entire mansion.Emma felt the exact moment her grandfather left them—not from the machines, but from the sudden emptiness in the room, as if all the warmth had been sucked away despite the morning sunshine streaming through the windows."He's gone," she whispered, the words feeling impossible even as she spoke them.Alek reached across Franklin's still form to squeeze her hand. "He waited for the sunrise. He wanted to see one more morning with them."Dr. Singh appeared as if summoned, moving with quiet efficiency to turn off the monitors and begin the necessary procedures. But she paused first, placing a gentle hand on Franklin's forehead."He was a remarkabl

"Tell me about the stars again, Grandpa Franklin," five-month-old Charlotte babbled in her own baby language, reaching for the twinkling lights Emma had strung around Franklin's hospital bed at home.Franklin's weathered hand, now so thin the veins stood out like roadmaps, gently caught Charlotte's tiny fingers. "Those aren't just lights, little princess," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Those are all the dreams your great-great-grandmother and I shared. Each one burns for you now."Emma sat in the chair beside his bed, seven-week-old Frankie sleeping against her chest, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. Three weeks had passed since their decision to move to New York, but Franklin's condition had deteriorated so rapidly that travel was now impossible. Instead, they'd converted the mansion's sunroom into a makeshift hospice, filling it with everything that brought him joy—family photos, fresh flowers, and most importantly, his great-grandchildren."The blue star there,"

Emma's blood chilled. Elise's harassment claim, which they'd hoped was resolved, had apparently resurfaced."What kind of allegations?" Alek asked, tension evident in his voice."Inappropriate behavior, abuse of power, hostile work environment," Franklin replied, watching Alek's face carefully. "All nonsense, of course, but requiring proper response.""I never," Alek began, but Franklin waved him quiet."I know. Everyone who matters knows. But defending against false accusations while pursuing the Commissioner position would be... complicated."Emma felt her heart sink. Even if they proved Alek's innocence, the scandal could derail his opportunity."However," Franklin continued with a slight smile, "Dr. Crawford seems to have a history of similar allegations at previous employers. Our legal team has been quite thorough in their research.""Meaning?" Emma asked."Meaning the complaint will likely be withdrawn once she understands the full scope of our investigation," Franklin replied.

Emma sat between her sleeping babies in the early morning light, Franklin's letter trembling in her hands. The envelope had been tucked into her grandfather's desk drawer for months, labeled in his precise handwriting: "For Emmy - When You Face Your Hardest Choice."That choice had arrived unexpectedly yesterday when Alek received a phone call that would change everything."NHL Commissioner?" she had repeated in disbelief. "You're being offered Commissioner of the entire league?"Alek had looked as stunned as she felt. "The current commissioner is retiring earlier than planned. Health reasons. The board wants fresh leadership, someone with playing experience and modern business acumen.""It's your dream job," Emma had said quietly, understanding immediately what this meant."In New York," Alek confirmed. "Full relocation required."Now, at dawn, Emma finally opened her grandfather's letter with shaking fingers:My dearest Emmy,By the time you read this, you'll be facing the choice I

"Boston's Hockey Princess: Having It All or Having a Breakdown?" Emma stared at the magazine headline displayed prominently at the airport newsstand, her blood pressure rising with each inflammatory line of the subtitle: "Emma Mitchell-Volkov's juggling act between boardroom and nursery raises questions about women in sports leadership.""Don't read it," Alek advised, steering her away from the newsstand. "Lisa warned us it was coming.""Too late," Emma muttered, fishing coins from her purse. "I need to know what they're saying."The article, when she skimmed it during their flight to the league owners' meeting, proved even worse than the headline suggested. Anonymous sources—clearly other owners' wives—questioned whether Emma could effectively lead a franchise while caring for two infants. The piece dissected everything from her maternity leave duration to her decision to bring babies to the Seattle hospital visit with Jack."'Sources close to the organization suggest Mitchell-Volko

Two Years LaterThe Las Vegas sun beat down on the hotel pool deck as Sarah adjusted her sunglasses, watching Diego teach their son to float in the shallow end. Laughter echoed across the water as little Vincent—named in a gesture of reconciliation that had surprised everyone—splashed with toddler enthusiasm."He's a natural," Robert commented, settling into the lounger beside Sarah. "Just like his father.""And stubborn like both his parents," Sarah agreed with a smile. At eighteen months, Vincent was already displaying the infamous Castillo determination, along with his mother's analytical gaze.The Bellagio suite reserved under "Mr. and Mrs. Castillo" held none of the shocking surprise of their first Vegas visit. This time, they had come deliberately—a family vacation combined with the opening of the newest Castillo Hotels property just off the Strip."Hard to believe it's been two years," Robert mused, following her gaze to Diego and the child. "Sometimes I still expect to wake up

Rain pounded against the study windows as Sarah waited, tension coiling tighter with each passing hour. Diego had been gone for eighteen hours now, his last message cryptically brief: "Contingency implemented. Stay secure."Robert Walsh paced the room, his former FBI training evident in how he periodically checked windows and monitored security feeds."They should have made contact by now," he muttered, checking his watch again."Diego knows what he's doing," Sarah replied with more confidence than she felt. Her back ached from sitting too long, the baby restless within her.The secure phone on Diego's desk chimed—a sound so unexpected that both Sarah and Robert froze momentarily before lunging for it.Sarah reached it first. "Yes?""Package secured," came Antonio's voice, deliberately vague. "En route to secondary location. One hour."Relief washed through her. "Condition?""Stable," Antonio replied. "Minor complications, nothing critical. Primary returning separately."Diego was comi

Six months passed with surprising speed. Sarah's pregnancy progressed smoothly, her body changing as winter turned to spring. The Castillo Foundation launched to positive press coverage, its first initiatives focusing on legal support for low-income families and scholarship programs.Diego's transformation of the family business continued methodically—divesting from questionable enterprises, strengthening legitimate ones, rebuilding the Castillo name as a symbol of business acumen rather than criminal power."The Miami hotel acquisition closed this morning," Diego announced as he joined Sarah on their bedroom terrace, where she was enjoying the early summer sunshine."That's the fifth property this quarter," Sarah noted, marking the location on her tablet map. "The hospitality division is becoming our largest legitimate asset.""Clean, profitable, and excellent for networking," Diego agreed, settling beside her. "How are you feeling today?"Sarah rested a hand on her now-prominent bell

One month after Vincent's surrender, the headlines had faded, replaced by political scandals and celebrity gossip. Within the Castillo organization, however, his absence remained a palpable void.Sarah found Diego in Vincent's former office, surrounded by files and digital records, methodically reorganizing the family's enterprises."You missed lunch," she said, setting a sandwich beside him.Diego looked up, fatigue evident in the shadows beneath his eyes. "I lost track of time.""You've been losing track a lot lately," Sarah observed, perching on the edge of the desk. "Nonna is worried.""There's so much to untangle," Diego gestured at the paperwork. "Vincent's operations were more complex than I realized. Some of these connections go back decades."Sarah picked up a folder, scanning its contents with her prosecutor's eye. "This shipping company in Naples... it's a money laundering front, isn't it?""Was," Diego corrected. "I've already sold our interest. The legitimate businesses ar

Sarah kept Vincent's confidence for three days, wrestling with conflicting loyalties. Her marriage demanded honesty with Diego, but Vincent's plan, though extreme, would secure the family's future. The prosecutor in her recognized its legal elegance, even as the wife in her dreaded the impact on her husband.She found Diego in his study late at night, reviewing contracts by lamplight. His face, serious in concentration, softened at her approach."Working late?" she asked, closing the door behind her."Restructuring the shipping division," Diego explained, setting the papers aside. "Vincent's always handled that sector, but with his legal situation uncertain...""That's what I need to talk to you about," Sarah said, taking the chair opposite his desk. "Vincent's meeting with the Justice Department."Diego raised an eyebrow. "Did he share details with you?""Yes," Sarah admitted. "He's negotiating a plea deal.""We assumed as much," Diego nodded. "His lawyers will ensure minimal—""No la

New York looked different to Sarah as their private jet began its descent—familiar yet foreign, like returning to a childhood home as an adult. Four months had passed since Vegas, since the night that had changed everything.Diego squeezed her hand as the wheels touched down. "Ready?""As I'll ever be," Sarah replied with a small smile.The media frenzy surrounding Kingmaker had mostly subsided, replaced by the methodical grind of prosecutions and congressional hearings. Sarah's role in exposing the conspiracy had made her something of a reluctant hero in legal circles, though her marriage to Diego Castillo remained controversial.Antonio waited beside a bulletproof SUV as they deplaned. "Welcome home," he greeted. "Nonna is eager to see you both."The Castillo estate had transformed during their absence. Additional security measures were visible everywhere—more guards, enhanced technology, even the landscaping redesigned for better sight lines."Vincent's upgrades," Diego explained, n