A complete stranger ordered me to pretend to be his wife at my sister's wedding—right in front of the ex-husband who abandoned me while pregnant.

The following morning, an emergency board meeting of the Fierro Conglomerate was convened at the family's downtown headquarters. Giovanni insisted I accompany him.

"They intend to contest the legitimacy of our marriage," Giovanni explained as the private elevator shot up to the sixtieth floor. "Aunt Beatrice has called for a shareholder vote to freeze my executive powers based on a morality clause in my grandfather's will."

"Can she do that?" I asked, smoothing the skirt of the elegant emerald dress Giovanni had selected for me.

"She can try," Giovanni smirked coldly. "If she had the votes. Which she won't after today."

The double oak doors opened into a massive boardroom. Around the oval table sat twelve elderly men and women, with Aunt Beatrice sitting at the far end, looking smug and triumphant. Beside her sat Tyler Vance, clutching a manila folder, sweating profusely.

"Ah, the blushing bride arrives," Beatrice sneered as we entered. "Take a seat, Giovanni. Mr. Vance here has brought documents that will invalidate your fraudulent little charade."

Giovanni didn't sit. He remained standing at the head of the table, resting his hands on the leather chair, looking bored. "Enlighten us, Mr. Vance."

Tyler cleared his throat, avoiding my eyes. "Members of the board... Jessica Hale and I never legally completed our custody separation. Under state family law, any sudden large-scale financial assets she acquires can be contested as shared marital property until the child's status is permanently settled. Furthermore, I have statements proving this marriage was arranged solely to deceive the board!"

A murmur of concern rippled through the board members. Beatrice smiled victoriously. "Which means, Giovanni, your marriage is a fraudulent transaction designed to circumvent family bylaws. I move to strip you of voting rights immediately!"

"A compelling performance," Giovanni said calmly. He signaled toward the door.

Two men in dark suits entered, escorting a disheveled man in handcuffs: Tyler's senior partner at Harrison-Cole.

Tyler’s face went bone-white.

"This is Marcus Sterling," Giovanni announced to the room. "For the past three years, Mr. Sterling and Tyler Vance have been embezzling from municipal pension funds and funneling the proceeds through Vance family trust accounts. The federal authorities were handed the complete evidence file twenty minutes ago."

"What?!" Tyler shrieked, knocking his chair over as he stood up. "That's a lie! That's not mine!"

"Every wire transfer bears your signature, Tyler," Giovanni said mercilessly. "Federal marshals are waiting downstairs in the lobby. Your career is finished. Your family's assets are frozen. And as for custody..."

Giovanni pulled a certified legal document from his breast pocket and tossed it onto the table.

"Three days ago, the family court finalized my legal adoption of Lily Hale Fierro, with full state approval and zero contestation due to your signed surrender five years ago. Lily is legally and irrevocably my daughter."

Tyler stared at the document, his knees buckling. He collapsed back into his chair, sobbing in total defeat.

Beatrice looked as though she had been struck by lightning, unable to utter a single syllable.