Chapter 10 - The Feast of the Rinaldi HeirThat evening, the Rinaldi mansion was bathed in warm golden light.
When Serena and Lucia walked through the front doors, they were greeted by an explosion of confetti.
“YOU WON!” Marco, Julian, Toby, and Leo screamed in unison, running down the grand staircase holding homemade paper banners that read CONGRATULATIONS MOM & LUCIA!
Lucia gasped, dropping her schoolbag as Marco proudly placed a clumsy, glitter-encrusted paper crown on her head.
At the end of the grand foyer stood Vittorio.
He wasn't wearing his suit jacket. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his forearms, and a faint smudge of flour was dusted across his dark cheek. In his hands, he held a massive silver platter piled high with fresh, steaming plates of Roman carbonara.
“I heard there was a victory to celebrate,” Vittorio said, a rare, breathtaking smile breaking across his striking features—a smile that chased away every shadow of the cold, intimidating billionaire the city of New York thought they knew.
Serena walked toward him, the tension of the past months completely gone from her shoulders, her heart light and full.
“You didn't have to cook, Mr. Rinaldi,” Serena said, stopping just inches from him.
“Vittorio,” he corrected softly, setting the platter down on the foyer table. He reached out, his warm fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “And yes, I did. After all, the official test ended on our very first night, Serena. You didn't just survive. You brought my family back to life.”
Lucia laughed as the four boys dragged her toward the dining room, shouting about dessert.
May you like
Vittorio looked down into Serena’s eyes, his hand lingering on her cheek for a heartbeat longer before intertwining his fingers with hers.
And as the October rain tapped gently against the towering windows of the Rinaldi estate, Serena finally knew what it felt like to be home.
