Chapter 7 - A Blueprint of Our OwnThe storm had cleared by late evening, leaving the city lights glittering across the dark waters of Puget Sound like a field of scattered diamonds.
Back at the penthouse, the city hummed softly below us. I stood out on the wide glass balcony, the cool night air catching my hair as I looked out toward the horizon where Roman’s cargo ships moved steadily across the bay, guided by invisible beacons and steady hands.
Footsteps approached softly from behind, and a heavy cashmere coat draped gently over my shoulders, blocking out the chill. Roman stepped up beside me, leaning his forearms against the glass railing.
"Your father’s legal team officially signed over the architectural rights to the southern port expansion today," Roman said, turning his head to look at me. "It’s entirely yours to design from the ground up. No corporate interference, no syndicate strings attached."
I looked up at him, feeling a deep, radiating warmth that had nothing to do with the coat and everything to do with the man standing beside me. For years, I had believed that love and safety were luxuries reserved for other people—that being a woman in my world meant accepting a cage as long as it was gilded.
"Thank you, Roman," I whispered, resting my hand over his on the cold glass. "For the ports. For the freedom. For not letting me fall."
Roman turned fully toward me, his dark eyes shining with an absolute, unwavering devotion that made my heart race. He reached out, his warm fingers gently tracing the clean skin of my wrist where the old bruises from Cassian’s grip had long since faded away, leaving only clear, unblemished skin.
May you like
"I didn't save you, Elena," Roman murmured, leaning down until his lips brushed my temple. "You saved yourself the moment you walked down that aisle and chose your own future. I just cleared the path so you could build whatever you wanted on top of it."
I smiled, sliding my hand into his, our fingers interlocking naturally, firmly, and as equal partners. As the city lights twinkled below us and the night stretched out toward a limitless horizon, I knew the foundation we had built together would never, ever break.
