KISS'S POV
City V looked different from the sky.
Sharper. Colder. Waiting.
As the private jet descended, I felt Adrian's hand tighten around mine—not possessive, not controlling, just… grounding.
"We're home," he said quietly.
I nodded, my heart beating steadily.
"Home."
The doors opened to flashing cameras, lined security, bowed heads, whispered respect. This wasn't Italy. This was reality.
And this time, I wasn't returning as a guest.
I was returning as Mrs. Goodwill.
As I stepped down the stairs beside Adrian, a ripple passed through the crowd. Cameras clicked harder.
Voices lowered.
"She's beautiful…"
"She carries herself like a queen…"
"She looks calm."
I kept my chin high, shoulders relaxed, my hand resting lightly on Adrian's arm.
He leaned in. "Eyes forward. Let them look."
"I'm not afraid," I murmured.
A small smile touched his lips. "I know."
ADRIAN'S POV
They were watching her.
Assessing. Measuring.
And they were realizing something important.
She wasn't fragile.
She didn't cling to my shadow. She stood beside me.
When we reached the convoy, Oscar stepped forward immediately.
"Welcome back, sir. Ma'am."
She turned to him first, smiling warmly. "Thank you, Oscar."
His surprise was instant—but it softened into respect.
Good.
She saw people. That mattered.
As the car pulled away, I glanced at her. "The office tomorrow?"
"Yes," she replied calmly. "It's time."
That single sentence told me everything.
She was ready.
KISS'S POV
The Goodwill headquarters buzzed the moment I entered.
I felt it—eyes tracking me, conversations stopping mid-sentence.
Some curious.
Some cautious.
Some threatened.
I walked in beside Adrian, not a step behind.
When we reached the executive floor, he stopped.
"From here," he said quietly, "you don't follow me."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"You walk with me."
A murmur spread when we stepped out together.
Adrian didn't announce me.
He didn't need to.
I did.
I turned slightly to the gathered executives. "Good morning. I'm Kiss Goodwill."
Silence.
Then—
"Welcome, Madam."
One by one.
Inside his office, I exhaled slowly.
"That," I said, "was terrifying."
He laughed softly. "You were perfect."
I glanced at his desk. "I want my own office."
He blinked. "Already?"
I smiled sweetly. "I'm your wife, not your assistant."
His grin was slow. Dangerous. Proud. "Done."
ISAAC'S POV
I hadn't seen Augustina since that morning.
The one we agreed never happened.
So naturally, she walked straight into the conference room while I was mid-sentence.
Our eyes met.
And the air died.
She stopped cold.
I stopped breathing.
"Kiss," she said brightly, turning away from me instantly. "Welcome back!"
Kiss hugged her warmly. "I missed you."
I cleared my throat. "Morning."
Augustina didn't look at me. "Oh.
You're here."
"Yes," I said dryly. "Still alive."
She smiled tightly. "Unfortunate."
Adrian raised a brow. "Did I miss something?"
"No," Augustina and I said simultaneously.
Kiss narrowed her eyes. "You're lying."
"We're not," I insisted.
She smiled slowly. "You definitely are."
This was going to be a long day.
KISS'S POV
Power wasn't loud.
It was quiet confidence.
I learned that quickly.
At meetings, I listened more than I spoke. When I did speak, people leaned in. I didn't challenge unnecessarily. I questioned where it mattered.
By the third meeting, a senior executive finally asked, "Madam… how would you handle opposition from internal factions?"
I smiled. "I'd remove their leverage."
Silence.
Then Adrian chuckled softly.
The executive nodded. "Understood."
Later, Adrian caught my hand in the hallway.
"You're terrifying," he murmured.
I smiled. "You taught me."
ADRIAN'S POV
Peace never lasts.
That's the rule.
By evening, reports started coming in—subtle movements, quiet meetings, unfamiliar names resurfacing.
Chris Blackwood.
Ashley Barlow.
Still breathing. Still foolish.
I stood by the window when Kiss joined me.
"You feel it too," she said.
"Yes."
She turned to me. "Then we don't panic. We prepare."
God, I loved her.
ISAAC'S POV
I cornered Augustina near the elevators.
"We need to talk."
She crossed her arms. "There's nothing to talk about."
"We woke up naked," I said flatly.
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It means something happened."
She glared. "It means alcohol happened."
I leaned closer. "You didn't scream because you regretted it."
She swallowed.
"You screamed," I added softly, "because you remembered."
Her voice dropped. "Stop."
I stepped back. "Fine. But this isn't over."
She walked away.
But she didn't deny it.
KISS'S POV
That night, as Adrian and I stood on the balcony of the mansion, the city glowing beneath us, I rested my head against his chest.
"Do you ever wish things were simpler?" I asked.
He kissed my hair. "No."
I smiled. "Good."
"Because simple wouldn't survive us."
I laughed quietly.
Somewhere in the distance, danger stirred.
But for now—
I was where I belonged.
A queen beside her king.
And whatever storms were coming—
They would learn one thing very quickly.
We do not fall.
We rise.
Together.