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"Tonight, we forget about everything else, Isabella," I say softly, my eyes locked with hers, full of emotion. "Tonight, it's just you and me. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you."
"Really?" she asks, her eyes sparkling. "Do tell."
"I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I was nearing death –"
"Oh stop it," she laughs, noticing my over dramatization and gives me a gentle whack on my shoulder. "You look far too healthy for me to know you didn't give up your meals."
"True," I say, nodding ferociously. "I did comfort eat a lot."
She gives me a tiny smile, then sighs. The current is changing.
"What is it?" I ask.
"I missed you too," she says.
There is no need for more words between us. We both know the hell we went through. And so, as we wait for the champagne and food to arrive, we stand side by side, hand in hand, gazing out at the city that never sleeps.
The doorbell rings, and I open it to find a hotel employee carrying a tray with our champagne and appetizers. "Thank you," I say, taking the tray and tipping him generously.
"Enjoy your evening, sir," he replies with a smile before leaving us alone once more.
I set the tray down on the coffee table and pour two glasses of champagne, handing one to Isabella. "To new beginnings and a bright future," I toast, our glasses clinking together.
"Salute," she whispers, her eyes shining with excitement as we both take a sip of the crisp, bubbling liquid. She sets her glass down and takes a deep breath.
"Stefano, I have big plans for my empire, for our empire," she says, determination etched onto her beautiful face. "I want to reclaim what was taken from me and grow it into something even greater."
"Isabella, I believe in you, and I'll be by your side every step of the way," I tell her sincerely, my heart swelling with pride and love for this incredible woman.
"Thank you, Stefano," she says, her voice thick with emotion. "What about you? What do you envision for our future?"
"Change," I say firmly, my eyes locked onto hers. "I want to run the mafia with an iron fist, but also with kindness. We can't keep doing things the old way – it's time to show that power doesn't always have to come with cruelty and the iron fist will be dealt on those who revert to their old ways."
Isabella gives me a knowing smile and whispers, "I'm so proud of you. I know that of all the people in the world, you're the one who can actually do it." Her words fill me with confidence and hope, especially after the way I allowed my emotions to run high recently.
"Isabella," I exclaim, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Marry me. Be by my side while we build this empire together. There's no one else I'd rather have by my side, no one else with the wit and intelligence I'd need to get me through this!"
She stares at me, her eyes wide with surprise and happiness. "Yes, Stefano! Yes, I will marry you!" she exclaims, throwing her arms around me. I twirl her around in glee, laughing as I do. At last, I set her down.
"Isabella," I whisper into her ear, my voice shaky with emotion. "We're going to do great things together. I promise. And we're going to have lots of babies and pass down our legacy, making ours a story to tell for generations to come!"
Isabella's expression suddenly shifts, and I can tell something is weighing on her mind. She takes a deep breath, her green eyes filled with sadness.
"Stefano, there's something you should know," she begins hesitantly. "I... I can't have children and the truth is, given that I can't and you want them, perhaps we shouldn't talk about getting married."
My heart drops in my chest, and I feel an icy shock run through me. "What?" I manage to choke out, trying to understand.
"During the attack in Don Conti's office, I was shot," she explains, tears welling up in her eyes. "Don Conti shot me and the bullet damaged my uterus, and the doctors said it's impossible for me to conceive."
I reach for her hand, squeezing it tightly as I try to process this revelation. My dreams of having a large family with Isabella momentarily crumble before my eyes, but then I realize that our love is stronger than any setback we may face.
"Isabella," I say firmly, looking into her eyes with determination. "It doesn't matter if we can't have children naturally. We can adopt, or maybe we don't even need kids. What truly matters is that we're together. There's nothing worse than not being with each other. We'll make a happy life, at each other’s side."
Her eyes shine with gratitude and relief, and I can see the weight lifting from her shoulders. "Thank you, Stefano," she whispers, her voice quivering with emotion. "You don't know how much that means to me."
"Of course, my love," I respond tenderly. "Now, let me ask you again, properly. Isabella Torres, will you marry me and stand by my side as we build a new empire? An empire of love, loyalty, and understanding?"
A radiant smile spreads across her face, chasing away the shadows of doubt and fear. "Yes, Stefano. Yes, a thousand times over. I will marry you, and we will face whatever life throws at us together."
