Chapter 4 - The Wife They Mistook for a Weakness
Grace held the first press conference of her life.
She stood outside Bennett Hall with Dominic beside her.
Reporters shouted questions.
“Mrs. Russo, are you pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Is your husband involved in organized crime?”
“No.”
She paused.
Then added:
“Not anymore.”
The crowd erupted.
Dominic glanced at her.
She continued.
“My husband has spent six years trying to separate legitimate businesses from a criminal legacy he inherited.”
She held up documents.
“Those trying to use our unborn child to regain control will not succeed.”
A reporter shouted:
“Who is trying?”
Grace looked into the cameras.
“Anyone who believes my child is property.”
The statement went viral.
Investors reacted.
Politicians reacted.
The Russo family reacted.
Matteo released a statement calling Grace unstable.
Grace smiled.
It was exactly what she wanted.
Because while everyone watched the public drama, Helena Cross was auditing the family trust.
Helena discovered something.
The original trust was not worth billions.
It was worth substantially more.
And almost all of it had been hidden.
Matteo wasn't trying to take money.
He was trying to prevent the public from discovering where the money came from.
The original trust contained evidence of decades of political corruption.
Shipping contracts.
Bribes.
Illegal trade routes.
The child would inherit not only money but the records.
That was why the baby had become dangerous.
Grace looked at Dominic.
“Your family is afraid of a newborn.”
“Not the newborn.”
He touched her stomach.
“What the baby will reveal.”
They prepared to release the records.
But before they could, Dominic was kidnapped.
Grace received a call.
His voice came through weakly.
“Don't come.”
“Where are you?”
“Grace.”
“Where?”
A man answered.
“Saint Mary's warehouse.”
The line ended.
She looked at Helena.
“We're going.”
“No.”
Grace stared.
“I'm going.”
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
“What are you planning?”
Grace smiled.
“Exactly what they think I won't.”
She went to the warehouse.
But she didn't go alone.
She brought federal agents.
State investigators.
The press.
And Dominic's legitimate business partners.
She turned the trap into a public confrontation.
Matteo was there.
Dominic was tied to a chair.
Matteo smiled.
“You've become troublesome.”
Grace answered:
“You underestimated me.”
“You're pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“You should be home.”
“No.”
He laughed.
“You think your husband can save you?”
Grace looked at Dominic.
“He isn't the one doing the saving.”
Matteo's smile faded.
Grace raised the trust documents.
“I am.”
She revealed the hidden clause.
She showed the evidence.
The cameras broadcast everything.
Matteo panicked.
His own men turned.
The legitimate partners withdrew their support.
Police moved in.
Matteo was arrested.
Dominic was freed.
Grace ran to him.
He wrapped his arms around her.
“You shouldn't have come.”
She laughed through tears.
“You're welcome.”
He kissed her forehead.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
“You're impossible.”
“You married me.”
He smiled.
“I know.”
But the victory didn't last.
Because one piece of the evidence was missing.
The person who had altered the trust documents.
May you like
Grace's mother.
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