Vanessa had imagined this moment for three years.
The arrest.
The handcuffs.
The moment the most untouchable criminal in the city would finally sit behind bars.
Yet something about the way Gale De Luca walked through the police station doors bothered her.
He didn't look like a man who had just been arrested.
He looked like a man arriving at a meeting.
Vanessa walked beside him, one hand lightly gripping his arm as officers escorted him down the corridor. Cameras flashed immediately from reporters waiting outside the building.
"Is it true you've arrested Gale De Luca?"
"Detective Rivera! Is this the end of the De Luca empire?"
Vanessa ignored them.
Gale didn't.
He glanced toward the cameras and gave a calm, almost polite smile.
The audacity of it made Vanessa's jaw tighten.
Inside the station, the air shifted.
Whispers spread quickly.
Officers glanced up from their desks.
Some looked shocked.
Others looked… uneasy.
Daniel leaned closer to Vanessa.
"You see that?"
"Yes."
"They look scared."
Vanessa didn't respond.
Because he was right.
This was supposed to be a victory.
Yet the entire station felt tense.
Like something had gone terribly wrong.
They reached the interrogation room.
Vanessa pushed the door open.
"Inside."
Gale stepped in without resistance.
He sat in the chair calmly while she removed the handcuffs.
The metal clinked softly as she placed them on the table.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Vanessa studied him.
Black suit.
Perfect posture.
Not a wrinkle of panic.
Not even irritation.
"You seem relaxed," she said finally.
Gale leaned back in the chair.
"I told you before."
"Before what?"
"That you made a mistake tonight."
Vanessa folded her arms.
"You're in a police station."
"Yes."
"You're under arrest."
"For now."
Her patience snapped slightly.
"You're not getting out of this."
Gale's gaze drifted to the observation mirror on the wall.
He knew exactly who was watching.
Then he looked back at her.
"You still believe that."
Vanessa leaned forward.
"Three witnesses saw you in that alley."
"Witnesses are unreliable."
"We have security footage."
"Video can be misinterpreted."
"You were at the crime scene."
"I visit many places."
Vanessa slammed the file onto the table.
The photographs inside spread across the surface.
Bodies.
Weapons.
Money trails.
Evidence she had spent years gathering.
"This is your empire," she said.
Gale glanced down at the photos.
Then back at her.
"No."
Vanessa stared at him.
"No?"
"This is what you think my empire is."
"And what is it really?"
Gale smiled slightly.
"You'll never see it."
Vanessa was about to respond when the door opened.
Daniel stepped inside.
"Elena—"
He stopped.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"You forgot my name?"
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
His voice sounded strange.
"The commissioner wants you upstairs."
"Now?"
"Yeah."
Vanessa glanced at Gale.
He looked completely unsurprised.
That bothered her.
"Stay here," she told him.
Gale gave a small nod.
"I'll be waiting."
She stepped into the hallway with Daniel.
The moment the door closed behind them, she turned sharply.
"What's going on?"
Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
"I don't know."
"Then why does everyone look like someone died?"
Daniel hesitated.
"That's the thing."
"What?"
"They're saying… someone important showed up."
Vanessa frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Government officials."
Her stomach tightened slightly.
That wasn't normal.
Not for a simple arrest.
She headed toward the stairs.
The commissioner's office door was already open when she arrived.
Inside stood three men in expensive suits.
And the commissioner.
His expression looked exhausted.
"Detective Rivera," he said.
Vanessa stepped inside.
"You wanted to see me."
One of the suited men stepped forward.
Tall.
Silver hair.
Cold eyes.
"Miss Rivera."
Vanessa studied him.
"Who are you?"
The commissioner cleared his throat.
"This is Director Han from the national security bureau."
Vanessa blinked once.
Why was national security here?
Director Han clasped his hands behind his back.
"You arrested Gale De Luca tonight."
"Yes."
"That was… unexpected."
"Unexpected?"
"We were hoping you wouldn't."
Vanessa stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
Director Han sighed.
"Detective Rivera, the man you arrested is extremely valuable."
"To criminals."
"To us."
Her brain froze.
"What?"
The commissioner rubbed his temples.
"Elena…"
"Vanessa."
"Yes, Vanessa."
He gestured toward the chairs.
"Sit down."
She didn't move.
"No."
Director Han continued calmly.
"Gale De Luca controls a large portion of the city's criminal networks."
"Yes."
"That gives him influence."
"Yes."
"And that influence… is sometimes useful."
Vanessa laughed.
"You can't be serious."
"We are."
"You're protecting him."
"No."
Director Han's gaze hardened slightly.
"We're using him."
Vanessa shook her head.
"This is insane."
"He helps us control worse organizations."
"He runs a criminal organization!"
"Yes."
"People die because of him!"
Director Han's expression didn't change.
"And people would die in much greater numbers without him."
The room went quiet.
Vanessa felt her pulse pounding.
"You want me to release him."
"Yes."
"No."
The commissioner sighed.
"You don't have a choice."
Her head snapped up.
"Try me."
Director Han placed a thin folder on the desk.
"Your brother."
Vanessa's blood ran cold.
"Don't."
"He needs surgery soon."
"You don't get to use him."
"The government is willing to cover all medical expenses."
Her hands clenched.
"All you have to do…"
Director Han said calmly,
"…is marry Gale De Luca."
The room spun for a moment.
Vanessa stared at him.
"…what?"
"You heard me."
"That's ridiculous."
"It's strategic."
"It's corruption."
"It's politics."
Vanessa looked at the commissioner.
"You're agreeing to this?"
He didn't meet her eyes.
"We don't have a choice."
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"No."
Director Han stepped closer.
"You can refuse."
"Good."
"But then the charges against Gale disappear."
She froze.
"And the hospital funding for your brother disappears with them."
The silence felt suffocating.
Vanessa stared at the folder on the desk.
Then slowly closed her eyes.
Her brother.
Her only family.
The surgery he needed would cost more than she could earn in twenty years.
Director Han spoke softly.
"The marriage lasts one year."
"And then?"
"You walk away."
Vanessa opened her eyes.
"And Gale?"
"He already agreed."
Of course he had.
The anger burned in her chest.
But anger wouldn't save her brother.
Slowly—
She picked up the folder.
"Fine."
The commissioner exhaled with relief.
"You're making the right—"
"This isn't cooperation."
Vanessa's voice turned cold.
"This is infiltration."
She turned toward the door.
"If I have to marry a criminal…"
Her eyes hardened.
"…then I'll destroy him from inside his own house."
—
Back in the interrogation room, Gale sat exactly where she left him.
The moment she entered, he looked up.
Their eyes met.
Vanessa closed the door behind her.
"Well?" he asked calmly.
"You win."
Gale studied her.
"Do I?"
"They want us married."
His expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes.
"You knew."
"I suspected."
Her voice sharpened.
"Why would you agree to something like this?"
Gale leaned back in the chair.
His gaze darkened slightly.
"Because, Detective…"
He paused.
"…I've been waiting three years for you to walk into my world."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Well congratulations."
"Thank you."
"But understand something."
Her voice was sharp as steel.
"I'm not your wife."
Gale's lips curved slowly.
"No?"
"No."
She leaned forward.
"I'm the woman who's going to destroy you."
For a moment Gale simply stared at her.
Then he laughed quietly.
Not mocking.
Not angry.
Almost… pleased.
"That," he said softly,
"is exactly why I chose you."