Contracted by the billionaire

chapter 12

Vivenne's Pov

The morning light filtered through the penthouse windows as I reviewed the final court papers with Iris on a secure video call. Three days of quiet from Margaret’s side had ended last night with a failed attempt to tamper with a witness. Roman stood behind me, one hand on my shoulder, reading along silently.

“Iris, is Nathaniel fully protected?” I asked.

“He is,” she replied, composed as ever. “Your father’s testimony is locked in. Margaret’s formal charges hit this morning. The judge won’t delay anymore. The hearing is tomorrow.”

Roman’s grip tightened slightly. “Good. Double security on everyone involved. No gaps.”

We ended the call. I turned to face him. “Tomorrow it ends. Or starts fresh. The inheritance, the contract, everything public.”

He pulled me up from the chair. “You ready?”

“I’ve been ready since I woke up in this second life,” I said. “No more hiding.”

Carter and Delia came in with updates. “Clarissa tried to reach Diana,” Carter said. “Mom shut her down cold. Said the Steele name stays clear of Ashworth messes now.”

Delia handed me her phone. “Sable’s going silent too. One last pathetic post before her accounts got flagged. They’re running scared.”

I scanned it quickly. Same old attacks calling me unstable. “Let them. Tomorrow the evidence speaks.”

Roman and I spent the next hours in his office going over my statement. I kept it factual, no emotion. The rebirth details stayed between us. He added notes from his team’s findings. Our rhythm felt natural now. He noticed everything, and I filled in the gaps from three years ahead.

“Victor’s testimony seals the fraud,” he said. “Your mother won’t walk away clean.”

I leaned against the desk. “She never saw me as a real daughter. Just a problem. Tomorrow she learns differently.”

He set the papers down and kissed me. Firm, unhurried, the kind that reminded me I wasn’t alone. His hands stayed possessive on my waist. The slow burn had built to something steady and deep. I kissed him back, letting it anchor me. When we pulled apart, his eyes held mine.

“After tomorrow,” he said quietly. “We move forward. No more threats.”

“I want that,” I whispered. “Real life with you. Not just survival.”

Delia called us out for a quick lunch. Simple sandwiches again. We ate while planning the entrance to court. Roman would walk in with me. Carter and Delia as support. Nathaniel would testify from our side.

“Your father sounded steady on the last call,” Delia said. “He’s owning his mistakes.”

I nodded. “Better late than never. In my old life, he never did.”

Roman’s phone buzzed. Security. “Clarissa’s outside the building with a camera crew. Playing the worried sister again.”

I stood. “Let me handle this one.”

Roman came with me to the secure monitor. Clarissa stood on the sidewalk, tears perfect on her face, telling reporters how I had turned against the family after my “breakdown.”

“Poison smile,” I muttered. “Same as always.”

Roman spoke into the intercom to security. “Remove them. No statements from us.”

The crew got pushed back. Clarissa’s expression flickered to anger for a split second before the mask returned. I felt nothing but cold resolve. “She’s most dangerous when smiling. But tomorrow that ends.”

We returned to work. Iris sent more files. Margaret had tried one final bribe on a court official. Caught. The net tightened.

In the afternoon, Diana stopped by briefly. “I’ve made my position clear to our circle. Vivienne is the named party. The rest is disgraceful.”

She looked at me. “You’ve earned respect. Don’t waste it.”

“I won’t,” I said.

She left satisfied. Small but important.

Roman pulled me aside later. “You’ve grown stronger every day here. I see it.”

“You helped,” I told him. “Paying attention when no one else did.”

He kissed my forehead, then my lips again. Deeper this time, his body pressing close. The possessive hold made me feel claimed in the best way. We kept control, but the heat was there. “Tomorrow after court,” he promised. “We finish what we started.”

“I’m counting on it,” I replied.

Carter ordered dinner. We ate as a group, keeping strategy light but focused. Delia made me laugh once with a sharp joke about Clarissa’s acting. It felt good. Real friends in the middle of war.

Evening updates came. Griffin Hale had been picked up trying to flee. More links to the murder attempt. “They’re crumbling,” Roman said.

I stood on the balcony with him before bed. “One day left. I remember the fear from before. This time it’s different.”

“Because you’re not alone,” he answered. He wrapped his arms around me from behind. Steady. Unwavering.

We went inside to his room. I changed and lay down beside him. His arm pulled me close immediately. “Sleep. Big day tomorrow.”

I rested my head on his chest. “In my first life, I died thinking no one would fight for me. You changed that.”

“I fight for what’s mine,” he said simply. “You. The contract. Our future.”

The slow burn felt complete in moments like this. Enemies to lovers, forced close by danger and papers, now real. I fell asleep to his heartbeat.

Morning arrived with final preparations. Iris confirmed everything set. Nathaniel ready. Evidence overwhelming. Roman dressed sharp beside me. “We walk in together.”

I took his hand. “Together.”

Delia hugged me quick. “Kick a*s. Then celebrate.”

Carter grinned. “I’ll handle any press nonsense outside.”

We headed to the cars with full security. The drive to court felt charged but calm. I reviewed my notes one last time. Roman stayed quiet, supportive.

At the courthouse steps, Clarissa waited with Margaret’s lawyers. Her eyes met mine. Hollow but sharp. She smiled that perfect smile.

“Vivienne. The family should handle this privately.”

I stopped briefly. “You tried to kill me. Twice. This is public now.”

Roman stepped forward. “Move.”

Roman sat beside me. His presence said everything. We were ready.