Chapter 8 - The Ruin of Tyler Vance
While the underworld was reacting to our marriage, Giovanni kept his promise regarding my ex-husband.
By 2:00 PM that afternoon, Tyler Vance’s life was completely destroyed.
I sat in Giovanni’s home office, watching a live news broadcast on the wide-screen television.
“Breaking News: Vance Logistics CEO Tyler Vance has been arrested by federal marshals on charges of grand larceny, tax fraud, and human trafficking through the Chicago docks. The company’s assets have been frozen by the Department of Justice...”
On screen, video footage showed Tyler being dragged out of his high-rise office building in handcuffs, his expensive suit rumpled, tears streaming down his face as news reporters shouted questions at him.
Behind him, my cousin Vanessa was captured screaming at federal agents as bank officials posted foreclosure signs on their million-dollar penthouse.
My phone rang. It was an unknown number.
I answered it.
"Jessica!" Vanessa’s voice shrieked through the speaker, hysterical and breathless. "You bitch! You did this! You got Tyler arrested! The bank just repossessed our house and our cars! I'm pregnant, Jessica! How could you do this to your own cousin?!"
I listened to her voice—the same voice that had mocked my poverty at the wedding twenty-four hours ago.
"You stole my husband three days after I found out I was pregnant, Vanessa," I said, my voice cold and calm. "You smiled in my face while Tyler tried to steal my daughter's trust fund. You reaped what you sowed."
"Jessica, please!" she begged, weeping uncontrollably. "Tell your mob husband to lift the freeze! We have nothing left!"
"Don't call this number again," I said, and hung up the phone.
Giovanni walked into the office behind me, resting his large hands gently on my shoulders. "Satisfied?"
May you like
I leaned my head back against his chest, letting out a long sigh of relief. "He can never hurt Lily again."
"No," Giovanni murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss against the top of my head. "He can't."
