Chapter 10 - Forever Yours
The wedding was held in the very same Gold Coast mansion where our story had begun, but instead of cold candles and artificial elegance, the estate was filled with warmth, genuine friends, family members laughing freely, and the sweet scent of fresh white roses.
My father walked me down the aisle, his steps steady and proud, handing my hand over to Luca, who stood at the altar waiting with a look of absolute, unreserved devotion.
As we exchanged our vows under the brilliant afternoon sun, I thought back to the frightened twenty-seven-year-old girl standing in the kitchen holding a switched dinner plate, terrified of losing her job.
Life didn't happen to people who stayed silent and waited in the shadows. It belonged to those who had the courage to speak up when everyone else looked away.
Later that evening, as the reception wound down and the stars began to sparkle over the Chicago skyline, Luca and I stood together on the private balcony overlooking the glittering city.
He wrapped his jacket around my shoulders, pulling me close against his side as the cool night breeze drifted off Lake Michigan.
"Penny for your thoughts, Mrs. Moretti?" Luca whispered, kissing my temple.
I smiled, resting my head against his chest, listening to the steady, comforting beat of his heart.
"I was just thinking," I murmured softly, "that rich people really need to pay closer attention to the people who clear their tables."
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Luca laughed out loud—a rich, booming sound that echoed into the night—and pulled me tighter into his arms.
"Agreed," he whispered, kissing my lips. "Best investment I ever made."
