“This is ridiculous. Why would you hide a marriage from your own family?”

“Because I wanted to know how you would treat me when you believed I had nothing you wanted.”

His expression froze.

Before he could answer, Marcus Reed stepped toward Luca.

“Mr. Vance, I apologize for bringing up business here, but our restructuring proposal is still scheduled for board review Monday, correct?”

Chloe turned toward her new father-in-law.

“What restructuring proposal?”

Flynn suddenly became very interested in the floor.

And just like that, another secret began unraveling.

The wealthy banking family Chloe believed she had married into was facing a major financial crisis.

Chloe turned toward Flynn.

“What is he talking about?”

Flynn hesitated.

“Our commercial division has been dealing with a temporary liquidity issue.”

Marcus sighed.

“There’s no point pretending anymore.”

Chloe’s face changed.

“What issue?”

“We have close to two hundred million dollars in debt obligations coming due next quarter.”

She stared at him.

“You told my parents the company was expanding.”

“That had been the plan,” Flynn said quietly.

Marcus looked back toward Luca.

“Vance Global’s investment division had been reviewing us as a potential strategic acquisition partner.”

Chloe finally understood.

The banking dynasty she had spent months boasting about was not financially untouchable.

It needed outside capital.

And Vance Global had been one of the potential lifelines.

Marcus moved closer to Luca.

“Your risk team completed its final review Friday. We were waiting only for executive approval.”

Luca nodded.

“That’s correct.”

Marcus visibly relaxed.

“So we can finalize everything Monday?”

“No.”

The entire room seemed to stop breathing.

Marcus blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“I won’t authorize the transaction.”

“Mr. Vance, please. Whatever happened here tonight has nothing to do with our business relationship.”

Luca looked at him.

“You were sitting less than thirty feet from my wife.”

Marcus swallowed.

“I didn’t know she was your wife.”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Marcus stared at him.

Luca continued calmly.

“Large investments require us to evaluate the judgment and character of the people we partner with. What I witnessed tonight gave me additional information.”

My father immediately stepped forward.

“You cannot turn some private family disagreement into commercial punishment!”

Luca looked at him.

“This isn’t retaliation. Another investment group is free to reach a different conclusion.”

Marcus began trying to explain.

But Luca had clearly finished the conversation.

Chloe turned toward Flynn, horrified.

“You told me your family’s company was thriving.”

Flynn had nothing useful to say.

My mother approached me.

For the first time in my life, she looked afraid of saying the wrong thing.

“Jessi…”

I waited.

“Why didn’t you tell us who Luca was?”

“Because I didn’t want you to know.”

“But we’re your family.”

I almost laughed.

“Ten minutes ago, Arthur publicly described me as a failure.”

“He’d had some wine.”

“And you laughed.”

Her expression fell.

“It was uncomfortable.”

“For me,” I replied. “You seemed entertained.”

My father suddenly changed his tone.

It became warm.

Almost fatherly.

A tone he had rarely used with me before.

“Jessi, sweetheart. We all made mistakes tonight.”

I looked at him.

“No.”

“We can start over.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re family.”

I held his gaze.

“Ten minutes ago, you were telling a ballroom full of strangers that nobody could possibly want me.”

He glanced nervously at Luca.

“Well, obviously I was mistaken.”

And there it was.

He didn’t regret what he had done.

He regretted being wrong about my value.

“That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

Arthur frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you haven’t changed.”

My mother became defensive.

“Jessi, marrying a powerful man does not make you better than us.”

I gave her a faint smile.

“You’re right.”

For a moment, she looked relieved.

“Marrying Luca didn’t make me powerful.”

My father opened his mouth.

Then my phone started vibrating.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

It was my executive assistant.

I answered.

“Go ahead.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt your weekend, Jessi. The board moved the emergency authorization meeting forward.”

I stepped slightly away from the family.

“What changed?”

“The national infrastructure consortium accepted our acquisition terms, but they need executive authorization tonight before the escrow funds can be released.”

“What’s the final transaction value?”

“Three hundred and twenty million.”

Several people standing nearby heard the number.

Including my father.

He stopped talking.

“Are all closing documents executed?”

“Yes, Director.”

“Authorize the transfer.”

“Under the sixty-forty equity structure?”

“No. Change it to fifty-five, forty-five. I want the founders to maintain operational control for the first eighteen months.”

“Understood, Director Sterling.”

I ended the call.

My mother stared at me.

“What was that?”

“Work.”

“What kind of administrative worker authorizes a three-hundred-million-dollar transaction?”

I didn’t answer.

Marcus Reed did.

His eyes widened.

“Jessi Sterling. Director of Global Strategy at Sterling & Vance Capital.”

My father turned toward him.

“What did you say?”

Marcus looked almost stunned.

“She directs global strategy. Her name is attached to some of the largest private infrastructure transactions in the country.”

Chloe stared at me.

“The same firm involved in the northern transit acquisition?”

Marcus nodded.

“Yes.”

My mother shook her head.

“No. Jessi has an office job.”

“I do work in an office.”

“You told me you were an employee.”

“I am.”

“You said you handled documents.”

“I handle a lot of legal and financial documents.”