Chapter 17 - THE SHADOWS OF THE PAST FADE
The wedding was not held in a grand cathedral surrounded by Chicago socialites and tabloid photographers.
Instead, it took place in the sunlit backyard of the Lincoln Park brownstone, surrounded by a tight circle of close friends, loyal colleagues, and two very excited flower children.
Maya wore a delicate crown of white daisies in her hair, while Leo proudly carried the velvet ring box in his breast pocket.
Nia walked down the wooden garden path wearing a breathtaking ivory silk gown designed by her own firm—elegant, timeless, and entirely her own.
Luca stood at the flower-covered arbor, his dark suit perfectly tailored, waiting for her with a look of fierce, reverent devotion.
When she reached his side, he took her hands in his.
“You look stunning,” he whispered.
“You clean up all right yourself, Mr. Moretti,” she whispered back with a teasing smile.
The ceremony was intimate, officiated by a retired judge who had known Nia’s family for years.
When it came time for the vows, Luca spoke without notes, looking straight into her amber eyes.
“I promise to cherish you, to honor you, and to never let ambition or doubt ever eclipse my love for you again,” Luca vowed steadily.
“I promise to stand beside you through every storm, to listen with my heart, and to build a future where we are always each other’s home,” Nia replied, her voice ringing clear and strong across the garden.
“With the power vested in me,” the judge smiled, “I now pronounce you husband and wife once more.”
“You may kiss the bride.”
May you like
Luca pulled Nia into his arms, kissing her passionately as Leo and Maya cheered loudly, throwing handfuls of flower petals into the air.
The applause from their small circle of loved ones echoed into the warm afternoon sky, sealing a love that had survived betrayal, separation, and the darkest shadows of the past.
