AllFreeNovel
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“At this time of night,signore?”
“Sì.”
“Of course,signore.” Franco drove without another word, but I couldn’t keep quiet.
“What is your place?”
“A place I like to go and think.”
“I see. And you need to go there now?”
“It’s a very special spot to me. It helps center me.”
“Okay.”
We drove for a few more minutes until we pulled up to a serene little lake. The lights from the walkway that surrounded the lake and accompanying gardens danced on top of the rippling water as the cold breeze blew across the lake. It was peaceful.
Enzo climbed out of the car on his own and helped me out.
“Enzo? What are we doing here?”
“Walk with me?” He held out his hand and I timidly took it. He placed my hand in the crook of his arm and guided me around the lake. “My mother used to bring me here as a child.”
“It’s lovely, if not a little chilly this time of year.” I smiled at him, and he placed his coat over my shoulders.
“I like to come here when I need clarity. When things feel out of control, or I need to feel grounded.”
I nodded, listening intently and wondering why he brought me along. We walked over a small footbridge that went over one narrow part of the lake. Enzo paused halfway across and pulled out the manilla envelope from behind him.
“This is our contract.” He pulled out a lighter and let the flames dance at the corner of the folder.
“Enzo, what are you doing?”
The whole contract was quickly engulfed in flames and Enzo let it flutter into the water. “It’s over.”
“Enzo...”
“I’ll still pay you the final bonus and everything that you are owed. You did your part perfectly, but it’s over. You are under no more obligation to me.”
“I—” I paused, unsure of what to say.I don’t want it to be over. You haven’t been an obligation for some time now.But nothing came out.
“I need the ring,” he said calmly but the words caught me off guard.
“What?”
“The ring. I need it back.” He looked at me, holding his hand out expectantly.
While there was no anger in his expression or tone, the words cut me like a knife. “Oh. Right.”
I wanted to cry as I pulled the exquisite piece of jewelry from my finger and placed it in his outstretched palm. “I’m sorry...that you didn’t get what you wanted.”
“I don’t know that yet.”
“What do you mean?” My look of bemusement morphed into something entirely different as Enzo lowered himself to one knee and held the ring out in front of him. “Enzo?”
“I realized tonight that I didn’t care about not getting a place on the council. I don’t regret anything that has happened because all of it brought me to you. I don’t care about the council. I care about you. I love you and I can’t imagine my life without you. Marry me, Aurora. For real this time, say that you will marry me and make me the happiest man in the world.”
“Is this for real?”
