Chapter 150

Chapter 150
A thought, warm and strong, came to me. This. This feeling, this person. This was what Dimitri had meant by "real." This was my purpose. This was my happiness. And I knew, with a certainty that surprised even me, that I didn't want to lose it. I wanted this forever. I wanted Mila to be my always.
"Mila," I said, her name feeling like a whisper on my tongue.
She looked up, her kind eyes meeting mine. "Yes, Carlo?"

"I... I've never felt like this before," I started, my voice a little rough. I felt clumsy trying to put such a big feeling into simple words. "Being with you. Doing these things. It just feels... right. Like I finally found where I belong."
A soft blush rose on her cheeks, but she just looked at me, waiting.

"I want you to be part of my life, always," I continued, taking her hand. Her fingers were soft and warm. "I want to build a life with you. A real life. Here, in Axton City. A life that's about more than just myself. A life with you." I took a breath. "Mila, will you marry me?"
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought I had gone too fast, But then, a slow, beautiful smile spread across her face.
"Carlo," she whispered, her voice full of emotion. "Yes. Yes, I will!"

I felt a rush of pure joy, a lightness that made me want to shout. I pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. This was it. This was the real thing. This was my personal growth, finally taking root.

Later that evening, after leaving Mila, I drove straight to Dimitri and Ava's house. I needed to tell them. I was too excited to wait.
I found Dimitri in his study, looking at papers. His face was serious, a shadow in his eyes. Ava was sitting nearby, sketching. She looked up as I burst in.

"Dimitri! Ava!" I practically shouted, grinning like a fool. "I have news!"
Dimitri looked up, his expression guarded. "Carlo? What is it? Is everything alright?" He probably thought I was in trouble.
"More than alright!" I said, holding up my hand, which was now holding Mila's hand, where a small, simple ring would soon sit. "Mila said yes! We're getting married!"

Ava gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, and then she smiled, a huge, happy smile. "Carlo! Oh, that's wonderful!" She rushed over to hug me.
Dimitri just stared for a moment, his serious face slowly softening. A small smile, then a wider one, spread across his face. It was the most relaxed I'd seen him in days. He stood up and came around his desk, pulling me into a rare, firm hug.

"Congratulations, Carlo," he said, his voice deep with emotion. "I'm truly happy for you. This is... this is exactly what you needed."
I pulled back, still grinning. "It is. She's amazing, Dimitri. She makes everything better."

The moment was filled with genuine joy, a bright spot in what I knew was still a tense time for Dimitri. He didn't say anything about his problems, but I could still feel the underlying stress.

"We need to plan everything," Ava said, already excited. "A big wedding? Or something smaller?"
"Whatever Mila wants," I said. "She's the one who matters."

As we talked, I felt a new strength in me. Marrying Mila, building our life together—it wasn't just about me anymore. It was about us. And if Antonio, or anyone else, tried to cause problems for my new, real life, I would fight them. Not with power and money like Dimitri, but with a new kind of resolve. A resolve built on the quiet strength I had found with Mila. My father might be trying to pull strings from jail, but he couldn't touch the happiness I was building. This was my personal battle, and I was ready to win it.

Ava

The news of Carlo and Mila getting married was like a burst of sunlight in our home in Axton City. After all the serious talks, the quiet worries, and Dimitri’s endless work, this felt like pure joy. For the past few weeks, a strange, quiet tension had been building, a feeling I couldn't quite name, but Carlo’s news pushed it all away, at least for a little while.

I hugged Carlo tightly when he told us, my heart feeling so light. He looked truly happy, a calm and settled look I had rarely seen on his face before. It wasn't the fleeting excitement of a new toy or a fancy trip. This was deep, real happiness.

"A wedding!" I almost cheered, looking at Dimitri. He smiled too, a warm, genuine smile that eased the hard lines around his eyes. Even he seemed to let go of some of his worries for a moment.
"We need to start planning right away," I told Carlo, already thinking of colors, flowers, and dresses. "What kind of wedding does Mila want? Big? Small? Traditional?"

Carlo just laughed, a happy sound. "Whatever she wants, Ava. She just said 'yes' to me. I'm still trying to believe it."
Over the next few days, the house buzzed with a new kind of energy. Mila came over, and we sat for hours, looking at pictures of dresses and decorations.

She was so calm and sweet, and her ideas were simple and full of heart. She wanted a smaller wedding, with just close family and friends, maybe in a garden. Nothing too grand, nothing too showy. It fit her perfectly.
"I just want it to be about us and our families coming together," she said, her eyes shining.

I loved that. It was so different from the big, formal events Dimitri usually arranged. This was softer, more personal. It felt like a true start for Carlo, away from the old Andreas ways.

Even with all the wedding talk, I still noticed Dimitri. He was happy for Carlo, truly. But sometimes, when he thought no one was watching, I’d see a shadow cross his face, a deep frown, or his eyes would become distant and sharp. He was still spending a lot of time in his study, taking private calls, and Lena and the security team seemed even more alert than usual.

I knew he had dealt with the Rossi family, but it felt like something else was stirring. Something quiet and tricky. I didn't ask him directly. He never talked about his work unless he had to or unless I pressed him. And with Carlo's wedding to plan, I wanted to hold onto this feeling of joy as long as I could.

I tried to help Dimitri by keeping the house peaceful, by making sure Liam was happy, and by being there for him when he came out of his study. I also spent more time in my own art studio. The act of painting, of putting my feelings onto canvas, helped me stay calm too. I was working on a series of paintings that showed light breaking through darkness, and it felt like it reflected our life perfectly. The constant push and pull.