Chapter 17 - Homecoming
Damiano walked down the grand staircase and out into the bright spring sunlight. The estate's lawns had been repaired, the heavy security presence scaled back and hidden from view.
He walked down toward the apple orchard, his heart beating a different rhythm now.
He found them near the edge of the treeline. Clara was sitting on a checkered picnic blanket, wearing a simple white sundress, her face tipped up toward the sun. She looked beautiful, unburdened, like the girl he had fallen in love with all those years ago.
A few feet away, Elara was running through the grass, chasing a yellow butterfly.
May you like
Damiano paused, taking in the scene. He had spent his entire life building walls, hoarding power, and preparing for betrayal. He had thought that was what it meant to be a man.
He realized now that true power wasn't making people fear you. It was having something you loved so fiercely that you would burn the world down to keep it safe, and then having the strength to rebuild the world for them.
