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Chapter 14 – Damage Control

Author: Jovi Luna
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-14 01:39:21

Ronan’s POV

Marcus didn’t usually barge into his office. He was the kind of man who knocked even when the door was open. But that morning, the door swung wide, and Ronan didn’t need to look up from the spreadsheet glowing on his monitor to know something had gone very, very wrong.

“Tell me you’ve seen it,” Marcus said, voice sharp enough to cut through the hum of the city beyond the glass wall.

Ronan’s fingers froze over the keyboard. “Seen what?”

Marcus tossed a tablet onto the desk. Headlines screamed from the screen: “Barista Heiress Sues Blackthorne Empire for 35% Stake.” Beneath it, Annabelle’s picture, a candid shot from outside the café, stared back at him. The same smile that used to calm him now made his chest ache.

Ronan leaned back slowly, his heartbeat pounding against his ribs. “When?”

“Early this morning. Federal court filing. Her lawyer’s good, Miranda Chen. Ex-DA, reputation for chewing corporate lawyers alive.”

He should’ve been angry at her. Furious. But the only thi
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