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“What?” I ask, staring at him wide-eyed. This change in the atmosphere… can it be…
I can hardly breathe as I watch Nico get down on one knee in front of me.
“Liliana,” he says, reaching into one of his pockets and drawing out a small box. “In this short time we’ve known each other, you’ve become my entire world. I don’t want to lose you. So, please, stay with me. Live with me here – as my wife. Will you marry me?”
I gape down as he pops the box open to reveal a beautiful diamond ring, sparkling in the sun coming through his windows. It’s delicate and perfectly made. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s antique. But he could be offering me a candy ring, and I would still take it. I put my hand over my mouth, feeling tears spilling down my cheeks. He said he wanted it to be more romantic, but I can’t imagine it better than this.
“Oh, my god,” I say, my heart fluttering madly in my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy.
“This is ridiculous,” Dad huffs. “You can’t mean…?”
“Yes,” I say, ignoring him. “Yes, Nico, I’ll marry you. Yes!”
He puts the ring on my finger. It fits perfectly, somehow. Then he jumps to his feet and sweeps me up into his arms, and kisses me sweeter and softer than he ever has before. My face is wet, and when we pull apart, I realize that it’s not only my own tears on my cheeks.
“You really mean to go through with this?” Dad asks. His voice sounds puzzled now, less angry. Like all the wind has been taken out of his sails by Nico’s gesture.
“Yes,” Nico says, taking a breath and wiping the back of his hand across his face. “Yes, I mean it. I want to marry your daughter.”
“How can I know you mean it?” Dad asks, frowning. He’s trying to hold onto something, I can see, but his complaints are slipping away one by one. It’s like he’s trying to hold sand, and it’s just falling through his fingers to the floor. Everything he can bring up against us, I’m sure we can answer it.
“This is my ancestral ring,” Nico says, quite seriously. “It’s over four hundred years old, and first graced the finger of a minor noblewoman when she married one of my forefathers. Put in terms of the fact that I’m the last of my family line, it’s the most valuable thing I own. And before my own mother passed away, I promised her I wouldn’t give it away to anyone outside of the family unless I loved them with all my heart.”
With every word, the ring on my finger feels heavier. I stare down at it in amazement. So, I was right, it is antique. Suddenly, I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to wear it all day like you’re supposed to with an engagement ring.
“A trinket,” Dad grunts. “For all we know, you’re making it up. What happens if you get bored of her? You’ll just ask her to give it back.”
“I won’t do that.” Nico pauses significantly. “I won’t even ask for a prenup.”
“Why should that make any difference?” Dad grumbles. “A prenup? Most normal people don’t have one at all.”
“Because I’m opening myself up to trouble,” Nico explains. “If I marry without a prenup, Liliana could divorce me within a month and take half of what I own. Maybe a little less, if I have good lawyers, but she would still be entitled to so much. But I don’t care. I’m offering all of my money, all of my property, everything to be hers. She can take it all. When we’re married, everything mine will be hers, and I need nothing in return.”
“A couple of million,” Dad sniffs, gesturing at the house. “Is that all you’d lose? I’m sure you could earn it back. It sounds like you have a long lineage to rely on.”
“Million?” Nico laughs, looking between the two of us. “You really haven’t put two and two together? Neither of you researched my name?”
“No,” we both say, and then I add, “I didn’t think I needed to. And it’s not very polite.”
Nico laughs again. “Oh, my love,” he says, kissing me on the top of my forehead. “Not millions. Billions, and not just a couple. I own the café I first took you to. I own the restaurant we met in that night, all the restaurants I’ve taken you to this week. And those are just the tip of the iceberg. I have businesses across Europe.”
I blink, and he laughs again.
“My love,” he continues. “Finally, I found someone who loves me, for me. Not for my money or my status, or who I am. All it took was meeting the most unsavvy tourist who probably ever set foot in Monaco.”
