Todos os capítulos de Billionaires flash marriage: Always you.: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE — The Pre-Gala MeetingEvelyn stared at her reflection in the passenger-side window as Jesse’s car pulled into the underground garage of the Vance corporate headquarters. Her palms were warm, her pulse steady but elevated like she was stepping onto a stage she didn’t audition for.Jesse parked smoothly, turned off the engine, and glanced her way.“You’re quiet,” he observed.“I’m processing,” she admitted. “Or trying to.”“That’s fine. Processing is productive.”She huffed a breathy laugh. “Only you would say that like it’s a skill.”“It is.” Jesse unbuckled his seatbelt. “And you’re good at it.”Evelyn didn’t know why that simple line settled her nerves a little.But it did.“Who exactly is going to be at this meeting?” she asked.“My mother,” he said. “Two of my uncles. And a handful of advisors nothing official yet, just… observation.”“Observation,” Evelyn repeated. “So, translation: they want to study me.”Jesse didn’t pretend otherwise. “Yes. But you don’t owe

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE — A Seat at the TableThe Vance family dining room was quieter than Evelyn expected.She had imagined something grand and intimidating long polished tables, servants moving silently, conversations filled with coded language and unspoken judgments. Instead, the room felt… restrained. Intentional. A place designed not to impress, but to observe.That, somehow, felt worse.Jesse held the door open for her, his presence steady. “It’s informal,” he said quietly. “As informal as my family gets.”“That’s not reassuring,” Evelyn replied under her breath.He almost smiled.They stepped inside together.Mrs. Vance was already seated at the table, posture straight, hands folded lightly before her. Two of Jesse’s uncles sat across from her, mid-conversation, while another family member Jesse’s cousin, Lena—scrolled on her phone at the far end.Conversation paused as they entered.“Evelyn,” Mrs. Vance said, rising. “Thank you for coming.”“Thank you for inviting me,” Evelyn re

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE — The Morning AfterThe morning after the gala felt quieter than Evelyn expected.No dramatic headlines blared from her phone. No urgent messages flooded her inbox. Instead, there was a calm, steady hum of normalcy that felt almost suspicious.She sat at her kitchen table, mug cooling in her hands, scrolling slowly.Mentions. Articles. Short commentary pieces.Nothing cruel. Nothing glowing.Measured.“That’s intentional,” Jesse said from across the table.She looked up. He had arrived earlier than planned, jacket folded neatly over one arm, expression focused but relaxed.“What is?” she asked.“The tone,” he replied. “They don’t know what to make of you yet. So they’re being careful.”Evelyn frowned slightly. “I don’t know if that’s comforting.”“It should be,” Jesse said. “Careful means they’re paying attention.”Later that morning, Jesse’s assistant sent over a summary brief media reactions, donor impressions, internal family feedback. Jesse scanned it quickly,

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN — External ForcesThe first real challenge didn’t come from the Vance family.It came from people who assumed they understood the Vances.Jesse learned about it through a call that arrived just after noon. He listened without interruption, his expression unreadable as his legal advisor outlined the situation.When the call ended, he didn’t move immediately.Evelyn noticed. “That bad?”“Not unexpected,” Jesse replied. “But deliberate.”He handed her his phone.An opinion piece had gone live less than an hour earlier carefully worded, politely critical, and clearly strategic. It questioned the timing of the engagement, speculated about internal Vance disagreements, and suggested Jesse’s recent appearances signaled “a shift away from established alliances.”Evelyn read it twice.“They’re testing the narrative,” she said.“Yes,” Jesse replied. “And trying to provoke a response.”She looked up. “From you?”“From us,” he corrected.By mid-afternoon, the second move arri

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE — Lines ForwardThe proposal arrived without ceremony.No dramatic delivery. No urgent phone call. Just a neatly formatted briefing sent to Jesse’s secure inbox late one evening, marked Time-Sensitive, Strategic Review Requested.Jesse read it once.Then again.Evelyn noticed the pause. “That serious?”“Yes,” he said. “Because it’s reasonable.”He handed her the tablet.It was an expansion initiative long term, influential, and deliberately framed as collaborative. A cross-sector advisory role that would place Jesse in a more visible leadership position while formally incorporating Evelyn as a consulting voice.Not symbolic.Operational.“They’re formalizing us,” Evelyn said quietly.“Yes,” Jesse replied. “And testing how much reach we’re willing to accept.”The role would come with authority, resources, and influence but also visibility that couldn’t be undone.“This would end speculation,” Evelyn said. “But it would also define us.”“For a long time,” Jesse agree