Chapter 10 - One Hundred Seven Nights

Six months later, the rain over Lake Forest fell in a gentle, rhythmic drizzle—a soothing lullaby rather than a violent storm.
I stood on the expansive balcony of the master suite, wrapped in a luxurious cashmere robe, looking out over the manicured lawns and the glittering waters of the lake in the distance. The fear and desperation that had once defined my existence in the staff quarters were nothing more than ghosts of the past.
Inside the bedroom, the digital alarm clock flashed quietly on the mahogany nightstand. No textbooks on pediatric respiratory failure littered the room anymore; my nursing exams were behind me, successfully completed with the full backing of the Orsini Foundation's medical division.
Downstairs in the private wing, Micah was settled comfortably in his new, fully equipped recovery suite, laughing as he played a game of chess with Raphael, who had finally learned to leave his office work behind before dinner.
The bedroom door clicked open, and strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind, pulling me back against a warm, solid chest. Raphael rested his chin on my shoulder, pressing a soft kiss to my neck.
"What are you thinking about?" he whispered, his voice deep and rich.
I leaned back into his embrace, smiling as I looked up at the night sky. "I was counting."
Raphael chuckled, tightening his arms around me. "Counting what? Your medical textbooks?"
"No," I turned in his arms, wrapping my hands around his neck, looking deep into his clear gray eyes—eyes that no longer carried the crushing weight of a lonely empire, because he finally shared his burdens with someone who loved him. "One hundred seven nights ago, you knocked on my door and changed everything."
May you like
Raphael smiled, a genuine, radiant expression that he reserved for me alone, and pressed his lips softly against mine.
"And every night for the rest of our lives," he murmured against my lips, "is yours."