Chapter 8 - Serena’s Choice
Carlo aimed at Dante.
Vincent raised one hand.
“Not yet.”
Carlo looked at him.
“Why?”
“The marriage.”
Dante almost smiled.
There it was.
Proof.
Vincent needed him alive for six more minutes.
Dante lowered his weapon slightly.
Carlo frowned.
“What are you doing?”
Dante looked at Vincent.
“Negotiating.”
Serena understood first.
Vincent needed the marriage intact.
But Dante had signed the divorce papers.
The papers were not final until served and filed.
Arthur controlled that.
Dante looked at him.
“Arthur.”
The old lawyer swallowed.
“Where are the filing instructions?”
Vincent’s face hardened.
“Do not answer.”
Arthur looked at Dante.
Then at Carlo.
Then at the clock.
“I was supposed to file electronically at 12:01.”
Serena stared.
Vincent turned.
“You fool.”
Arthur continued.
“If Dante was dead, the signed papers would be destroyed.”
“And the marriage would legally survive his death.”
Dante nodded.
“Making Serena my widow.”
“And locking the trust transfer.”
“Yes.”
Carlo laughed.
“Wonderful.”
Dante looked at Serena.
“You heard him.”
She nodded.
Dante pushed the envelope toward her across the desk.
“Your choice.”
Everyone stopped.
Vincent stared.
“What are you doing?”
Dante ignored him.
Serena looked at the papers.
“If I serve you now…”
“The marriage ends before midnight.”
“The trust fails.”
“Yes.”
“My father loses the transfer.”
“Yes.”
“And Carlo loses the docks.”
“Yes.”
Carlo’s gun shifted toward Serena.
Dante raised his weapon instantly.
Vincent shouted:
“Stop!”
The clock read 11:57.
Serena picked up the papers.
Her hands shook.
She looked at Dante.
“Do you want this?”
He answered honestly.
“No.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Then why give them to me?”
“Because I meant what I said.”
“What?”
“You’re free.”
Silence.
Not free from him.
Free to choose.
Serena looked at the signature.
Then tore the papers in half.
Vincent exhaled.
Carlo smiled.
Dante did not.
Serena tore them again.
Then placed the pieces on the desk.
“I am not staying married because of your trust.”
She looked at Vincent.
“And I am not divorcing Dante because you built our marriage as a weapon.”
She turned to Dante.
“If there is a marriage after tonight, we decide it tomorrow.”
Dante nodded.
“Yes.”
The clock changed.
11:59.
Carlo’s smile vanished.
Because Serena had not served the papers.
The trust would transfer.
Unless something else happened.
Dante looked at Arthur.
“Can the transfer be blocked?”
Arthur hesitated.
“Yes.”
Vincent went pale.
“How?”
Arthur looked at Serena.
“Fraud.”
Silence.
“If the trust condition was satisfied through coercion or criminal conspiracy, a court can freeze it.”
Dante smiled faintly.
“Good.”
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