Chapter 6 - The Contract That Could Destroy Their Love
The phrase stayed with Gianna.
Why did your grandfather choose Rafael?
It became an obsession.
Back at the Rosetti estate, she demanded every document in the family archives.
Daniel searched for three days.
He finally found something.
A marriage agreement.
Signed nineteen years ago.
Gianna was not named as the beneficiary because of her business ability.
She was named because of her blood.
Her grandfather had created the trust after discovering something shocking.
Rafael's father had a secret heir.
A child.
A daughter.
That daughter was Isabella.
Rafael's mother.
And Isabella was the true founder of the Holloway legitimate fortune.
The criminal empire had been built around her inheritance.
The legal ownership had never belonged to Rafael's father.
It belonged to Isabella.
And after Isabella disappeared, the ownership passed to her descendants.
Rafael.
Which meant Gianna's inheritance and Rafael's inheritance were never separate.
They were meant to be united.
Marriage was only the legal mechanism.
Gianna stared at the documents.
“So my grandfather manipulated us.”
Daniel nodded.
“Not exactly.”
“He chose us.”
“Yes.”
“That's manipulation.”
Daniel sighed.
“Perhaps.”
Gianna closed the folder.
Rafael entered.
“What happened?”
“Your mother owned the Holloway companies.”
He looked shocked.
“What?”
“Your father stole them.”
Rafael sat down.
“That means everything I've built…”
“Was built on stolen ownership.”
He stared at the floor.
Gianna softened.
“You didn't know.”
“But I benefited.”
“You were a child.”
“Then a man.”
“You tried to make it legitimate.”
“I also protected people who didn't deserve protection.”
Gianna sat beside him.
“You were manipulated.”
He looked at her.
“So were you.”
“Yes.”
They sat in silence.
Then Rafael asked quietly:
“Do you still love me?”
Gianna closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
He inhaled sharply.
“But I don't trust you.”
“I understand.”
“I don't know if trust can come back.”
“I'll wait.”
She turned to him.
“Don't.”
“What?”
“Don't wait for me.”
“Why?”
“Because that's what we always did.”
He smiled sadly.
“Then what do I do?”
“Earn it.”
He nodded.
The next morning, Rafael transferred control of the legitimate Holloway assets to an independent board.
Gianna did the same with Rosetti.
They created a joint foundation.
No family member could control it.
No marriage requirement.
No hidden clauses.
No manipulation.
For the first time, they chose each other without pressure.
Then something happened neither expected.
Natalie came to Gianna.
She carried a baby monitor.
Gianna frowned.
“Why?”
Natalie looked exhausted.
“Because someone is coming for you.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Victor Rosetti.”
Gianna froze.
“My grandfather?”
Natalie shook her head.
“The man using his name.”
Gianna's blood went cold.
The grandfather she had spoken to over the phone had died twelve years ago.
Then who had called her?
The answer arrived that night.
Daniel Mercer disappeared.
Bianca was kidnapped.
And Gianna received a video.
Bianca sat tied to a chair.
A man stood behind her.
His face was hidden.
But his voice was familiar.
“Give me the Rosetti trust.”
Gianna whispered, “You.”
Rafael stood beside her.
“What is it?”
She turned the screen.
He heard the voice.
His face changed.
“Victor.”
Gianna nodded.
“Your grandfather's brother.”
Rafael stared.
“He died twenty years ago.”
“No.”
May you like
The man on the screen smiled.
“I simply became someone else.”
