214
Alaric’s POV
The house was unusually quiet for a change, the kind of quiet that settled deep into your bones and made everything feel more significant. Francesca had just gone to bed after an exhausting day at the park with Emilia and Rosa, and though she’d promised to stay put, I could hear the occasional muffled giggle from her room. She wasn’t asleep yet, but I didn’t mind. Tonight wasn’t about perfection-it was about sincerity.
I sat in the living room, the small velvet box burning a hole in my pocket. Emilia was curled up on the couch, a book in her lap, her hair falling in loose waves over her shoulder. She looked so at ease, so present, that it almost made me second-guess the timing. But then she glanced up at me, her eyes soft, and I knew.
There would be no better timing than this. I had to do it now, before some shit goes down in our lives once again and steals the moment from us.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked with a raised brow, setting the book down with a smile.
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Just thinking about how lucky I am.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “What’s gotten into you? You’re being oddly sentimental these days.”
I stood, unable to sit still anymore. “Come here,” I said, extending a hand to her.
She looked at me, puzzled, but took my hand without hesitation. “Alaric, what’s going on?” she asked seriously, her eyes darting around in worry.
I led her toward the wide windows overlooking the garden, the moonlight casting a beautiful, silvery glow over everything. I could hear still Francesca’s soft giggles floating from the hallway.
I turned to face her, my heart pounding in a way it hadn’t since the first time I saw her. “Emilia,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “There’s something I need to say.”
Her face fell and her brows knit together, concern flickering across her face. “Is everything okay?” she asked a bit too quietly b
“It’s more than okay,” I said quickly. “It’s… better than I ever thought it could be. Because of you.” God. I was nervous. I’ve never thought I’d ever be nervous in a situation like this, mainly because I’d always thought whatever relationship I’d be getting into would be arranged and strictly business.
She opened her mouth to respond, but I held up a hand to stop her. I wasn’t finished.
“When you came into my life, I didn’t know how much I needed you. You didn’t just change things-you made them better. You made me better. Watching you with Francesca, seeing the way she lights up when you’re around-it’s more than I ever dreamed of for her. For us.”
Her eyes brightened and shimmered with unshed tears, and she whispered, “Alaric…”
I reached into my pocket, pulling out the velvet box. Her breath hitched as I opened it, revealing the ring-an emerald that was just as vibrant and unique as she was.
“Emilia,” I said, dropping to one knee. “I’ve faced every kind of challenge in my life, but nothing scared me as much as the thought of losing you. I don’t want to waste another second without showing you how much you mean to me. Will you marry me? Will you let me spend the rest of my life proving that you’re my everything?”
Her hands flew to her mouth, and for a moment, I thought she might say no-not because she didn’t love me, but because of the dangers that came with being involved with a man like me. God. I’ve never hated my position and my life as much as I did right now.
But then she dropped to her knees, meeting me eye to eye, and pulled my face into her hands. “Yes,” she said, her voice trembling. “Yes, Alaric. A million times, yes.”
The relief that washed over me was overwhelming, and I didn’t even realize I was grinning until her lips met mine in a kiss that felt like coming home.
“Mommy? Daddy?” Francesca’s tiny voice broke through the moment, and we both turned to see her peeking around the corner, clutching her new stuffed unicorn, sparkles.
Emilia laughed, wiping her tears. “Come here, sweetheart.”
Francesca ran toward us, her little face lighting up when she saw the ring. “What’s that?”
“It’s a promise,” I said, lifting her into my arms. “A promise that Mommy and I are going to be together forever.”
Her eyes went wide. “Forever? Like a princess and a prince?”
“Exactly like that,” Emilia said, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Francesca clapped her hands, her excitement contagious. “Does that mean we get cake?”
Emilia and I both laughed, the sound mingling with Francesca’s delighted giggles.
“I think we can arrange that,” I said, my voice lighter than it had been in years.
I could barely believe that was really happening. Francesca was going to have a complete family. I was going to have a real family and it wouldn’t be a marriage of convenience.
I felt tears rushing to my eyes. I didn’t deserve this. I didn’t deserve this sort of woman in my life, and yet, here she was.
I was never letting her go. I kissed her forehead and she wrapped her arms around me with Francesca sandwiched between us.
“I love you so much,” I whispered to her. “God, I love you so damned much, Emilia. I don’t know what I’d be doing without you in my life. I don’t know what Francesca’s life would look like if you weren’t here for her. If you weren’t here for us both.”
“I love you too,” she whispered back. “And I’m never letting you go. No matter what,” she promised.
“To whatever end?” I asked. I needed to hear it. I needed her to assure me.
“To whatever end,” she swore.
“I can’t wait to call you Mrs Castillo.”
She laughed. “I can’t wait to answer to that.”