Chapter 12 - Dawn Over the Vescari Estate
Two years later, the morning sun rose over the sprawling Vescari estate in Westchester, casting a golden glow across the manicured lawns, the private gardens, and the tranquil waters of the Hudson River.
Inside the nursery on the second floor, sunlight streamed through the sheer white curtains.
A toddler with messy dark curls and bright amber eyes laughed gleefully as he chased a golden retriever puppy across the plush carpet, babbling words only he could understand.
Aurora stood by the open window, holding a steaming mug of ginger tea. A pair of strong, familiar arms slid around her waist from behind, pulling her back against a solid, comforting chest.
"He's going to give us grey hair before he turns five," Roman murmured into her hair, pressing a gentle kiss to the nape of her neck.
Aurora smiled, leaning back into his embrace and resting her hands over his arms. "He gets his stubbornness entirely from his father."
"I take full responsibility," Roman admitted with a soft, rare laugh, resting his chin on her shoulder as they watched their son tumble across the rug with the puppy.
The estate was quiet, peaceful, and entirely secure. The shadows of the past—the betrayal, the trial, the fall into the dark Atlantic waters—were nothing more than distant memories buried deep beneath the foundations of an empire built on truth, survival, and an unbreakable love.
"Are you happy, Aurora?" Roman whispered softly, his voice carrying a quiet vulnerability meant only for her.
May you like
Aurora turned around in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking up into his dark, devoted eyes.
"I have everything I ever wanted," she answered, smiling as she kissed him. "We're home."
