Chapter 202 A Promise for Forever

Chapter 202 A Promise for Forever
Don Roman Moretti slowly opened the door to the master bedroom.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
His eyes immediately found Aurelia.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed, exactly where he had asked her to wait for him.
The moment she saw him, her entire face lit up.
A smile spread across her lips.
"Roman."
He closed the door behind him.
Before he could say another word, Aurelia rushed toward him.
Roman opened his arms and caught her against his chest.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, holding him as though she never wanted to let go again.
He held her just as tightly.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
They simply stood there, wrapped in each other's arms.
Roman lowered his face and kissed her.
Aurelia immediately kissed him back.
It was a passionate kiss filled with everything they had been unable to say while they were separated.
Fear.
Relief.
Love.
Longing.
When they finally pulled apart, Roman rested his forehead against hers.
"I missed you."
Aurelia smiled.
"I missed you too."
Roman gently brushed his fingers along her cheek.
"Do you have any idea what it did to me when I saw you with Viktor?"
Aurelia's smile faded slightly.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
He sighed.
"I know you didn't leave because you wanted to hurt me."
His thumb moved gently across her cheek.
Aurelia reached for his hand.
"I'm here now."
Roman looked into her eyes.
"Yes."
He smiled faintly.
"You're here."
He pulled her back into his arms.
"I never want to feel that fear again."
Aurelia rested her head against his chest.
"I won't disappear again."
"You'd better not."
She smiled.
Roman kissed the top of her head before slowly leading her back toward the bed.
They sat beside each other.
For a moment, Roman simply stared at her.
There was something different in his expression.
Something softer.
Something Aurelia had rarely seen.
He looked almost vulnerable.
"I owe you an apology."
Aurelia frowned.
"For what?"
"For everything."
She stared at him.
Roman took her hands in his.
"I disrupted your life."
"You didn't."
"I did."
His voice was quiet.
"You had a life before me."
"Your studies."
"Your plans."
"Your future."
"And then I came into your life with my enemies, my problems, my world..."
He looked down.
"And somehow, I dragged you into all of it."
Aurelia squeezed his hand.
"Roman..."
"I should have protected you better."
"You tried."
"I did."
He looked back at her.
"But trying wasn't enough."
Aurelia shook her head.
"You saved me."
"And you saved me too."
Roman smiled.
"I suppose we're even."
Aurelia laughed softly.
"No."
She leaned closer.
"We're not."
Roman raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I love you."
His expression softened.
"And that makes everything worth it."
Roman stared at her.
"You really don't regret anything?"
"Nothing."
"Not even meeting me?"
"Especially not that."
A small smile appeared on his face.
Aurelia leaned her head against his shoulder, and Roman wrapped an arm around her.
"I want to make everything right."
Aurelia looked at him.
"I mean it."
He continued.
"You'll go back to school."
"You'll finish your studies."
"And when our child is born, you'll have the life you deserve."
Aurelia's eyes softened.
"Our child."
Roman smiled.
"Our child."
He gently placed his hand over hers.
The thought still amazed him.
After everything he had survived...
After all the bloodshed...
After losing people he had once trusted...
He was going to become a father.
"I want to be better for you."
Aurelia smiled.
"You already are."
Roman shook his head.
"I can be better."
He paused.
"Because I don't want our child growing up surrounded by the things I grew up around."
Aurelia looked at him carefully.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that things are going to change."
She smiled.
"I believe you."
Roman took a slow breath.
Then he reached into his pocket.
Aurelia noticed immediately.
"What are you doing?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
Aurelia's eyes widened.
"Roman..."
He looked up at her.
Aurelia covered her mouth.
"Oh my God."
Roman smiled.
"I know this isn't exactly how I imagined doing this."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
Aurelia's eyes immediately filled with tears.
Roman opened it.
Inside was a beautiful ring.
"Aurelia Vale..."
She stared at him.
"I've spent most of my life believing power was everything."
His voice was steady now.
"I believed having control over people and situations was the only way to survive."
He shook his head.
"Then you came into my life."
Aurelia's tears began falling.
"And you taught me something I never understood."
He held the ring toward her.
"That having someone to love is worth more than having an empire."
Aurelia smiled through her tears.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Roman took a breath.
Then finally asked the question.
"Will you marry me?"
Aurelia's eyes widened.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
She looked at the ring.
Then at Roman.
"You..."
She laughed through her tears.
"You're serious?"
Roman smiled.
"I've never been more serious about anything in my life."
Aurelia shook her head in disbelief.
"My mother..."
"Already gave me her blessing."
Her eyes widened even further.
"You asked my mother?"
Roman nodded.
"I did."
"And she said yes?"
"She did."
Aurelia laughed.
"She actually gave you her blessing?"
"She did."
Roman's smile widened.
"She knows you love me."
Aurelia wiped away her tears.
"She does."
"And she knows I love you."
Aurelia looked at the ring again.
Then back at him.
"Roman..."
"Yes?"
"I would want nothing more."
She held out her hand.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Roman's expression immediately filled with happiness.
He carefully slipped the ring onto her finger.
It fit perfectly.
Aurelia stared at it, then she threw her arms around his neck.
Roman caught her, laughing softly as she kissed him.
The kiss was filled with joy this time.
There was no fear.
No gunfire.
No enemies.
No threats.
No secrets.
When they finally pulled apart, Roman held her face gently between his hands.
"My wife."
Aurelia smiled.
"Not yet."
He laughed.
"Very soon."
She kissed him again.
"I love you, Roman."
"I love you too, Aurelia."