Chapter 60 A New Beginning

• The soft glow of candlelight filled the intimate dining room, casting warm, flickering shadows across the walls. Alexander had chosen the setting carefully—small, cozy, and filled with the kind of understated charm that matched the quiet triumph they were celebrating tonight. Around the table sat Celia’s closest friends, the people who had been her rock through every twist and turn of their journey.
• “I can’t believe we’re finally here,” Celia said, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and relief. Her hand rested comfortably in Alexander’s, their fingers interlaced.
• “Here’s to victory,” her best friend Lily said, raising a glass. “Because let’s be honest, Alexander, we weren’t sure you had it in you to win over Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.”