Chapter 10 - Tên Chapter 10 - The Vow in Palermo
One year later.
The Mediterranean sun warmed my bare shoulders as a gentle sea breeze carried the scent of wild rosemary, lemon groves, and saltwater across the terrace. Below us, the azure waters of the Gulf of Castellammare sparkled like a blanket of crushed diamonds, while colorful fishing boats rocked peacefully against the stone piers of Palermo.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror inside the master bedroom of the historic Moretti villa—a sprawling stone estate that Lorenzo had secretly tracked down, bought back from an Italian banking conglomerate, and restored to its full 19th-century glory under my name.
I looked at my reflection.
I was still five-foot-seven, still blessed with wide hips, full thighs, and the soft, beautiful curves of a real woman. But I no longer wore ill-fitting black coordinator suits meant to make me invisible. Today, I wore a bespoke ivory lace gown designed by an atelier in Rome. It plunged gracefully at the neckline, cinched perfectly at my waist, and flowed down into a breathtaking silk train that made me look like an ancient Mediterranean goddess.
A knock sounded on the open balcony door.
Lorenzo walked in, dressed in a custom cream linen suit without a tie, looking devastatingly handsome. The scars on his face only added to his rugged, regal presence, but whenever he looked at me, his eyes held nothing but profound adoration and peace.
""The guests are seated in the olive grove,"" he said softly, walking up behind me. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist, pulling my back flush against his chest and resting his chin on my shoulder. ""Four hundred people from Chicago, Rome, and Palermo. And every single supplier arrived three days early because they are terrified of the bride.""
I laughed, leaning my head back against his shoulder. ""I only threatened to withhold their payment if the truffles weren't fresh. Salvatore Rossi personally hand-picked the burrata this morning.""
""Salvatore calls you 'La Regina' now,"" Lorenzo chuckled, his lips pressing a warm kiss to the sensitive spot below my ear. ""The Queen.""
""I prefer CEO,"" I replied, turning in his arms to face him.
Over the past twelve months, everything had changed. Jonathan Vance was currently serving twenty-five years in federal prison for extortion, fraud, and corporate espionage. The South Side docks were completely legitimate now, fully converted into a clean international logistics and maritime enterprise. And I wasn't just Lorenzo’s partner in life; I was the Chief Operating Officer of the Bianca-Moretti Maritime Corporation, managing every shipping route between Chicago, New York, and Southern Italy.
""You transformed my world, Rosie,"" Lorenzo murmured, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. ""Before you walked into that dining room at The Drake, I thought power was about fear. I thought life was just an endless war against rivals and traitors. You taught me that true power is truth, brilliance, and building something that lasts.""
""And you showed me who I really was,"" I replied, my eyes misting with tears of pure happiness. ""You looked at a woman the world tried to ignore, and you made me feel invincible.""
""You were always invincible, little flower,"" he smiled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, worn object.
It was my grandmother’s green goat-leather ledger. Fully cleaned, its golden hinges repaired, and on the front cover, freshly embossed in gold leaf, were two words: MORETTI & BIANCA.
""Nonna Lucia would have danced on the tables today,"" I whispered, touching the worn leather with trembling fingers.
""She is dancing,"" Lorenzo promised. He took my hand, lacing his long, strong fingers through mine. ""Are you ready to walk down that aisle, Rosie?""
I looked into the eyes of the man who had terrified Chicago, the man who had brought down billionaires for bruising my wrist, and the man who loved every single inch of who I was without reservation.
May you like
""Lorenzo,"" I smiled, lifting my silk train with absolute elegance and pride, ""I was born ready. Let’s go make our family proud.""
Together, hand in hand, the girl who refused to be invisible and the king who surrendered his heart walked out into the brilliant Sicilian sunlight, ready to claim their forever."
