Chapter 19 - DUST AND ROSES
That evening, as twilight painted the sky in shades of deep indigo and rose, Khloe visited the city’s central botanical gardens—a place she hadn't stepped foot in since before her marriage to Marcus.
She walked along the stone path, listening to the soft rustle of autumn leaves and the quiet splashing of the central fountain.
She stopped in front of a wide bed of white roses.
She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small, metallic object: her old, platinum wedding band from her marriage to Marcus.
For months, she had kept it tucked away in a velvet box—a ghost of a past life that no longer belonged to her.
Khloe held the ring in her palm, looking at the inscription inside: Together Forever.
She let out a long, peaceful breath. There was no bitterness left in her heart, no lingering pain, and no regret. The fire had burned away everything weak, leaving behind only what was pure and unbreakable.
She opened her fingers and let the platinum ring drop deep into the dark, rich soil beneath the rose bushes.
She smoothed her coat, turned around, and walked back toward the garden gates where a sleek black Maybach waited by the curb.
Matteo stood by the open rear door, holding a warm coat for her, while Nico sat in the driver's seat, playing lively music on the stereo.
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"Ready to go home, Khloe?" Matteo asked with a warm grin.
"Ready," Khloe replied softly, stepping into the warmth of the vehicle.
