Chapter 7 - The Crown We ShareA year later, the grand ballroom of the Lydian Hotel in downtown Chicago was packed with city officials, elite developers, and prominent philanthropists for the annual maritime charity gala.
At the center of the room, standing beside the sparkling champagne tower, were Roman and Clara DeLuca.
Clara wore a stunning, backless emerald-green silk gown that commanded every eye in the room. Her dark curls fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and her smile radiated absolute confidence and peace. She wasn't hiding behind a clipboard or standing quietly in the background anymore.
She was standing as co-chair of the DeLuca Foundation and equal partner in every sense of the word.
Roman watched her from the edge of the stage, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, his eyes filled with a fierce, quiet adoration. When she caught his gaze across the crowded room, he walked over, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her firmly against him in front of the flashing cameras and applauding crowd.
"You're staring again, Mr. DeLuca," Clara murmured, raising her champagne flute with a playful smirk.
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"I have the best view in the city, Mrs. DeLuca," Roman replied, pressing a lingering kiss to her temple. "And I intend to keep it forever."
The music swelled, the chandeliers glittered above the Chicago skyline, and Clara knew she had finally found her place—not in a cage, but beside the king who loved her.
