Chapter 10 - The Warmth of a Good Hug
The wedding of Dominic Vale and Grace Harper was not a grand, high-society affair. It took place in a sunlit garden upstate, attended only by their closest friends, Marcus, Claire, and little baby Leo.
Grace looked breathtaking in a simple, flowing lace gown, her dark hair adorned with wildflowers. Lucy, wearing a miniature version of her mother's dress, proudly carried the rings down the aisle.
As Dominic stood at the altar, watching Grace walk toward him, he felt a profound sense of peace. The Wolf of Manhattan had finally found his home.
At the reception, under a canopy of twinkling fairy lights, Dominic sat with his new family. Claire walked over, carrying baby Leo, and offered Grace a warm, genuine embrace before hand-delivering Leo to Dominic for a quick cuddle. The modern, blended family had found its perfect rhythm, built on a foundation of truth, forgiveness, and mutual respect.
As the music played softly in the background, Lucy tapped Dominic on the shoulder.
"Dad?" she asked, her big brown eyes looking up at him.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Dominic asked, handing Leo back to Claire and looking down at his daughter.
"Can we have one of those really good hugs? The ones where nobody makes you do it, and you just want to know you're not alone?"
Dominic stood up, pulling Grace into his side with one arm and wrapping his other arm completely around Lucy.
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"We can have those hugs every single day," Dominic whispered, pressing a kiss to Lucy's forehead and then to Grace’s lips.
The cold stone bench in Central Park was a distant memory. Surrounded by the warmth of the family he had fought for, Dominic Vale finally knew what it felt like to be completely, beautifully home.
