EPILOGUE

THERICCIBALLWAS in full swing. It had become one of the biggest nights in Venice's social calendar and the gilded ballroom was packed with guests. The chandelier high above glittered in splendour, rare jewels sparkled at every table, but as far as Domenico was concerned, nothing and no one shone as brightly as his wife. As his eyes found her among the throng, he cut an eager path towards her.

‘Are you having a good time?' he whispered, slipping his hands around her stomach and resting them on her protruding bump, which even her cleverly designed dress couldn't completely hide.

‘Yes. But it's even better now that you're back at my side,' she murmured, stroking a hand across his jaw.

‘Would you like to dance?'

‘As if you need to ask. I told you I want to make the most of tonight before I'm too big to do anything...'

‘You'll still be ravishing,' Domenico cut in.

‘And before these babies get here and drastically upend our lives.'

The pregnancy had been planned entirely, but the news that it was a double pregnancy had stunned both of them. It had taken Rae a little time to adjust to the idea.

He smiled down at her, pulling her in close. ‘I think we're going to handle it fine. We'll do it the way we do everything—together.'

It was how they had navigated the whirlwind that the past few years had been, juggling both of their busy careers and their marriage. The Ricci Group had continued to flourish, with the maiden voyage of their cruise line setting sail a month earlier to a hail of praise, and Rae's career had gone from strength to strength. She had opened her first store in Venice two years ago, in the building Domenico had gifted her, drawing in brides from all across Europe, but as her renown had grown, so had the global demand for her bridal gowns. Partnering with a high-end department store in a deal facilitated by Domenico, six months ago she had opened her first boutique in their London store, with a second one set to open in New York in four months' time. It hadn't always been easy, but with communication and love they had managed it, their marriage growing stronger than ever.

‘I love you, Domenico Ricci. My life wouldn't be complete without you.'

‘You're everything to me, mi amore. And I can't wait to meet our two babies and tell them how perfect and how loved they are.'

Seven weeks later, Domenico was able to do exactly that. Their newborn daughters arrived several weeks early, but thankfully healthy. They named them Elena and Raphaella, names he and Rae had agreed upon very easily, and cradling them in his arms for the first time, Domenico murmured to them just how loved and precious they were.

As he gazed down at them, unable to tear his eyes away, he could feel his heart overflowing with so much love, and he found himself marvelling at how far he had come from the man he had once been, the man who'd married his wife without knowing how madly in love with her he was.

He had changed so much, and it was all because of Rae, he thought with a tender glance at her resting form. Because of her, he had learned to accept himself, to make his peace with the past and seize the future. Because of her, he felt safe, waking each morning without a single doubt in his heart or mind that he was loved, that he had always been loved, even if he hadn't been able to see it, and would continue to be for the rest of his days, and he never allowed a day to pass without making sure that Rae knew exactly the same thing.