Two years after the silver anniversary, a monumental day arrived for the Vance-Moretti legacy.
Inside the grand auditorium of the New York State Supreme Court, twenty-three-year-old Stella Vance-Moretti stood at the marble podium, wearing a sleek black judicial robe. She had officially graduated top of her class from Yale Law School and passed the New York Bar Exam with the highest score in the state's history.
The Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court stood before her, administering the official attorney's oath.
"Do you solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of New York, and to administer justice without fear, favor, or prejudice?"
"I do solemnly swear," Stella’s voice rang loud, clear, and utterly unbreakable through the grand hall.
In the front row of the gallery, Sadi sat holding Roman’s hand tightly. Tears of pure, unadulterated joy trickled down Sadi’s cheeks as she watched her daughter receive her bar license.
Beside them sat twenty-one-year-old Leo, clapping proudly for his sister, along with Dante, who looked like a proud grandfather wiping a tear from his scarred cheek.
After the ceremony, Stella walked out onto the grand stone steps of the courthouse, where dozens of reporters and news cameras waited.
A reporter shouted from the crowd: "Ms. Vance-Moretti! Are you joining a high-priced corporate law firm in Manhattan?"
Stella stopped at the top of the steps, looking down at the reporters with a calm, regal smile that mirrored her mother’s exact posture.
"No," Stella answered clearly into the microphones. "As of 9:00 AM tomorrow, I am taking office as the Chief Managing Director of the Vance Foundation Legal Wing in Brooklyn. We have forty thousand cases waiting, and I don't intend to keep my clients waiting."
Roman looked at Sadi, pulling his wife close against his chest as the cameras flashed.
"The torch is passed, my Queen," Roman whispered into her ear.
"It's in the best hands in the world, Mr. Moretti," Sadi replied, resting her head against his warm shoulder.