Chapter 9 - The Apology
The suffocating tension in the room broke, but the emotional weight only grew heavier.
Adrian slowly turned his back on the crowd. He completely ignored the staring billionaires and the flashing cameras of the elite press. His entire universe had shrunk down to the beautiful woman in the sage green dress and the curly-haired toddler in her arms.
He walked back over to Elena.
The terrifying, ruthless mafia boss did something the New York underworld thought was physically impossible. Adrian Vale dropped to his knees on the hard marble floor.
He didn't care about his sharp black tuxedo. He didn't care about his pride. He looked up at Elena, tears openly streaming down his rugged face, completely shattering his cold authority.
"I am so sorry, Elena," Adrian choked out, his voice cracking with profound, devastating grief. "I was blind. I was a fool. I should have protected you. I should have listened. I will spend every single second of the rest of my life begging for your forgiveness."
Elena stared down at the man who had broken her heart. She saw the raw, unfiltered agony in his dark eyes. The walls she had built around her heart for five years slowly began to crack.
Little Mara, completely unfazed by the drama, reached her tiny hand out. Her soft fingers gently touched the tear rolling down Adrian’s cheek.
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"Don't cry," the toddler whispered sweetly.
👉 Adrian had his family back, and his final vow would guarantee they would never have to fear the shadows again.
