All Chapters of Billionaire Romance: Mine Tonight: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The Next MorningSeraphine woke alone, the sheets beside her cold. She found Damien in his home office, surrounded by multiple screens displaying financial data, legal documents, and surveillance footage. He hadn’t slept.“Tell me you at least had coffee,” she said from the doorway.“Three cups.” He didn’t look away from the screens. “Michael’s team worked through the night. We have something.”She moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “What did you find?”“The shell company is registered in Delaware, but the funding traces back to Sterling Diamond Corporation old money, massive generational wealth. The person controlling the account is Victoria Sterling, heiress, thirty-one, with a history of…” He pulled up a file. “Obsessive behavior toward men she finds interesting.”Seraphine studied the photo on screen. Victoria was beautiful in a cold, calculated way platinum blonde, surgically perfect features, the kind of polished appearance that screamed wealth and entitle

Three Days LaterDamien sat in his office reviewing the proposal from Thomas Sterling’s attorneys. Victoria would plead guilty to reduced charges criminal harassment instead of stalking—in exchange for mandatory psychiatric treatment at a private facility specializing in delusional disorders. She’d be required to stay until doctors certified she was no longer a threat, with a permanent restraining order preventing any contact with Damien or Seraphine.“What do you think?” Marcus asked, reading over his shoulder.“I think Thomas Sterling is trying to protect his daughter while accepting she needs serious help.” Damien set down the document. “The question is whether this is adequate protection for Seraphine.”“The restraining order is permanent and comprehensive. Victoria would face immediate arrest if she violated it. Plus, she’d be in a locked psychiatric facility indefinitely—that’s not a light sentence.” Marcus paused. “D, she’s sick. Genuinely mentally ill. Punishing her with priso

Two Months LaterAshton Productions was operational. The Brooklyn space had been transformed—editing suites installed, offices furnished, a small screening room completed. Seraphine had hired a core team: David Park as COO, a Korean-American executive who’d left a major studio to build something meaningful; Tessa Williams as head of development, a Black woman in her forties with impeccable taste and zero tolerance for mediocrity; and Ryan Cho, a young editor who understood both technical craft and emotional storytelling.Three projects were in active development. Film Maya’s addiction recovery story had a completed script and was being packaged with a director. Natalie Kim’s immigration drama was in second draft rewrites. The mother-daughter film Seraphine had been developing for years was in pre-production with financing secured.Everything was moving faster than she’d anticipated. Which meant the pressure was also intensifying faster than she’d prepared for.“We need to make casting

Few months later, its spring period. Ashton Productions’ first film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival to standing ovations and immediate acquisition interest. Seraphine stood backstage with Film Maya, both of them shaking with adrenaline and relief. “We did it,” Film Maya whispered. “We actually did it.” “You did it. Your performance was extraordinary.” Seraphine hugged her tightly. “This is going to launch you into a completely different category.” The after-party was at a gallery in SoHo, industry people mixing with the cast and crew. Damien had come to the premiere but disappeared before the party, texting that he had an urgent call. Seraphine mingled without him, accepting congratulations, fielding acquisition offers, riding the particular high of creative success. Around midnight, her phone buzzed. Damien: Can you get away? I need to show you something. Seraphine: Now? It’s my party. Damien: It’s important. Please. Something in the terseness made her concerned. She excu

Ten Weeks Before the Wedding The Brooklyn brownstone was even better in person. Five stories of original architectural detail, a private garden, and enough space for both of them to work from home when needed. Seraphine walked through the empty rooms imagining their life here dinner parties in the dining room, winter mornings in the sunlit kitchen, eventually children running through the halls. “You’re smiling,” Damien observed. “I’m imagining our life here. It feels right.” “Then we should make an offer.” He was already texting his real estate attorney. “I want to close before the wedding so we can begin renovations immediately.” “You’re going to need to learn patience. Real estate doesn’t move that quickly.” “Everything moves quickly when properly motivated.” He made several more calls while Seraphine explored the garden overgrown but salvageable, with an old magnolia tree that would be stunning in spring. By the time they left, Damien had made an all-cash offer significantly