THE HEIR OF SHADOWS

CHAPTER 14

A New Legacy

One year after Alessandro's death, Lia returned to his grave.

The cemetery was quiet that morning. The sky was clear, and there was only a gentle breeze moving through the trees.

She placed a bouquet of flowers beside the marble.

For a moment, she simply stood there.

"I finally understand you," she whispered.

There had been a time when Lia had been angry with her father. She had wondered why he had kept so many secrets from her and why he had allowed her to believe that the Romano family was their enemy.

Now she understood.

Alessandro had been trying to protect her.

He had made mistakes, but he had never stopped trying to give his daughter a future away from the dangerous world he had become trapped in.

"You weren't perfect," Lia said softly.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"But you tried."

She placed her hand against the cold marble.

"I wish you had trusted me enough to tell me the truth."

The wind moved through the trees.

For the first time, Lia didn't feel the same sadness she had carried since the day he died.

She felt peace.

A few feet away, Matteo stood quietly, giving her the space she needed.

Lia turned toward him.

"You don't have to wait."

"I know."

"Then why are you still there?"

Matteo smiled.

"Because you asked me to."

Lia laughed softly.

"You're impossible."

"I've been told."

They began walking away from the grave together.

The feud between their families was over.

The secrets had been exposed.

Adrian Vale was gone from their lives.

The Vale Circle no longer existed.

But Lia knew the past would always be part of her.

She couldn't erase it.

She couldn't change what had happened to her father.

But she could decide what happened next.

As they reached the cemetery gates, Lia looked back one last time.

"Goodbye, Dad."

Then she turned around.

She walked forward.

This time, she wasn't running from the shadows.

She was leaving them behind.

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