Chapter 20 - Forever Begins Today

The sun was beginning to set as our black SUV rolled through the iron gates of the Marchetti estate, the familiar towers of our home standing proud and strong against the twilight sky.
As soon as the car stopped in the driveway, the front doors burst open, and three pairs of tiny feet came barreling down the stone steps, shouting excitedly.
"Mama! Papa! You're back!" Leo and Luca yelled in unison, while Mia sprinted ahead with her arms wide open.
Damian and I stepped out of the car, immediately dropping to our knees as our children slammed into us with joyous, laughing tackles, nearly knocking us both over.
I wrapped my arms around all three of them, pulling them close against my chest, breathing in the sweet scent of baby shampoo and sunshine. Beside me, Damian laughed—a rich, booming sound of pure happiness—wrapping his arms around all of us, creating an unbreakable circle of warmth and protection.
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I looked up past our children's dark curls, catching Damian’s gaze over their heads. The man who was once feared as the most ruthless kingpin in the city was looking at me with so much love, devotion, and tenderness that my heart felt fit to burst.
We had survived the darkness. We had conquered the lies. And as the first evening stars began to twinkle above the estate, I knew with absolute certainty that our story—our true, beautiful story—was only just beginning.