Chapter 5 - The Sweetest Victory
Ten minutes later, we stepped out through the grand glass doors of the hotel into the crisp Boston night air. The rain had stopped, leaving the pavement slick and shimmering under the streetlights. A sleek, matte-black Bentley awaited us at the curb, its door held open by our lead security detail.
Before I climbed into the luxurious leather interior, I paused and looked back one last time through the glass lobby doors.
Inside, the ballroom was in absolute chaos. Creditors, reporters who had caught wind of the federal audit, and confused wedding guests were swarming the foyer. My father was sitting slumped in a chair with his head in his hands, while my mother and sister screamed uselessly at an empty doorway. The empire they had built on cruelty, superficiality, and snobbery had collapsed under the weight of its own emptiness.
I didn't feel anger anymore. I didn't feel the sting of the red wine or the echo of their mockery. I felt only a profound, liberating peace.
I slid into the backseat of the Bentley, and Julian climbed in beside me, pulling me close against his chest as the car glided silently away from the hotel and into the glittering lights of the city.
"Did you get your dress ruined for nothing, or was that satisfying?" Julian asked with a soft, affectionate smile, brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead.
May you like
I looked down at the expensive cashmere coat draped over my shoulders, knowing the custom silk dress underneath would be cleaned and restored by tomorrow morning—or simply replaced with a dozen better ones. But more importantly, I looked at the man who loved me unconditionally, who had built an empire and laid it at my feet just to see me smile.
"It was worth every drop," I whispered, resting my head against his shoulder as the city lights blurred past us. "Let's go home."
