Chapter 6 - The Golden Garden
One year later.
The summer sun shone warmly over a private villa high in the hills of Lake Como, Italy. The deep blue water sparkled in the distance, surrounded by green mountains and colorful terracotta roofs.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming jasmine, fresh lemons, and rich espresso.
A large stone terrace overlooking the lake was decorated with white roses and vibrant paintings resting on easels.
I stood near an easel, wearing a light summer dress, adding the finishing touches of yellow paint to a canvas depicting the sparkling water below. My hair fell softly over my shoulders, my skin was glowing with health, and the fainted scar on my lower lip was barely visible beneath my bright smile.
A pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
Dominic pulled me back against his broad chest, resting his chin on my shoulder, breathing in the scent of my hair. He had retired from the violent operational life of New York, leaving his legitimate corporate logistics firm in the capable hands of Vincenzo, choosing to live a quiet, beautiful life with me in Italy.
"It's beautiful, my love," Dominic whispered into my ear, looking at the painting.
I turned in his arms, resting my hands against his broad chest, smiling up into his handsome face.
"It's easy to paint beautiful things when your life is beautiful," I teased softly, sliding my fingers over the gold wedding band on his finger.
Dominic smiled—a genuine, radiant smile that illuminated his dark eyes. He reached up, gently tracing the faint mark on my lip with his thumb.
"Do you remember the Brass Grill?" I asked softly.
"I remember every second of it," Dominic replied, his voice thick with deep love. "I remember the night a brave girl served me coffee with a split lip, and I realized my life would never be the same again."
"You saved me, Dominic," I whispered, leaning up on my toes.
May you like
"No, Maya," Dominic countered gently, kissing my lips with deep, lingering tenderness. "You saved me from a life of ice and shadow."
Hand in hand, we walked out onto the golden terrace, looking out over the sparkling lake under the Mediterranean sun—a future built on courage, freedom, and a love that would last for eternity.
