Chapter 9 - The Dress That Changed Everything
On our wedding morning, Mrs. Bellini brought the finished gown into my room.
It was ivory.
Simple.
Elegant.
No hidden secrets.
No family curse.
No political meaning.
Just a dress.
I put it on.
When I stepped outside, Casius was waiting.
He stared.
“Is that a yes?” I asked.
He smiled.
“You know what I thought the first time I saw you?”
“What?”
“That my life was about to become very difficult.”
I laughed.
“And now?”
“Now I know it became worthwhile.”
The ceremony was small.
My mother cried.
My sister cried.
Dante pretended he hadn't.
Mrs. Bellini cried openly.
And Casius never looked away from me.
When the vows came, he said:
“I spent my life surrounded by people who wanted something from me. Then you arrived and asked for nothing. You gave me the first thing nobody could buy.”
“What?”
“A reason to come home.”
I nearly broke down.
When I gave my vows, I said:
“I don't promise that life will always be easy. I promise that whatever comes, you will never face it alone.”
We kissed.
Everyone applauded.
For the first time, no one was negotiating.
No one was watching the clock.
No one was calculating territory.
We were simply two people getting married.
Afterward, we danced.
Then something unexpected happened.
Casius's former rival, Adrian Moretti, approached.
“I owe you an apology,” he said.
“For what?”
“For every time I thought you were your father.”
Casius nodded.
“So did I.”
Later that night, we returned home.
Our home.
Not a mansion.
Not a fortress.
A house outside the city.
There were no armed guards in the hallway.
No hidden tunnels.
No secret offices.
Just bookshelves, plants, photographs and a kitchen we actually used.
Casius took off his jacket.
I smiled.
“You're home.”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
Then he kissed me.
Outside, the city continued moving.
May you like
But for once, it didn't feel like the world was waiting to attack us.
It felt like the world had finally given us permission to breathe.
