Semua Bab I Signed the Termination and Took My Crown: Bab 1 - Bab 9

9 Bab

Chapter 1

Harper’s POVMy husband, Dante Moretti, was killed at a routine drug meeting two months ago. Since then, the Moretti called in his twin brother, Ash, to take over—not just Dante’s responsibilities in the family business, but also the role of… accompanying me.I hated the idea of dragging innocent people into the fallout of my life. So today, I came by wanting to tell them I was ready to handle things on my own.Before I could knock on the door, I heard voices coming from the study.“Dante,” Nicholas asked, voice low, “it was Ash who died. Why would you make us tell Harper that it was you? You’re twins, yes, but identical or not—they’ll figure it out.”Then came the voice I had believed belonged to Ash. Except it wasn’t.It was Dante. Alive. And speaking like this was all a minor inconvenience.Father, you know I never loved her. The only reason I marry her was because you promised me the seat of Don and the family business.”He exhaled, almost wistful. “Now that Ash is gone, this is f

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 2

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

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 4

Harper’s POVSince the surgery wasn’t happening anytime soon, it was time for the casino tour—scouting the location, taking in the layout.“Babe, I want to come too. I’m so bored at home,” Gianna pouted, clinging onto Dante’s arm.If there was one thing Dante hated the most, it was distractions during serious work. I figured Gianna might finally get her first real taste of rejection today.But instead, he smiled. “Of course. Mi amor.”Right. I forgot. Gianna was the mighty Dante’s exception. So at the end, the three of us—plus two guards—all piled into the black SUV. Gianna slid into the passenger seat without hesitation. I was wedged into the back, crushed between two guards built like refrigerators.The drive was mercifully short. Twenty minutes, tops.The second I stepped out, I drew in a breath."This way,” Dante said, already tugging Gianna along by the hand.There weren’t many people inside today. But judging from the layout, the place had potential. Five stories tall, with the

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 5

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

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 6

Harper’s POVDante looked like I’d just slapped him across the face. Gianna, on the other hand, stared at me like I’d grown horns—like the silly, grieving widow she thought she looked down turned out to be nothing she imagined.I held their stares and added sweetly, “Oh, and Ash… Gianna? Since neither of you have ever worked for the family before, I’m afraid you don’t get a vote today.”A few of the Moretti family members had started whispering among themselves. Back when Dante was being… well, Dante, they were his closest allies. But what they really cared about were money and protection.And now that Dante had decided to become his weaker twin brother, Ash, neither of those things were guaranteed anymore.I became their smarter choice.“If I am selected as the official Don of the Moretti, the Quinns will back me with every resource we have. That includes our political alliances and our cross-border connections.”A few men shifted in their seats. Good—they were listening.“Think about

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 7

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

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 8

Harper’s POVI turned and walked back to my desk, sitting down with unhurried grace. “Am I really that much of a moron to you? You think you can show up, call me baby, and I’ll forget everything?”Panic bled into his eyes. Dante had staged a grand comeback—but overlooked one crucial detail.I had known he wasn’t dead from the start.“Harper, listen—”I raised a hand. “Dante, cut the bullshit. You didn’t die. I heard you the moment you came back, pretending to be Ash and screwing around with Gianna.”He opened his mouth, then closed it. “You… you… How did it?”“Yes, Dante. I knew the entire time.” I smiled, slow and cruel. “Why do you think I pushed for a vote? You didn’t actually buy that nonsense about ‘protecting my husband’s legacy,’ did you?”I used the same tone he’d once used behind my back—when he thought I’d never hear.“What? Deaf now?” I tilted my head. “And about Gianna poisoning me—I knew that too. I suppose even God couldn’t stand the two of you, so He made sure I heard ev

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 9

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

Baca selengkapnya

Chapter 10

Harper’s POVThree years passed. Business was booming—crazier than ever.Apparently, the scandal between me and the Moretti turned out to be excellent PR. People loved a good downfall story—especially one where the woman walked away victorious.More and more clients reached out, eager to work with me.Some even praised me to my face. “You’re fierce, Miss Quinn.”Well. I’d always been this fierce.As for Dante… I heard he attempted to bribe a guard and sneak out of prison.To help ensure Dante stayed exactly where he belonged, I had him transferred to a single cell with minimal free time.And, for added security, I stationed a few burly prison guards—well-trained and with a very specific taste in men—right outside his door.When Charles heard, he laughed. “You’ve gotten brutal, Harper.”I only smiled. “Everyone knows better than to mess with a Quinn.”…Today was my thirty-fifth birthday. The day my father officially stepped down from Quinn’s Don… and handed everything to me.Seven year

Baca selengkapnya

Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi