Chapter 20: A Real Empire
Two Years Later
The ballroom of the Moretti mansion smelled of fresh roses, candle wax, and expensive perfume.
The crystal chandeliers glowed brilliantly above the heads of three hundred guests. It was the annual charity gala for the Evans Foundation—the non-profit organization Alessandro and I had built to support the families of workers injured or killed on construction sites.
I stood by the grand bay windows, looking out at the gardens.
I wore a sweeping silver gown. My hair was styled elegantly, and the diamond on my left hand caught the light.
"Mama! Mama, look!"
I turned around. Emma, now six years old and dressed in a beautiful navy blue dress, came running across the marble floor. Right behind her was Alessandro, looking impossibly handsome in a classic tuxedo.
"Slow down, Emma," Alessandro chuckled, catching her hand before she could crash into the champagne fountain.
He walked up to me, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. I leaned into him, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart.
"The governor just made a massive donation to the foundation," Alessandro murmured in my ear. "You gave a hell of a speech tonight, Mrs. Moretti."
"I had a good teacher," I smiled, turning my head to kiss his jaw.
The string quartet by the terrace doors began to play a soft, sweeping waltz.
Alessandro turned me around to face him. "Dance with me?"
"I think we need to make an announcement first," I whispered, a slow smile spreading across my lips.
Alessandro paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "An announcement? About the foundation?"
I shook my head. I reached down, taking his large, warm hand in mine. Gently, deliberately, I guided his palm flat against my stomach.
The breath completely left Alessandro’s lungs.
He froze. For one long, perfect heartbeat, the king of the East Coast stopped functioning. His dark eyes widened, snapping from my stomach up to my face, searching for confirmation.
"No pillows this time," I whispered, tears of pure joy pricking my eyes. "It's real."
A profound, earth-shattering realization swept over his face. He didn't care about the senators, the judges, or the corporate leaders in the room. He dropped to his knees right there on the ballroom floor.
He pressed his face to my stomach, his shoulders shaking with silent, overwhelming emotion.
Emma walked over, patting his back in confusion. "Dad? Why are you crying?"
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Alessandro looked up, his eyes bright with tears, and pulled both me and Emma into a crushing embrace.
"Because," Alessandro choked out, looking at his family—the family built on truth, not lies. "I finally have everything I ever wanted."
