Chapter 10 - The New Queen
It took Vincent six hours to track down the heavily guarded safe house where Claire had taken Emma.
When the heavy steel door opened, Claire stood in the entryway. She wasn't wearing a delicate nightgown anymore. She wore sharp, dark clothing, her posture radiating absolute power. Behind her, in the living room, Emma was resting safely on the couch, her fever finally broken, happily watching cartoons.
Vincent, the most feared man in Chicago, immediately dropped to his knees on the hardwood floor.
He didn't make excuses. He poured out exactly what Sophia had done, handing Claire the iPad with the security footage. He told her Sophia was gone forever, utterly destroyed. He pulled the diamond ring from his pocket and held it out with trembling, tattooed hands.
"I don't expect you to put this back on," Vincent choked out, tears of genuine remorse falling from his piercing eyes. "I failed you. I failed Emma. But please, Claire. Give me the rest of my life to prove I can be a father to her. I will give you anything."
Claire looked down at the broken billionaire. She didn't take the ring.
"I don't want your apologies, Vincent," Claire said, her voice cold and resolute. "I want your empire."
Vincent looked up in shock.
"If I stay, I will never be the submissive, waiting wife again," Claire declared fiercely. "The legitimate businesses, the real estate, the shell companies—they all go into my name by tomorrow morning. I control the money. I control where we live. And you will spend the rest of your life earning your way back into your daughter's heart. If you ever disrespect us again, I will dismantle your entire syndicate myself."
Vincent didn't hesitate for a single second. He bowed his head.
"It's yours," he whispered. "All of it."
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Claire became the untouchable, undeniable queen of the Chicago underworld. She controlled the wealth, and she protected her daughter with an iron fist. Vincent spent every waking moment trying to be the father Emma deserved, completely subservient to the brilliant, powerful woman he was lucky enough to call his boss.
Do you think Claire was right to demand full control of his entire empire, or should she have just taken the money and left him forever?
