Chapter 16 - Shadows In The Palazzo
Even in the romantic heart of Venice, shadows managed to creep in. Following the successful signing of the Verona Holdings acquisition, Julian and I hosted an exclusive private dinner at a secluded palazzo on the island of Giudecca, inviting key European stakeholders and international investors.
The evening was a dazzling display of high-society elegance—crystal chandeliers, flowing vintage wine, and classical string quartets echoing across the candlelit courtyard. I wore a crimson silk gown that swept gracefully across the ancient stone floor, commanding every eye in the room.
As I stepped out onto the quiet stone terrace to escape the stifling heat of the ballroom for a moment, the heavy oak balcony doors clicked shut behind me. The night air was cool, carrying the gentle scent of saltwater and blooming jasmine.
'Enjoying the view, Catherine?'
I froze. The voice was smooth, cultured, and dripping with venomous familiarity. I turned around slowly to find a tall, elegant woman stepping out from the shadows of marble pillars. It was none other than Serena Vance—Eldest sister of Evelyn and Marcus, a woman who had operated quietly behind the scenes during my father's lifetime and had managed to evade the federal dragnet until now.
'Serena,' I said, my voice dropping an octave as my hand instinctively brushed the stone balustrade. 'You've grown exceptionally brave wandering around international arrest warrants.'
Serena stepped into the moonlight, her dark eyes flashing with unadulterated hatred. 'You ruined my family, Catherine. You locked up Daniel like a common dog, you drove Evelyn to a federal penitentiary cell, and you stripped Marcus of his inheritance. You think you're untouchable because you sit on a throne of stolen paper?'
'Stolen paper?' I laughed softly, stepping toward her with absolute, fearless composure. 'Your sister and your former brother-in-law built their entire conspiracy on embezzlement and forgery. I simply reclaimed what belonged to my father's legacy.'
Serena's hand slid inside her designer handbag, her fingers wrapping around something cold and metallic. 'My family built this empire before your father ever stepped foot in America. And if I can't have it back... neither can you.'
Before she could pull out whatever weapon she had concealed in her bag, the balcony doors flew open with a resounding crash.
Julian stepped out onto the terrace, flanked by two armed Italian security specialists who had been monitoring the perimeter. Julian's face was a mask of cold fury as he locked his eyes onto Serena.
'Drop the bag, Serena,' Julian commanded, his voice slicing through the night air like a razor blade. 'Unless you prefer Italian maximum-security prisons over federal ones in New York.'
Realizing she was utterly outmatched and completely cornered, Serena let out a hiss of rage, dropped her bag onto the stone pavers, and raised her hands as the security specialists moved in to zip-tie her wrists.
May you like
Julian walked over to me, placing a steady hand on my shoulder. 'Are you alright, Catherine?'
I looked down at the discarded bag on the stone floor, then up into Julian's steady, protective silver-grey eyes. A calm, empowered smile spread across my face. 'Never better, Julian. Some people simply refuse to learn that empires cannot be stolen from those who built them.'
