Chapter 10 - The Sovereign’s Sanctuary
The ceremony on the terrace was small—only twenty people, mostly Mrs. Bellini, Bruno, Camryn’s mother, and a few close friends who had stood by them during the transition. The city below them glittered in the late afternoon sun, the buildings like giant shards of gold sticking out of the concrete.
They exchanged vows not of power or territory, but of presence.
"I spent my life building walls to keep the world out," Matteo said, his voice clear as he looked into Camryn’s eyes. "But you showed me that the only thing worth protecting is what’s inside. I give you my name, my life, and every day I have left."
"I came here to clean your floors," Camryn replied with a small, tearful smile. "But I stayed because you and Leo showed me that even the most broken places can be made beautiful if you're willing to get down on your knees and look for the heart."
The priest blessed the rings, and Leo handed them over with a serious, focused nod that made everyone laugh. When Matteo slipped the gold band onto her finger and kissed her, the applause was small but deep—the sound of a family finally finding its peace.
Later that evening, after the guests had gone and the city had turned into a sea of ink and light, the penthouse was quiet again.
The massive living room was dark, save for the small, warm glow coming from the west wing.
Matteo and Camryn walked down the hallway together, their fingers tangled. They stopped at the entrance of the playroom.
The giant blanket tent was still there. Inside, by the light of the star-lantern, Leo was fast asleep, his tiny arm looped around his old wooden tractor. But he wasn't alone. Mrs. Bellini had left a small plate of wedding cake on the floor next to him, untouched.
Matteo looked down at his wife, his arm sliding around her shoulders, pulling her against his side. "He didn't throw anything today," he noted softly.
"He didn't need to," Camryn whispered, leaning her head against his chest, listening to the steady, calm beat of his heart. "He has everything he wants."
May you like
Matteo leaned down, his lips brushing her temple. "We both do, piccola. We both do."
Outside, the lights of Manhattan burned bright, but inside the fortress of dolls and blankets, the king of the city had finally found his sanctuary, and the little boy who had once fought the world was safe in the arms of the maid who had loved him first.
