Chapter 9 - The Queen’s Oath
The wedding reception lasted late into the midnight hours.
The gardens were illuminated by thousands of fairy lights suspended from the ancient oak trees. Guests danced to live jazz, enjoyed world-class cuisine, and toasted to the health and happiness of the new Mr. and Mrs. Moretti.
Cynthia had officially launched the Quinn-Moretti Medical Foundation earlier that week—a fifty-million-dollar charitable organization dedicated to covering medical debt and kidney dialysis costs for low-income families across the nation. She was now the Executive Director, using her knowledge as a nurse to save thousands of lives without ever having to worry about money again.
At 1:00 AM, Carter led Cynthia away from the bustling party, guiding her up the private winding staircase to the top balcony of the château.
The cool night air blew gently, carrying the scent of blooming jasmine and sea salt from the coast.
Cynthia leaned back against Carter’s broad chest, resting her head against his shoulder while his strong arms wrapped securely around her waist. Her wedding ring—a magnificent ten-carat oval diamond flanked by two rare pink sapphires—gleamed under the moonlight.
"What are you thinking about, my Queen?" Carter murmured, resting his chin on top of her head, kissing her soft hair.
Cynthia smiled, looking out over the sprawling estate, hearing the distant laughter of her brother and friends below.
"I was thinking about eight thirty-five that morning," Cynthia said softly, turning her head to look up at him. "When Dr. Vance humiliated me about my scrub jacket size. I thought my life was a dead end. I thought I was just a girl trapped under mountains of debt."
Carter’s eyes softened with deep, boundless affection. He turned her around in his arms, cupping her face with both hands.
"You were never just a girl, Cynthia," Carter whispered, his voice thick with raw devotion. "You were a warrior carrying the world on your shoulders. Vance was a fool who looked at a diamond and saw ordinary stone. But I saw you. And I will spend the rest of my life making sure you know how precious you are to me."
Cynthia wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down until their lips met in a quiet, perfect kiss beneath the star-filled sky.
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The plus-size nurse who had taken three bullets to save a stranger had found her sanctuary. The ruthless mafia boss had found his redemption.
And together, their love was an iron fortress that no force on earth could ever tear down.
