Chapter 10 - The Queen’s Reign
One year later.
The sun shone brightly over the lush, sprawling gardens of the Costello estate. The heavy iron gates were still guarded by elite security personnel, but the atmosphere inside the grounds was filled with warmth, life, and laughter.
A sleek red sports car pulled up the driveway.
Seventeen-year-old Sam stepped out of the driver's seat, looking healthy, tall, and strong. His leukemia was in complete, 100% remission. He was wearing a sharp jacket and carrying a folder of college acceptance letters in his hand.
"Sadi! Victor!" Sam called out happily, running up the stone steps toward the terrace.
On the terrace, Sadi sat in a comfortable lounge chair under a striped umbrella. She looked stunning in a flowy white summer dress, her hands fully healed, her skin radiant. On her finger, the massive diamond ring glittered in the sun.
Next to her, Victor sat without a tie or jacket, pouring fresh lemonade into glasses.
"Look at this!" Sam cheered, throwing the acceptance letter from Northwestern University onto the table. "Full scholarship for Biomedical Engineering!"
Victor stood up, pulling the boy into a strong, proud embrace. "I knew you’d do it, kid. I’m proud of you."
"Thanks to you, Victor," Sam said sincerely, hugging his brother-in-law back before running inside to get some food.
Victor walked back to Sadi's chair, crouching down beside her. He reached out, gently pressing his palm against her rounded stomach, where a soft, five-month baby bump was visible beneath her white dress.
Sadi smiled warmly, placing her hand over his.
"How is our little prince doing today?" Victor asked softly, leaning down to press a kiss against her warm belly.
"He's kicking," Sadi laughed softly, running her fingers through Victor's dark hair. "He knows his father is home."
Victor stood up, pulling Sadi gently up into his arms, kissing her deeply under the warm summer sky. The fears, the bleeding hands, the debt, and the shadows were all distant memories now.
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Standing in the arms of the most feared man in the city—the man who had claimed her before the world and given her everything—Sadi Hayes was no longer the quiet maid hiding in the dark.
She was the undisputed Queen of the city, loved, protected, and home at last.
