Chapter 10 - Dawn over the River
Three months later.
The morning sun broke over the Chicago skyline, casting brilliant golden light across the calm water of the Chicago River.
Selene stood near the glass floor-to-ceiling windows of a brand-new, state-of-the-art medical facility located in a revitalized downtown district. The sign outside read: Mercy Foundation Medical Center.
It was five times larger than her old clinic, equipped with top-tier trauma bays, advanced surgical suites, and a dedicated shelter floor for victims of domestic violence. Ivy Holloway, now legally divorced and recovering beautifully under heavy personal security, was working downstairs as the head administrator of the shelter wing.
A pair of strong arms wrapped gently around Selene’s waist from behind.
She leaned back into Damen’s broad chest, feeling the steady, reassuring heartbeat against her back. He wore a crisp blue shirt, looking every bit the refined billionaire, though she knew the lethal kingpin still lived just beneath the surface.
"You're late for rounds, Dr. Mercer," Damen whispered, pressing a soft kiss against the side of her neck.
"I was just looking at the view," Selene smiled, turning around in his arms to face him. She reached up, adjusting his silk tie. "It’s hard to believe all of this came out of a rainy night, a broken door, and a gunshot."
"Out of chaos comes order," Damen murmured, his dark gray eyes filled with a warmth that only she was ever allowed to see. "You gave this city hope, Selene. And you gave me something I thought I lost a long time ago."
"What’s that?" she asked softly.
"A heart," Damen replied simply.
May you like
He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep, tender kiss that tasted of sweet coffee and bright futures. Outside, the yellow morning light flooded the room—warm, clear, and free of shadows.
Selene smiled into the kiss. The little girl who lost her father in a sunny kitchen twenty-three years ago had finally stopped running. She was home.
