Chapter 26 - the promise elena made in front of everyone
The wedding took place in the garden.
No marble ballroom.
No security perimeter.
No hidden rooms.
Just sunlight.
Mia walked down the aisle carrying flowers much too large for her.
She nearly dropped them twice.
Everyone laughed.
Elena appeared at the end of the path.
Alessandro forgot how to breathe.
She smiled.
Not because she was being rescued.
Because she was choosing.
When they stood together, the officiant asked them to exchange vows.
Alessandro spoke first.
“I spent most of my life believing love meant protecting someone from everything.”
He looked at Elena.
“I was wrong.”
Her eyes filled.
“Love means trusting someone enough to let them choose.”
Then Elena spoke.
“I spent most of my life believing accepting help meant owing someone.”
She looked at Alessandro.
“You taught me the difference.”
She took his hands.
“You never gave me a debt.”
She smiled.
“You gave me a choice.”
They exchanged rings.
Mia whispered loudly:
“Can they kiss now?”
Everyone laughed.
The officiant smiled.
“Yes.”
They kissed.
Later, during dinner, Luca approached Alessandro.
“I never thought I'd see this.”
Alessandro smiled.
“Neither did I.”
Luca looked at Elena.
“She looks happy.”
“She is.”
“And you?”
Alessandro looked toward Elena.
“Yes.”
Luca nodded.
Then he turned to Elena.
“I'll keep showing up.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
Daniel raised a glass.
“To second chances.”
Marco corrected him.
“To better choices.”
Everyone laughed.
Alessandro looked around the table.
Years earlier, these people had been connected by secrets.
Tonight, they were connected by truth.
May you like
That was worth more than any empire.
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