His Forbidden Heiresss

sed close, her breath misting in the cold, stale air. From beyond the walls came the sound of gunfire-sharp cracks t

e, jaw set, every inch the man who would risk everything to protect her. The

gear moving through the great hall, Devon's security team engaged in a brutal firefight. Shouts echoed off th

thal precision, a pistol in one hand as he darted between cover. H

n the trigger through the narrow opening, but Devon reacted first-whirling and slamming the butt of his pistol

ed in through the shattered French d

von needed help. She crawled along the passage, searching for the release lat

, the acrid scent burning her lungs. Below, the hall was a battlefield of splintered fu

shouted, rais

ef and horror flashed in

hree shots, the recoil nearly knocking her off her feet. Two missed, but the third caught him

already moving, rising from cover to place

ting her halfway. He grabbed her shoulde

ging her eyes. "I coul

illar. Devon's eyes widened. He grabbed her, spinning them both behind a stone column just as the explosion rock

rms locked tight around her. She raised her head, cough

hurt?"

her head.

itting up. "I

the attackers back. Devon hauled Lola to her feet, keep

ready ablaze, black smoke curling into the gray sky. Devon's men were herding the last of Cavanau

m the wind as a tactical team rappelled down. The insignia on their

heavily armed officers poured into the courtyard. One barked orders in rapid Swiss-Germa

, their eyes locking across the courtyard. His

-

ises while Swiss police took statements from everyone present. Devon sat across from

la waited. He looked tired, but his eyes were kind.

es weak with rel

, weary smile curving his lips. He reached for her hand, and they le

-

bullet holes, priceless art reduced to scraps. The staff bustled to clear debris

ly unscathed among the chaos. She ran her fingers over the keys, pressing on

orway, watching her. "I

all smile. "My m

shing soot from her ch

entatively at first, then with growing confidence. A soft mel

ys, they were simply Devon and Lola-no reporters, no assassins, no blood-soak

r. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her deepl

gh her tears. "We

-

hunder outside had them bolting upright, hearts pounding. But each time, Devon wou

ing in the doorway, laptop in hand. "You

d flanked by Interpol agents, being led through a Parisian hotel lobby. Repo

Clarissa said. "The documents you leaked led to

ith a shaky hand. Devon

n softening. "The Swiss government is granting you

-

. Lola stared out the window as the sun rose over the Atlantic, pain

" she aske

smile that made her heart a

-

at had once hosted their fathers' celebrations. This time, the mood was differe

" Devon said, voice ringing clear. "Our fath

hand. "And we're n

ola into a kiss-slow, unhurried, the kind that spoke of foreve

-

ugh Central Park, the city lights glintin

she ask

g a lock of hair f

shining in her e

ped her face, eyes blazin

oice breaking.

mise into the moment. When they finally broke apar

without hesitation. "

ever be the same- but neither would they. Together, they had survived. And

-

bration, headlines praising Lola and Devon for their courage in exposing Victor's crimes. Social media feeds

headquarters. Sunlight streamed through the towering windows, casting geometric patterns on the polished conf

inching the bridge of her nose. "The SEC, the FBI, and Interpol all coordinating

t?" Devon ask

him? Catastrophic. But his associates-some of them won't go down

ound hers beneath the table.

ou informed. For now... you've

-

erily normal and irrevocably changed. Pedestrians hurried by with coffees and shoppi

t's strange, isn't it?" she mu

rown up in. "It's comforting, in a way. After eve

drifted from the trees, carpeting the ground. Lola pulled Devon toward a ben

Do you ever think about what our fathe

eath. "Every day. I

"We stopped the man who destroye

pulling her close. "I couldn't ha

immering. "And I couldn't ha

d watched them fall and rise again, oblivious pass

-

didn't com

pressed to his ear. He was shirtless, hair disheveled, muscles tense as stee

"We need round-the-clock security. And find out w

. "Sorry I woke you," he said

shing the shadow of stubble on

o spin the story, paint us as opportu

sted. "Do peopl

we have the truth-and the evidence.

. "Then we don't hide either. We've come too

ce, eyes softening

o kiss him. "Then show me," s

finally collapsed back onto the sheets, breathless and flushed, they knew they'd found som

-

real-time feeds from news outlets around the world. The footage of Victor's arrest had gone viral. L

s anchor was reading from a statem

ses. "Mr. Cavanaugh intends to fight these allegations. He will n

rattling coffee cups. "He's bluffing,

f he can spin the narrative, he could sway pu

but icy. "Then we won'

-

'd uncovered. Clarissa uploaded it to every major news outlet and social platform. It spread like wildfir

ames of complicit officials and corporate partners were revealed, each tied to irrefutable proof. By ev

-

of his penthouse, a bottle of champagne between them. Th

Devon said, ra

ers against hi

or a long time, they sat in comfortable silence

. "Do you really want to ma

n, taking her hands.

d, voice small. "The danger, the he

ghts. "Especially after everything. Because you're the onl

er cheeks. "I do lov

husky in her ear. "Then marry me to

alf-sob, half-

sing his forehead to hers.

-

ineyard in the south of France, the same place Devon's parents had honeymooned decades before.

, along with Clarissa, Margaret, and a few loyal

ves. Devon looked devastatingly handsome in a tailored ch

and wife" were spoken, Devon pulled her close, kissing her with a depth that left the

-

alive with laughter and music. The world beyond the hills faded into

ass, his smile wide and unguard

ks pink. "I like

s her again. "Because I plan to call you

e stars faded and the sky turned pale pink. It was the start o

-

tion in her father's honor to support victims of financial fraud. Devon restructured his companies, ensuring transpar

crumbled, his name synonymous with ruin. His allies fled or were arrested

by side, knowing that whatever challenges came next, they would face them together-stronge

-