Chapter 10 - The Queen of the Rossi Empire
One year later.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan was decorated with thousands of white roses, gold ribbons, and glowing candles.
Over eight hundred guests filled the pews—senators, governors, international business moguls, and the entire reshaped council of the New York families, who now ruled under a new era of peace and legitimate enterprise.
At the front of the altar stood Lorenzo Rossi, looking majestic in a black silk tuxedo.
Beside him stood Mateo, holding one-year-old Leo, who was wearing a tiny matching tuxedo, happily sucking on a silver pacifier, giggling as he looked at the crowd.
The organ roared to life with the grand wedding march.
The heavy oak doors of the cathedral opened wide.
A collective gasp went through the eight hundred guests.
Hunter walked down the long red carpet.
She looked like an empress. Her custom ivory satin gown cascaded around her in sweeping folds, embroidered with gold thread and real pearls. A ten-foot lace veil flowed behind her, supported by two flower girls. Her dark hair was styled royalty-high, crowned with a diamond tiara that had belonged to the founding matriarchs of the Rossi bloodline.
She was no longer the hollow-eyed, grieving girl who had scrubbed baseboards in the dark.
She was radiant, powerful, loved, and revered—the undisputed Queen of the Rossi Empire.
Lorenzo watched her walk toward him, his eyes shining with unhidden, proud tears.
When her father’s surrogate—Mateo—handed her hand to Lorenzo at the altar, Lorenzo leaned down and whispered into her ear.
“You take my breath away, my Queen.”
“You gave me a life, my King,” Hunter whispered back, her blue eyes sparkling with absolute happiness.
The cardinal performed the holy ceremony, declaring them husband and wife before God and the world.
“You may kiss the bride,” the cardinal announced.
Lorenzo didn't hesitate. He pulled Hunter into his arms, dipping her back gracefully as he kissed her with all the passion, devotion, and eternal love in his soul.
The entire cathedral erupted into thunderous applause, cheers echoing off the vaulted stone arches.
When they turned to face the crowd, holding hands, with baby Leo held proudly in Lorenzo’s arm, the entire room bowed their heads in respect to the family that had risen from the ashes of grief to conquer the world with love.
Hunter looked out at the clapping crowd, then down at the healthy, laughing boy in her husband’s arms, and finally up at Lorenzo’s smiling face.
The maid had saved the baby.
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And the baby had crowned the Queen.
The End
