My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 400

Chapter 400: And How It Dimmed

The warm lights in the hall gradually brightened, and the spotlight shining on Ashley slowly faded. Seconds later, she could finally see the faces before her—their smiles, their attentive eyes, and, standing at the front of them all, Lucian and Primo, both on their feet, waiting to hear her speak.

"I’m sorry," she began, glancing apologetically at the host and the event coordinator. "I know this speech is important, but... standing here, I realized that if I was going to give this short speech, I wanted to actually see the people who made time for me tonight."

As she spoke, her gaze swept across the guests.

That simple opening alone brought even warmer smiles to their faces.

"A few months ago, I never would’ve imagined standing here—on this stage, talking about business alongside so many incredible people."

She let out a soft, self-conscious laugh.

"To be honest... I didn’t even know where my life was headed." Her smile widened. "If anything, I was just hoping to earn a few pennies from something I thought might be profitable."

The audience chuckled.

Although they had expected a polished corporate speech designed to sell the company, no one seemed disappointed. If anything, they were more interested in hearing the story behind the woman standing before them—a story they knew would one day be featured in business magazines and interviews.

"I’ve realized that I’m actually very lucky," she continued. "For the longest time, I thought I was unlucky. But looking back now... I think luck was always there."

She paused.

"It just arrived a little later."

Her eyes drifted toward the elderly couple standing at her table.

Liza.

Tommy.

"I was lucky enough to meet people who encouraged me to pursue something I knew absolutely nothing about."

Gratitude shone in her eyes as she nodded to them.

Then her gaze shifted to Primo.

"I was lucky enough to have someone who already believed I was amazing... exactly as I was."

Her smile softened as she met Primo’s bright, beaming grin.

Finally...

Her eyes settled on Lucian.

"But even before all of that..." she said quietly, "...I was already lucky."

She held his gaze.

"Very lucky. I had someone who believed in me even when I couldn’t believe in myself. Someone who already knew I could do it before I’d even considered trying."

A lump formed in Ashley’s throat.

Just months ago, all she’d wanted was to help Dominion.

Or rather...

To save Lucian from the ambush that nearly took his life.

Yet by saving him, she’d unknowingly saved far more than that.

She had saved their marriage.

She had saved herself from destroying the life she’d been living.

Never, not in her first life. Not even in this one... had she imagined she’d end up here.

Ashley let out a quiet breath and forced herself to smile before her emotions got the better of her.

This wasn’t a speech meant to make her cry.

It was a speech of gratitude.

Gratitude toward those who had believed in her before she ever believed in herself.

"That’s why Project Green means so much to me," she continued. "Before I found confidence in myself, there were already people who believed in me. People who rooted for me. People who genuinely wanted me to succeed... whether they stood to benefit from it or not."

She nodded firmly.

"That’s why I told myself this company couldn’t fail. I couldn’t disappoint the people who believed in me... and I couldn’t disappoint myself." She smiled.

"Project Green has only just begun. But I promise everyone here tonight... what we’ve achieved so far is only the beginning."

One by one, guests throughout the ballroom slowly rose to their feet.

Soon, nearly everyone was standing.

Thunderous applause echoed through the hall.

Ashley’s smile grew until her eyes nearly closed.

"We’ll keep moving forward," she declared, "and we won’t stop until everyone knows who we are... or has no choice but to know who we are."

She dipped her head respectfully.

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