Chapter 99 Ninety nine
Elena's POV
The small chapel stands old and hidden in a corner of the city that I have never visited before, with walls made from stone that time has smoothed over many hundreds of years, and windows of colored glass that grab the light from the afternoon sun and throw it in bright patterns all across the seats made from wood. A priest stands ready at the front table, an old man who stays silent most of the time, the sort of person who has witnessed so much in his life that he no longer feels the need to question anything that happens around him.
Only a few people serve as our witnesses for this special moment. Sophie remains emotional and wipes her nose because she cannot hold back the feelings that overwhelm her completely. Franco holds himself tall and full of pride, with his eyes glowing in a way that shows a deep sense of amazement and joy. Ricardo looks different now after all these months, his expression has grown softer than I ever thought possible, turning into a look of true respect and perhaps even a warm kind of care that surprises me every time I notice it.
And there is Silvio, standing right at the front near the priest, with his gaze fixed only on my face and nowhere else in the entire room.
I choose to wear a dress in a rich shade of gold that feels deep and warm. I avoid white altogether because white represents purity and fresh starts for those who have lived simple lives without the struggles I have faced, but gold reminds me of the sun rising in the morning, of winning battles that seemed impossible, and of the gentle heat that follows after long periods of cold darkness. This dress feels much simpler than the heavy one I wore in the past, made from smooth silk that flows gently like a calm river, with a collar that reveals just a little skin, and long parts over my arms that touch lightly against my hands. I decide against any sparkling stones or long fabric trailing behind me or anything that would make me feel burdened, so it is only me moving forward toward him, selecting him on purpose with each careful step I take along the path.
The priest recites the ancient phrases that people have spoken in this place for many generations, the standard promises that bind two lives together in tradition. Yet even as those words fill the air, our eyes communicate so much more that no spoken language could ever capture fully.
In his features, I recognize the passage of all those years he has lived through, the heavy responsibilities he has shouldered without complaint, the actions he has taken that others might judge harshly, and the shadows that still linger inside him from choices made in difficult times. At the same time, I see the person who stayed by my side when sickness burned through my body like fire, who patiently showed me how to defend myself against dangers, and who offered me small tokens like a tool to make light and a way to unlock doors, giving me the freedom to decide my own path without pressure.
When the priest finally declares that we are now joined as husband and wife, Silvio leans in and presses his lips to mine in a kiss that changes everything.
This kiss does not come from a powerful leader taking what he believes belongs to him by right, but instead it feels soft and full of deep respect, carrying a sense of pure astonishment that causes Sophie to let her tears flow freely from where she stands behind us. For this brief period, during this single connection of our mouths, we forget our roles as rulers over a vast network of hidden dealings and risks, and we become simply two individuals who have battled through endless suffering and loss to discover one another at last.
For the next full hour following the end of the ceremony, we allow ourselves to exist only in that pure and uncomplicated way, free from the weights of our usual lives.
We step out from the chapel into the warm glow of the evening sun that paints everything in shades of gold, and we receive gentle words of happiness from the small circle of people who shared this with us. Franco reaches out to grasp Silvio’s hand firmly and then turns to do the same with mine, his eyes sparkling with an emotion that seems to light up his whole face. Sophie wraps her arms around me in an embrace so strong that it squeezes the air from my lungs for a moment, and she leans close to speak softly in my ear about how she always believed this day would come and how she wished for it with all her heart. Even Ricardo, who usually keeps his feelings locked away, gives a formal bow of his head that carries more meaning than any long talk he could deliver, showing his approval in his own quiet manner.
Soon after that, everyone departs and leaves us by ourselves, and we climb into the car to travel back toward the safe home we share, moving along roads where no one else knows about the important event that just took place in that hidden chapel.
That night, once we return to the private spaces that belong only to us, Silvio begins to remove my clothing with the care one might use when opening a treasured present that has been waited for over a long time.
He moves without hurry, taking his time with each piece, paying close attention to every detail in a way that makes me feel truly valued and cherished rather than something owned or controlled by another person. The golden dress slips away from my body first, followed by all the other layers beneath it, until nothing remains and I stand exposed in the soft flicker of light from the candles that surround us in the room.
“This time around,” he says in a low voice as his mouth brushes lightly against the surface of my skin, “there are no obligations hanging over us, no secrets that twist the truth, and no barriers that trap us against our will.”
His fingers follow the shapes and curves of my form, exploring me once more as if to confirm that I am truly present and solid and connected to him in this moment.
“Just you alone,” he adds with a gentle press of his lips to the curve of my shoulder. “Just me alone,” he continues with another touch to the sensitive area along my neck.
I reach up and draw him closer down toward me on the bed, and what unfolds between us after that differs greatly from any experience we shared in the past, filled with a new depth and meaning that transforms everything.
It proceeds at a leisurely pace that allows us to savor each sensation fully, treating the act as something holy and set apart, like a blessing bestowed upon all the trials we have endured and overcome together. Every false story we told to protect ourselves, every conflict that tested our strength and resolve, every instance of terror and anger and intense longing that drove us forward despite the pain, all of these elements converge now in this shared space, on this soft surface where we lie, with this man who has become my partner in ways I never imagined possible, and all of it happens because we both selected this path out of genuine desire without any hidden conditions or expectations attached.
As we move together, his body aligns perfectly with mine, and I feel the warmth of his skin pressing against me in a rhythm that builds slowly, drawing out the pleasure in waves that wash over us both without rush. His hands continue to wander across my back and sides, tracing patterns that send shivers through me, while his mouth explores further, leaving trails of kisses down my chest and along my stomach, each one deliberate and filled with intention to make me aware of how much he treasures this connection. I respond in kind, my own fingers weaving through his hair and pulling him nearer, guiding him to places where the touch ignites sparks of heat that spread outward, filling the room with the sounds of our breaths mingling and soft words exchanged in whispers that only we can hear. The candlelight dances on our forms, casting shadows that shift with every motion, and in this light, I see the scars on his body from old wounds, reminders of the battles he fought long before we met, but now they seem less like marks of suffering and more like symbols of the strength that brought him here to me. We take turns leading and following, sometimes him above me with his weight a comforting presence that grounds me in the reality of our union, other times me rising to meet him with equal passion, our eyes locking in silent promises that reaffirm the bond we just sealed earlier that day. The intimacy deepens as we lose ourselves in the flow, bodies slick with effort and desire, and each climax we reach together feels like a release not just of physical tension but of all the emotional burdens we carried for so long, washing them away in shared ecstasy that leaves us trembling and holding on tightly to one another. Time stretches out endlessly in this private world we create, where nothing exists beyond the feel of his heartbeat against my ear, the taste of his skin under my lips, and the way our limbs entwine as if we were always meant to fit this way.
When at last we come to rest, our bodies wrapped around each other in the quiet of the night, a feeling settles over me that I have not known for what seems like forever.
It is a profound sense of calm and contentment that fills every part of my being.
Later, while the darkness surrounds us completely, I find the courage to speak the phrase that has stayed locked inside my heart for such a long period.
“I love you, Silvio Valtieri,” I say in a voice barely above a whisper.
I sense his entire form become motionless next to me, as if he holds his breath in anticipation of what might come next.
“All of you completely,” I continue, shifting my position to press even closer against him. “The fierce side that others fear and the gentle side that only I get to see.”
His embrace grows stronger around me, squeezing with an intensity that makes it hard to draw in air, but I find that I do not mind at all because in that hold, I feel safe and wanted more than anything else.
“And I love you, Elena,” he replies in a tone that sounds raw and exposed, unlike any way he has spoken before, as if the words break through walls he built long ago. “The woman who entered my world at the club and took away every piece of me without even trying.”
I cannot help but smile as my cheek rests against the warmth of his chest.
“I did not take anything from you,” I tell him softly.
He lets out a quiet laugh that vibrates through his body and feels comforting and full of affection.
“You took away my sense of calm, my ability to stay in command, and my very heart,” he explains as his fingers gently follow the line of my back. “You left me with only this overwhelming urge to become someone deserving of your presence in my life.”
I lift my head slightly to gaze up at him, and even though the room lacks much light, I can make out the shine in his eyes, intense and filled with a depth of emotion that touches me deeply.
“You deserve it all,” I assure him as I place a soft kiss right over the spot where his heart beats steadily. “You always did deserve it, but perhaps you needed someone to come along and help you realize that truth.”
He pulls me even nearer in response, and we remain there in the stillness of the night, two souls who have faced flames of hardship and emerged stronger on the opposite side, ready to continue forward.
Beyond these walls, the rest of existence continues with its threats from rivals, the constant demands that come with maintaining control over a large organization, and the daily efforts required to keep everything stable and secure. However, for this evening alone, nothing matters except this enclosed space, this place of rest where we lie, and this person who shares it with me.
Come morning, we will confront whatever difficulties arise in our path, standing side by side as partners in every sense.
But for now, in this present time, we allow ourselves to pause and recover from the past, to mend the parts that still ache inside, and to express the affection that has grown between us over all these trials.
This moment provides everything we need right now, and it satisfies us completely. my back