Chapter 8 - The Ring He Never Forced on Her
A year passed.
Dante no longer ran an underground empire.
He owned several legitimate businesses that had survived the investigations.
He spent his mornings in an office instead of a private bunker.
He attended charity events.
He quietly funded shelters.
He paid for medical treatment for people whose families had suffered because of his former organization.
It wasn't redemption by declaration.
It was simply work.
Every day.
Sophia had opened a flower shop of her own.
It was called Goldenrod.
Dante pretended the name didn't make him emotional.
She knew better.
They were together now.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Their relationship had none of the explosive secrecy of before.
They argued about groceries.
They disagreed about furniture.
Dante hated the shop's ugly yellow curtains.
Sophia refused to change them.
They laughed more than they fought.
One afternoon, Dante asked her to meet him on the balcony of the old mansion.
The house had been sold.
It no longer belonged to him.
But he had rented the property for one final evening.
Sophia arrived.
She looked around.
"Why are we here?"
"Because this is where I made the worst mistake of my life."
She looked toward the west corridor.
"The bedroom."
"Yes."
They walked there together.
The room was empty now.
Dante placed a small box on the pillow.
Sophia stared.
"What's that?"
"Open it."
Inside was the old iron key.
Sophia looked up.
"I kept it."
"I know."
"I found it in my office after they sold the house."
He smiled.
"Open the box."
She did.
Inside was a simple ring.
No giant diamond.
No family crest.
No symbol of ownership.
Just a thin band with a tiny goldenrod engraved inside.
Sophia's eyes filled.
"Dante."
He took one step closer.
"I am not asking you to become my wife because I think you belong to me."
She listened.
"I am asking because every day with you has taught me that love isn't a cage."
He lowered himself to one knee.
"It's a door."
Sophia covered her mouth.
"And the person on the other side should always be free to walk through."
She cried.
"Dante..."
"I love you."
He waited.
"I will accept whatever answer you give me."
Sophia looked at the ring.
Then at him.
"Get up."
His heart dropped.
He rose.
She grabbed his coat.
And kissed him.
"I was trying to decide how long to make you suffer."
He laughed against her lips.
"You are cruel."
"You deserved it."
She held out her hand.
"Put it on."
Dante's hands trembled as he slid the ring onto her finger.
She looked at it.
"It fits."
"I checked three times."
"Of course you did."
They laughed.
Then the door opened.
Marco stood there.
"Sorry."
Dante glared.
"What?"
"I just wanted to tell you something."
"What?"
Marco grinned.
"Mrs. Gable has placed a cake downstairs."
Sophia laughed.
"What kind?"
"Lemon."
Dante's expression softened.
"Then for once, Marco, you may live."
They walked downstairs together.
For the first time, there were no guards outside.
No weapons.
No negotiations.
No enemies.
May you like
Only cake.
And family.
