I Signed the Termination and Took My Crown

Harper’s POVWhen Dante returned as Ash, he generously offered to move me back into the old Moretti mansion so he could “take better care of me” as my brother-in-law.I couldn’t have been more grateful. He even put me in the room directly across the hall from his—where he and Gianna stayed.Except now, thinking back, Dante hadn’t taken care of me for a single day. The best he ever did was stop by once in a while to ask how my pregnancy checkup had gone.I used to think he was just busy—after all, Dante’s sudden “death” had left a mess for the family to clean up.Now everything was all crystal clear. Moving me in was never about caring for me. It was about controlling me—the widow with the money.And that whole performance of “taking care” of me? Just guilt-bait.See? Your husband’s brother is looking after you. Shouldn’t you be grateful? Shouldn’t you give us more money?To think I’d felt even a flicker of guilt—moved, for one stupid second—by all those lies. Rage surged through my che

Harper’s POVTo my surprise, the casino was... actually impressive. Just like they said it would be.Which meant it was time to move to the next step in my plan, to find the money I had once invested into the Moretti and his business. I wanted to know exactly how they’d been using the Quinn money over the years. Where it went. What it built. Who it benefited.And then something unexpected surfaced.A set of photographs. Tucked inside the Moretti family safe. Photos of me. From the night I was kidnapped all those years ago.When my investigator dug deeper, he looked… hesitant. “Miss Quinn,” he said carefully, “it appears the Moretti had ties to your kidnappers.”My stomach dropped. “What kind of ties?” I asked, already feeling sick.“From what we uncovered, Dante Moretti and his father paid the men who kidnapped you. Helped arrange the abduction. The photos were their proof of execution.”I stared at him. “You’re saying… they planned it?”He nodded grimly. “The kidnappers were instructe

Harper’s POVI took one week to rest. Just one. Then I was back on my feet, neck-deep in operations.Three days in, I’d already met with every major business partner Dante ever had—Southern drug lords, Northern arms families, international players with more history than morals—and I convinced them all to trust me.The new—and only—female Don in U.S. mafia history.Two weeks later, the casino had its grand reopening.In the past, I’d stayed in Dante’s shadow. Even when I knew he was wrong—even when I had a better solution—I kept quiet. But now? I no longer had to hide.Once the casino was running smoothly, it was time for the next phase of my plan.If Dante could use the Quinn money and name to grow the Moretti, then so could I.They think becoming Don fulfilled me? Hardly. That was never my finish line.I intended to absorb the Moretti’s partners and businesses into the Quinn empire. And once everything was transferred, I would walk away.After some time, a few of the Moretti finally

Harper’s POVNot long after I threw Dante out, my father found out everything he’d said.“Was it true? That he didn’t die?” he demanded the moment I picked up the call.“Huh,” I scoffed. “He faked his death so he could run off with his sister-in-law.”“That asshole. I’m going to kill him!” Father roared on the other end. And he could. He absolutely could.But I wasn’t ready to let Dante die that easily.I laughed softly. “Papa, I know you’re more than capable of making him disappear. But honestly? I’d rather watch him become desperate… and ruin his own life with his own hands.”Silence stretched for a few seconds.Then Father sighed. “Harper, you’ve really changed. But that’s good. In our world, you need to be harsh. Otherwise, you’ll be the one getting hurt. Alright—just tell me if you need anything.”After hanging up, I turned to the newest update one of my spies had sent.“Miss Quinn, our intel shows Gianna hooked up with a Hollywood actor shortly after Dante Moretti left. So far, t