Chapter 6 - The Proposal I Refused
The Moretti family council arrived a week later.
Six men.
Three generations.
All expecting Dominic to marry a woman from the Bellini family to end a territorial dispute.
Lena overheard them.
She expected Dominic to accept.
Instead, he said, “No.”
One of the older men slammed his hand on the table.
“You need an alliance.”
“I need no such thing.”
“You cannot run this family alone.”
“I have done it for fifteen years.”
“And the chef?”
Lena stopped outside the room.
The man continued.
“She is the reason you refuse?”
Dominic's voice became dangerous.
“Be careful.”
“She is a liability.”
“No.”
Lena heard his chair move.
“She is not a liability.”
Silence.
“She is the only person in this house who has never asked me for anything.”
Lena walked away.
She didn't want to hear more.
That evening, Dominic found her in the kitchen.
“You heard.”
“Yes.”
“I didn't want you involved.”
“I already am.”
He nodded.
Then he placed a small box on the counter.
Lena stared.
“What's that?”
“Open it.”
Inside was a simple ring.
Not extravagant.
Elegant.
Her breath caught.
“I told you I wouldn't ask because of the debt.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Dominic looked directly at her.
“Because I love you.”
Lena couldn't speak.
He continued.
“You don't owe me an answer tonight.”
She touched the ring.
“I don't know if I can marry someone whose life looks like this.”
“You don't have to.”
“I don't know if I can trust you completely.”
“You don't have to.”
“I don't know if I want to spend the rest of my life being protected.”
Dominic nodded.
“Then don't.”
She looked up.
“What?”
“Don't marry me because I can protect you.”
He stepped closer.
“Marry me only if you want to stand beside me.”
Lena's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't want to be your collateral.”
“You never were.”
“I don't want to be your weakness.”
“You aren't.”
“I want my own life.”
“Then keep it.”
She looked at the ring.
“I want my own restaurant.”
“Then I'll help you build one.”
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“Good.”
She laughed through her tears.
“I'll build it myself.”
“I know.”
She closed the box.
“I need time.”
“Take all you need.”
He left.
Lena stood alone.
For the first time, marriage didn't feel like a cage.
May you like
It felt like a choice.
And that made all the difference.
