Chapter 15 - THE CAKE THAT COST ONE DOLLARThree months later, Elena's apartment smelled like chocolate frosting and cheap birthday candles.
There were no crystal chandeliers.
No photographers.
No reporters.
No two-hundred-person guest list.
Just family.
Friends.
Paper plates.
Children running through the living room.
And one crooked chocolate cake Mia had decorated herself.
Damian arrived in jeans carrying flowers.
Mia blocked the door.
“Did you bring an expensive cake?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She stepped aside.
Elena laughed from the kitchen.
“You passed inspection.”
Damian had changed.
Not magically.
Not completely.
He still worked too much.
Still forgot to sleep.
Still carried the weight of an empire on his shoulders.
But he had learned something.
Money could solve problems.
It couldn't tell you which people were worth keeping.
After everyone sang, Mia climbed onto a chair.
She held up her old dollar bill.
“I still want to buy Mama the best cake.”
Elena kissed her cheek.
“Baby, this is the best cake.”
“It’s crooked.”
Elena smiled.
“So are most good things.”
Damian sat beside them.
Mia studied him.
“Are you still the serious man?”
“Sometimes.”
“Are you Mama's boss?”
“Not anymore.”
“Are you family?”
The room became quiet.
Damian looked at Elena.
He did not answer for her.
Elena reached across the table.
Took his hand.
“We're figuring that part out.”
Mia nodded.
Then pushed the dollar toward Damian.
“You can have this.”
He shook his head.
“No. Keep it.”
“Why?”
“Because it already bought something.”
“What?”
Damian looked at Elena.
Then at Mia.
“The truth.”
Mia considered that.
Then stuffed the dollar back into her pocket.
“Okay.”
She pointed at the cake.
“But next year I’m buying sprinkles.”
Everyone laughed.
This time, nobody flinched.
May you like
Nobody cried.
Nobody felt small.
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