Chapter 9 - THE PROPOSAL AMONG THE ROSES
Spring arrived in full bloom, covering the expansive gardens of the Valenti estate in vibrant reds, pinks, and whites. To celebrate the complete restructuring of the Valenti corporation and our new beginning as a family, Dante decided to host a private dinner party—not for high-society criminals or corrupt politicians, but for close friends, teachers, and trusted allies who had supported us through the transition.
The evening air was warm and fragrant with the scent of blooming roses. Twinkling fairy lights were strung through the ancient oak trees in the courtyard, and soft acoustic music drifted from the veranda.
Mia, dressed in a frilly white sundress with a matching flower crown in her hair, was running across the lawn, chasing fireflies with uncontainable joy.
I stood by the stone fountain, holding a glass of sparkling cider, watching her with a full and grateful heart. I was wearing a simple yet elegant emerald-green silk dress—a gift from Dante that made me feel, for the first time in my life, truly beautiful.
Footsteps crunched softly on the gravel path behind me.
"She's exhausting all the fireflies in the county," Dante’s voice came with a warm chuckle. He stepped up beside me, holding two crystal flutes. He looked breathtaking in a tailored charcoal suit without a tie, looking relaxed and completely at peace.
"She has your energy," I teased, taking a sip from the flute he offered. "Or maybe my stubbornness."
"A lethal combination," Dante smiled, his expression softening as he looked out over the lawn at Mia. Then, slowly, he turned his full, intense gaze back onto me. The playfulness in his eyes gave way to a profound, quiet sincerity.
"Lena," he began, his voice dropping slightly as the surrounding chatter faded into the background.
My breath caught. I turned to face him completely.
Dante set his glass down on the stone edge of the fountain. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
"When you walked into my house two years ago, you were just trying to survive," Dante said, his voice steady and emotional. "You kept your head down, protected your daughter, and asked for nothing. But you brought light into the darkest corners of my life. You gave me a reason to trust again, to hope again, and to believe that a future beyond the shadows was possible."
He dropped smoothly onto one knee on the gravel path, right beside the fountain. A few guests nearby gasped softly, stopping their conversations to watch.
"Dante..." I whispered, tears pricking the corners of my eyes.
He opened the velvet box. Inside rested a breathtaking vintage diamond ring—not shaped like a serpent or a symbol of power, but a delicate floral design that caught the moonlight like a star.
"I don't just want you and Mia to stay in this house," Dante said, looking up at me with absolute devotion in his dark eyes. "I want you to be my wife. I want to spend the rest of my life protecting you, loving you, and calling this family my home. Lena Carter... will you marry me?"
Across the lawn, Mia stopped chasing fireflies. She tilted her head, watching us from a distance, and let out a loud, joyful cheer that made everyone burst into laughter.
May you like
"Yes," I choked out through my tears, a brilliant smile breaking across my face. "Yes, Dante. A thousand times yes."
Dante stood up, sliding the sparkling diamond onto my finger before pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply as the garden erupted into applause and cheers.
