The evening before our wedding anniversary, my husband confessed he had fallen for someone else.

Marcus walked up the wooden steps of the veranda, his expression a mix of professional urgency and lingering caution. He offered a polite, deferential nod to Claire before turning his attention entirely to Alexander.

"Mr. Moretti," Marcus began, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. "Sorry to interrupt your afternoon, but the final signatures for the federal asset forfeiture and corporate restructuring have cleared the circuit court in Illinois. As of noon today, the transition is officially complete."

Alexander crossed his arms, looking down at the attorney with a critical eye. "And the federal indictments for the remaining capos who tried to contest the handover?"

"Sealed and executed," Marcus replied, opening his leather briefcase and pulling out a thick sheaf of stamped documents. "Every major player who refused to step down is looking at a minimum of twenty-five years in federal custody. The Moretti syndicate portfolio no longer exists on paper, in code, or in offshore accounts. You are officially clean."

Claire stood nearby, listening intently. A profound wave of relief washed over her. For three years, the shadow of Alexander's criminal enterprise had hung over her head like a guillotine blade. Now, with the stroke of a federal judge's pen, the blade had been dismantled entirely.

"Good," Alexander said, signing his name across the final lines of the legal release without a moment of hesitation. He handed the pen back to Marcus. "Make sure the transition grants for the community development funds we set up in Chicago are distributed by Monday morning. I want every penny of that dirty money funneled into legitimate infrastructure and education programs."

"Consider it done, sir," Marcus said, tucking the documents back into his briefcase. He hesitated for a second, glancing between Alexander and Claire. "If I may... congratulations on the new chapter, Mr. Moretti. High society in Chicago is still in absolute shock over the way things played out, but I think you made the right play."

"Get back to Chicago, Marcus," Alexander replied with a faint, dry smile. "Enjoy the quiet while it lasts."

Once the attorney's sedan backed down the driveway and disappeared around the coastal bend, Alexander turned back to Claire. He stepped close, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against his chest.

"Well," Alexander whispered against her hair, his breath warm against her temple. "The last legal tether to my past life has just been severed. There's no turning back now, Claire. I'm entirely yours."

Claire looked up into his dark, intense eyes, her hands resting softly against his chest. "You say that as if it's a bad thing, Alexander."