Chapter 416
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Chapter 416:
Miles away, inside a solitary confinement cell at Rikers Island, Aspen stared at the blank wall — shivering as the realization of her ultimate failure was about to be delivered by the detectives already marching down her cell block.
The unit commander straightened up and pulled out his phone.
“You are under arrest for attempted murder,” he recited coldly. “And your client, Aspen Schneider, will be transferred to a maximum-security state prison for the remainder of her natural life. You are both looking at life without the possibility of parole p>
Two operators grabbed Viper by the arms and dragged his limp body out of the woods, throwing him into the back of a black armored transport van.
𝘓𝗮𝗍𝗲st chaрt𝘦r𝘀 оո 𝘨a𝗹ո𝗼𝘃е𝗅𝘀.c𝘰𝗺
Inside the Rolls-Royce, Gaston slowly lowered his hands from Jocelyn’s ears.
Jocelyn blinked and looked at him curiously. “Did something happen? I thought I saw flashing lights through the trees p>
Gaston leaned forward and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.
“Nothing to worry about, darling,” Gaston said smoothly, his thumb stroking her cheek. “Just estate security catching a poacher in the woods p>
His encrypted phone vibrated silently in his jacket pocket. He pulled it out.
A text from the unit commander glowed on the screen: Target secured. Area clear.
A dark, deeply satisfied smirk touched the corner of his mouth. He pressed delete, wiping the message and erasing the last drop of poison from Jocelyn’s world.
The convoy cleared the tree line and pulled up to the magnificent, castle-like architecture of the Collins Long Island estate.
A pristine red carpet stretched from the driveway all the way up the marble steps. Above them, two chartered helicopters swept over the property, releasing millions of white and pink rose petals that drifted down like snow. The air smelled of expensive champagne and blooming flowers.
The car stopped. Old Chen opened the door.
Gaston stepped out first. He turned and offered his white-gloved hand to Jocelyn, looking at her the way a knight receives his queen.
Jocelyn placed her hand in his, gathered her crystal-encrusted skirt, and stepped out into the brilliant autumn sunlight.
Hundreds of guests — Wall Street titans, politicians, and global elites — lined the lawns and erupted into deafening applause.
The wedding of the century, completely cleansed of shadows and threats, officially began.
Night fell over the Long Island estate.
The sprawling outdoor reception area was a masterpiece of wealth and elegance. Thousands of custom-made Baccarat crystal chandeliers hung from the branches of ancient oak trees, illuminating the manicured lawns with a warm golden glow that rivaled daylight.
A fifty-piece symphony orchestra played a sweeping romantic waltz. In the center of the massive, monogrammed dance floor, Jocelyn and Gaston moved together in perfect harmony, completing their first dance.
Around the perimeter, hundreds of elite guests raised their crystal flutes of Dom Pérignon, toasting the most powerful couple in New York.