Chapter 7 - The Woman Everyone Thought Was a Weakness
Celia targeted Mara.
She leaked a story accusing her of stealing from Roman.
Then another accused her of manipulating him.
Then another claimed the foundation was fraudulent.
Mara ignored them.
But Roman didn't.
He went public.
“My wife has never taken a dollar from me.”
The statement shocked the city.
Mara looked at him.
“Wife?”
He smiled.
“Not yet.”
She laughed.
The media exploded.
Celia panicked.
Roman and Mara were getting married.
They held the ceremony at a small estate outside Chicago.
No massive crowd.
No celebrities.
Just family.
Roman stood beside Mara.
“I spent seven months trapped in darkness.”
He looked at her.
“And you were the one voice I could hear.”
Mara cried.
“You were impossible.”
He smiled.
“And you stayed.”
“Yes.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They married.
Celia attacked the same night.
The estate was surrounded.
Security moved.
Mara stayed calm.
She used the emergency plan she had built with Roman.
The attackers were trapped.
Celia escaped.
But not for long.
Mara had predicted her destination.
Celia went to the old Calder warehouse.
The place where Thomas Bennett had hidden his final evidence.
Mara found it first.
Inside was a recording.
Celia speaking to Roman's father.
The entire conspiracy was recorded.
The evidence was enough.
Celia was arrested.
The remaining network collapsed.
Roman finally dismantled the criminal organization completely.
He sold the illegal properties.
Returned stolen funds.
Compensated victims.
Mara directed the foundation.
The woman who had once been a poor nurse now controlled one of the largest charitable trusts in Illinois.
But she never changed.
She still bought discounted groceries.
Still complained about bad coffee.
Still worried about wasting money.
Roman loved that about her.
“You're worth more than the entire city.”
“I know.”
He laughed.
“You're supposed to blush.”
“I have bills.”
“You don't.”
“I like them.”
He smiled.
“Marry me again.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“We already did.”
“That was one wedding.”
“We are not having another.”
May you like
He kissed her.
“Fine.”
