flash

Chapter 16

That evening, back at the estate, the grand dining room was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the rich aroma of Rosa’s famous Italian roast. Luke, Dr. Vance, Rosa, Emma’s mother, and a few close confidants sat around the long mahogany table, celebrating a milestone that felt nothing short of miraculous.

Luke raised his glass of scotch toward the head of the table.

“To Danny,” Luke announced, his voice ringing clear across the room. “Who taught us all that a true empire isn’t built on fear, but on loyalty, resilience, and a stubborn refusal to stay down.”

The table erupted in cheers as glasses clicked together in unison.

May you like

I raised my own glass of water, looking around the room—at the bright windows, the laughing faces, the absence of shadows—and finally at Emma sitting beside me, her hand resting warmly over mine beneath the edge of the table.

“To new beginnings,” I added quietly, meeting her gaze. “And to the people who remind us how to live.”

Other posts