Chapter 10 - The Vows We KeepThe spring of 2026 arrived with a brilliant, golden light that turned the waters of Lake Michigan into a vast expanse of blue silk.
Inside the chapel of the Lake Forest estate, the atmosphere was entirely different from the cold, tense nights of the previous winter. The white roses were back, but this time, they were not for Sophia’s wedding. They were for Ellie’s.
She stood at the altar, her white lace gown falling in elegant, structured folds to the marble floor, her hair styled in a thick braid that fell over her shoulder. Her gray eyes were clear of the fog that had hung over them, her hands holding a small bouquet of wild violets.
Dante stood opposite her, his custom tuxedo looking flawless, his dark hair combed back perfectly. The scar on his cheekbone was still there, a reminder of the battle they had fought together, but his eyes were filled with a warmth that completely transformed his severe face.
"Do you, Ellie Sullivan, take Dante Russo to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asked.
Ellie looked into Dante’s dark eyes, her hand resting in his, the emerald ring on her finger catching the light like a small, frozen star.
"I do," she said, her voice resonant and clear, anchoring itself in the quiet chapel.
"And do you, Dante Russo, take Ellie Sullivan to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Dante’s grip on her hand tightened just a fraction, pulling her closer still, until her chest brushed his.
"I do," Dante said, his voice dropping into that quiet, absolute register that carried the weight of his entire life. "In this life, and in whatever comes next."
As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, Dante leaned down, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that was warm, gentle, and entirely real. The crowd—no longer looking with pity or fear, but with a deep, genuine respect—erupted into a soft, polite applause.
May you like
As they walked out of the chapel together, the sun warming their faces, Ellie looked down at her hand, her fingers wrapped around his.
The lie was gone. The wedding was over. And for the first time in her life, Ellie Sullivan was exactly where she belonged.
