Chapter 19 - The Crown of Two CitiesJulian Morosco was a smart man. He knew when he was beaten. Within twenty-four hours, the transfer papers were signed, sealed, and delivered to our hotel suite. New York’s eastern shipping lanes now belonged to the Whitmore empire, and the ghost of Manhattan had been permanently put back in his box.

As our private jet soared back above the clouds toward Chicago, the morning sun broke over the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of gold and crimson.
I sat back in the leather seat, letting out a long, exhausted breath. The adrenaline was finally fading, leaving behind the profound reality of what we had built together.
Alexander poured two glasses of champagne, handing one to me before sitting down beside me.
"Penny for your thoughts, Mrs. Whitmore?" he asked softly, clinking his glass against mine.
I looked out the window at the endless expanse of sky, then turned to meet his dark, unreadable gaze—the same gaze that had saved me from public humiliation at the altar months ago.
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"I was just thinking," I smiled, leaning my head against his broad shoulder, "that Mason did me the greatest favor of his life when he tried to destroy me."
Alexander chuckled, wrapping his arm tightly around me as the jet cut through the clouds toward our empire. "He was a fool who didn't realize what he was throwing away. But lucky for me, I knew exactly what to pick up."