Chapter 20

The following morning, the sun rose over a city entirely subjugated to the Westbrook name. The violent purges were a memory, replaced by the humming efficiency of legitimate and illicit businesses operating in perfect harmony under Dorian’s rule.

Lottie walked through the bright, airy corridors of the estate, reviewing the household logs. She had transformed the staff culture from one of fear and rigid submission to one of respect and fierce loyalty. The estate was not just a fortress; it was a home.

She found Dorian in his study, the sunlight catching the artistic tattoos on his hands as he signed documents. He looked up, his cold eyes instantly warming.

“The final European contracts are signed,” Dorian announced, his voice a low, vibrating hum of satisfaction. “The expansion is complete.”

“You built an empire, Dorian,” Lottie smiled, walking over to stand beside him.

“I built a perimeter,” Dorian corrected smoothly, pulling her onto his lap and burying his face in her neck. “To keep you safe.”

Lottie wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. She knew the monster still lived within him, ready to emerge the second a threat appeared on the horizon. But she also knew that the monster answered only to her. The absolute power of the Westbrook syndicate was anchored entirely by the housemaid who had refused to stay silent in the dark.

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