Chapter 197: Will you marry me?

Chapter 197: Will you marry me?
Aurora

Emily gasped dramatically. “Ooh, speaking of engagements… has Leonardo proposed yet?”

“Not yet,” I admitted, trying not to smile too hard. “But hopefully, he will.”

“Oh, he will,” Emily and Eleanora said at the same time, both pausing before breaking into laughter.

I joined in, the sound filling the cozy space. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything felt… normal.

I let the laughter fade into a soft smile, my thoughts drifting. After all the ups and downs, the betrayals, and close calls, here I was—happy. Happy with my friends, my boyfriend, rebuilding a real relationship with my dad. Even though Dario was still out there somewhere, I let myself hope that everything would finally fall into place.

Emily’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, her face lighting up. “Oh, that’s Raffaele. I’ve got to go—he’s calling.” She was already sliding out of the booth, balancing her bag on her shoulder. “See you girls later!”

Before I could even process that, Lucia’s phone lit up, too. She frowned for a split second before pasting on a smile. “Yeah, I should get going as well. I have something to finish at home.”

I blinked at both of them. “Seriously? At the same time?”

“Yup!” Emily sang, already halfway to the door.

Lucia just offered me an apologetic shrug before following her out.

I leaned back in my chair, watching the door swing shut behind them. “Weird,” I muttered under my breath. But, well… it wasn't the first time this had happened.

At least I still had Eleanora.

We spent another thirty minutes just talking—about nothing and everything. I told her about this new theme we were going for at Bella Vita, she told me about a silly argument she had with her father, and for a little while, it almost felt like we were just two normal sisters catching up.

Eventually, she yawned and rubbed her eyes. “I’m tired. Let’s go home?”

I tilted my head. “Already?”

“It’s Saturday,” she said, smiling faintly. “No one’s working. We’ve been out all day.”

I hesitated. “Should I drop you off?”

Eleanora shook her head quickly. “No… I was hoping maybe I could sleep over. Like, a sister sleepover?”

I laughed softly. “Do you think Leonardo will be cool with that?”

“I don’t think so,” she admitted with a little smirk, “but you can convince him, right?”

I sighed, pretending to be put out even though I didn’t really mind. “Fine. Let’s go.”

By the time we reached the mansion, dusk had melted into the inky blue of evening. I pushed open the heavy front door, stepping inside with Eleanora at my side.

The quiet hit me first.

“Is it just me,” I asked slowly, “or is the place quieter than usual?”

Eleanora glanced around. “I don’t know. I don’t live here.”

“Oh… yeah.” I forced a laugh. “But you used to though.” I gave her a look before adding,

“Maybe I’m just reading too much into it.”

We made our way toward the living room. Normally by now, at least one of the maids would’ve greeted me, but the halls were empty. I’d seen the guards stationed outside, but they were always silent, so that wasn’t unusual.

A prickle of unease crawled up my spine.

“Do you think… someone broke in?” I whispered.

Eleanora frowned. “With guards outside? I doubt it.”

I pushed forward, heart thumping, until we reached the living room. It was dark, every shadow stretching unnaturally long across the floor.

I turned to Eleanora, wide-eyed. She looked just as confused, her brows knitting together. She gave me a quick, questioning look, and I shrugged helplessly, my own expression saying, I have no idea.

I reached for the light switch.

The room exploded in color—scarlet ribbons twisting through the air, gold streamers catching the light, and balloons bobbing gently in clusters of red and gold.

My breath hitched. “What the—”

Eleanora’s jaw had dropped. “Did we… just walk into the wrong house?”

I turned in a slow circle, confusion melting into stunned awe. “Are we… celebrating something?”

My gaze swung back—and landed on him.

Leonardo.

He stood dead center in the room, silent as a ghost, dressed in his work clothes.

I gasped, my hand flying to my chest. “Leonardo! You scared me! What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work? And what is all this? Is there… a party you didn’t tell me about?”

He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. “No party,” he said. “And yes, I’m supposed to be at work. But there was something I needed to do first.”

A strange, electric curl unfurled low in my gut.

I glanced at Eleanora, who had already taken a step back, shrugging innocently like she knew nothing.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Leonardo took a slow, deliberate step toward me. Then another. My breath snagged in my throat as the distance between us evaporated, my pulse hammering like it knew something I didn’t.

Why do I feel like I already know what’s about to happen?

He stopped just a breath away, his eyes locked on mine, and for a heartbeat, the world narrowed down to the space between us. Then, with the faintest smile tugging at his lips, he slipped his hand into his pocket and dropped down on one knee.

The air punched out of my lungs.

I clapped my fingers over my mouth, the sting of tears already building behind my eyes.

“Leonardo…”

Behind him, Eleanora was grinning ear to ear. From the corner of my vision, Celeste and a cluster of maids appeared from the corridor, smiling knowingly. A second later, Emily and Lucia emerged from the other side of the room.

I swung a watery glare at them. “You guys knew?!”

They exchanged sheepish looks before nodding.

I could only shake my head, my heart pounding wildly.

Leonardo flipped open the velvet box. Nestled inside was the most beautiful ruby ring I had ever seen, the stone catching the light like a drop of captured fire.

“Aurora,” he began, his voice steady but warm, “from the moment you almost crashed your car into mine that night, and I later found out you were the daughter of one of my many enemies, I knew that there was something about you. I mean you're my precious and troublesome little hellion.” He said with a small laugh making me laugh along with him.

“You’re my best friend, my confidant, my greatest challenge… and my greatest joy. I can’t imagine spending a single day without you in it. You’ve made me laugh, you’ve made me fight, and somehow, you’ve made me a better man. I want all of it—all the chaos, all the quiet—with you. Always. Will you marry me?”