Chapter 19 - The Secret Kept SafeLater that night, after the children had fallen fast asleep in their warm beds, Serena stood out on the wide stone balcony of the west wing, wrapping a thick cashmere shawl tightly around her shoulders as she looked out over the glowing city lights of New York.
Footsteps crunched softly on the stone behind her.
A warm, heavy wool jacket draped over her shoulders, followed by Vittorio’s arms wrapping around her from behind, pulling her back against his solid, comforting chest.
“You’ll catch a cold out here,” Vittorio murmured into her hair, pressing a gentle kiss to the crown of her head.
“I’m just thinking about where we were three months ago,” Serena whispered, leaning back into his embrace, watching the distant headlights stream across the highway. “Standing on these steps in the pouring rain, terrified that I was going to lose everything.”
Vittorio tightened his hold on her, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You never lost anything, Serena. You were just finding your way home.”
“And the boys?”
“They asked me today if you’re ever going to stop being their favorite person,” Vittorio chuckled quietly. “I told them it’s a permanent position with no possibility of termination.”
Serena smiled, turning around in his arms to face him. In the soft moonlight, the billionaire who had once terrified all of New York looked entirely at peace, completely disarmed by love.
May you like
She reached up, placing her hands on his chest, feeling the steady, rhythmic beat of his heart.
“Good,” Serena whispered, rising slightly on her tiptoes. “Because I don’t plan on leaving.”
