Chapter 17
That evening, a quiet family dinner was held in the estate's formal dining room.
Soft candlelight illuminated the mahogany table, which was set with fine china and fresh spring flowers.
Julian, Clara, and Marcus raised their glasses in a quiet toast to new beginnings and lasting peace.
"To family," Marcus toasted, smiling warmly across the table.
"To family," Julian and Clara repeated together, their glasses clinking with a pleasant, musical chime.
After dinner, Marcus excused himself to return to his office in Manhattan, leaving Julian and Clara alone in the quiet house.
Clara put Leo to bed in his newly renovated nursery, watching him drift off to sleep under a warm blanket.
She then walked out onto the rear terrace, where Julian was standing under the starry night sky, looking out over the valley.
She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her face against his back.
"What are you thinking about?" Clara whispered softly into the cool night air.
Julian turned around in her arms, framing her beautiful face in his large, warm hands.
"I was thinking about how lucky I am that you came into my life, Clara," Julian confessed, his voice full of deep emotion.
May you like
Clara smiled, leaning up on her tiptoes to press a soft, passionate kiss against his lips.
Under the vast, starlit American sky, they held each other tight, knowing that their future was finally secure.
