Chapter 10 - The Dawn
Six months later.
The private beach behind Julian’s Monterey estate was quiet, the waves gently lapping against the shore.
Clara walked barefoot in the sand, the coastal breeze playing with her hair. She wore a simple white silk dress, vastly different from the restrictive armor she used to wear. She was free.
She turned to see Julian walking toward her, carrying two glasses of champagne. He looked at peace, the heavy burden of his sister’s vengeance finally lifted from his shoulders.
He handed her a glass and pulled her close by the waist.
"The final papers went through this morning," Julian said, resting his forehead against hers. "The Sterling estate has been completely liquidated. The funds have been transferred to a charity for abuse survivors in Elena’s name."
Clara smiled, a genuine, radiant smile. "She would be proud of you, Julian."
"I don't care about the world being proud of me," he murmured, his gaze dropping to her lips. "I only care about you."
He set his glass down in the sand and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper—the original marriage contract they had drawn up on her second night at the house.
Slowly, deliberately, Julian tore the contract in half, then in quarters, letting the wind carry the pieces away over the ocean.
"What are you doing?" Clara asked, her breath catching.
Julian dropped to one knee in the sand, looking up at her with eyes full of absolute devotion.
"I don't want a contract, Clara. I don't want a business deal. I want my wife. I want the woman who ran through a storm and changed my life forever. Marry me. For real this time."
Tears of pure joy spilled down Clara’s cheeks. She dropped into the sand beside him, throwing her arms around his neck.
May you like
"Yes," she whispered fiercely into his ear. "Yes."
The storm that had brought them together was long gone, but as Julian held her against the backdrop of the endless ocean, Clara knew one thing for certain. They didn't need the lightning anymore. They had each other's fire.
