Chapter 15 - THE HAPPY ENDING
The wedding was nothing like the cold, forced affair Vanessa had planned.
It was held in the sunlit courtyard of the Moretti estate, surrounded only by true friends, my mother, and a very happy little girl in a white lace dress.
Sophie stood proudly as our flower girl, scattering pink rose petals down the aisle before throwing her arms around both of us the moment we said our vows.
Teresa sat in the front row, wiping tears of joy from her eyes, her hearing aids catching every single note of the violin quartet.
The corrupt syndicate leaders were locked behind federal prison bars, forgotten by the city they once tried to terrorize.
Vanessa and Rebecca were serving long sentences in maximum security, their names erased from Chicago high society forever.
As for my mother and me, our financial struggles were a distant memory, replaced by peace, security, and genuine love.
That evening, as the reception music drifted softly through the open French doors, Luca led me out onto the stone balcony.
The Chicago skyline twinkled brightly in the distance.
Luca wrapped his strong arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin gently on my shoulder.
"Happy?" he whispered against my ear.
I leaned back into his embrace, watching Sophie dance joyfully on the lawn below with my mother.
"Happier than I ever imagined," I answered softly, turning around to wrap my arms around his neck.
May you like
Luca smiled, his dark eyes filled with absolute devotion, and kissed me as the stars shone down on our new beginning.
THE END.
