Chapter 8 - Rebuilding the Foundation
Moving back to Boston was a gradual process. Dominic didn't force Clara to live in the penthouse where the painful memories resided. Instead, he purchased a beautiful, sprawling estate in the countryside of Massachusetts, surrounded by acres of rolling hills, ancient oak trees, and a private pond.
It was a fortress of safety, but it felt like a paradise of freedom for the children.
Clara spent her days setting up a massive, state-of-the-art kitchen on the property. She wasn't running a public café out of necessity anymore; she was baking because she loved it, sending batches of cookies and fresh bread to local orphanages and community centers.
One afternoon, Dominic found Clara standing in the middle of the kitchen, looking out at Noah and Lily playing tag with a golden retriever puppy Dominic had bought them.
"Are you happy, Clara?" he asked, stepping up behind her and gently placing his hands on her waist.
May you like
Clara leaned back against his solid chest, sighing with a deep contentment she hadn't felt in half a decade. "I am, Dominic. For five years, I thought I was protecting them by keeping them in the dark. But seeing them with you... seeing how much they love you... I realize they were just waiting for their father."
Dominic kissed the crown of her head. "And I was waiting for you. The company is completely legitimate now, Clara. The Romano name stands for something clean. For them."
