Chapter 10 - Crown and Scar
Three months later, the private terrace of the Falkner penthouse overlooked a golden autumn sunset stretching across Central Park.
The scandal involving the Laurent family had dominated the financial news for weeks, resulting in criminal indictments, corporate restructuring, and Vivienne fleeing the country in disgrace. But up here, far above the glittering noise of Manhattan, none of that mattered.
Helena stood by the glass railing, wearing a simple silk dress that felt a million miles away from the cheap black uniforms she used to wear. The long, pale scar on her back was no longer a reminder of a forgotten pain; it was the anchor that had brought the most powerful man in the city straight to her door.
Footsteps echoed softly behind her, followed by the familiar warmth of a heavy wool jacket draping gently over her shoulders.
“You’re standing out here in the wind again,” Adrian murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and resting his chin softly on her shoulder.
Helena leaned back against his chest, smiling slightly as she placed her hand over his. “I was just thinking about that night on the river, twenty-one years ago. Do you ever wonder what would have happened if I hadn't pulled you out?”
Adrian turned her around slowly, looking down into her eyes with a fierce, unwavering devotion that made her heart race every single time.
May you like
“I don't have to wonder,” Adrian whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Because every breath I take, every empire I’ve built, and every beat of my heart has belonged to you since the moment you saved my life.”
Helena rested her head against his shoulder, knowing for the first time in her life that she wasn't just surviving the storm—she was the queen of it.
