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Taking out a bottle of water, I twist it open for her, and while she drinks deeply, I clear my throat.
“Aria, I’m truly sorry about everything that’s happened between us,” I begin with a deep breath as she slowly peels the bottle from her lips. “I want to be a part of your life and our baby’s life.”
She puts the bottle of water on the coffee table in front of her, flicking her eyes to stare directly into mine.
“Elio, I- I don’t know,” she hesitates, her chest heaving as her eyes flicker everywhere but at me. “I mean, you’re the father and I can’t deny you, but I have my fears.”
I hold my breath as she continues. I’d anticipated this...
“So before we talk about you becoming a part of our lives…” her hand moves instinctively to pat her stomach, “I need to know what kind of life we’re bringing this child into. I don’t want them growing up in violence. I want them to feel safe... loved.”
I nod, taking a step to crouch in front of her. “I know.” I hate the mere fact that she even has to bring up such an issue. Every child deserves to be loved. I−more than anyone else−know that. I want to give our child every bit of my love, a privilege I never got from my own father.
Lowering her gaze from mine, she asks, “Then what are we going to do?” Her voice is so small, but I can still hear the underlying worry in it.
I exhale sharply, raking a hand through my hair. “Aria, I can’t just walk away from the mafia. You know that.” My voice drops, but I keep my eyes on her, making sure she understands me. “This is all I’ve ever known. Leaving isn’t something I can do overnight. It’s going to take time. And I need you to help me.”
She swallows hard. “I just… I don’t want my child to be raised by a criminal, Elio.” Her voice trembles, but she doesn’t look away. “I don’t want them to look at you one day and wonder if you’re the villain in their story.”
Her words cut through me like a knife. I feel them in my bones, in the hollow parts of me I never knew existed.
“I don’t even know how to be a father,” I admit, my voice raw from pain. “I don’t know how to love a child the right way because I was never loved the right way. The only thing I know how to do is to protect. But I don’t know if that’s enough.”
She leans forward, her hands reaching for mine. “Then we’ll figure it out together.”
My eyes linger on her, this woman has every reason to walk away from me but doesn’t want to. She sees my darkness and still reaches for my hand.
But then she bites her lip, her face crumpling. “Elio, all this time, I meant to tell you something.”
I nod, bracing myself.
She exhales shakily. “I shouldn’t have told Mia about you. In our earlier days together, I was scared and confused, and I thought I was doing the right thing, but eventually, I realized it was all shades of wrong. All I did was betray you. And for that, I’m sorry.”
I don’t say anything right away. I let her words sink in, let the sting of them settle. But I’m not angry. Up until a few weeks ago, I would have been, but not anymore.
Instead, I huff out a small laugh. “Most of what you told Mia about me was fake anyway.”
Aria blinks. “What?”
My shoulders heft in a shrug. “I didn’t trust you enough to tell you the truth at the time, so I let you believe what I wanted you to.”
She gapes at me. “You...” Groaning, she swipes at the tears trailing down her cheeks. “Of course you did.”
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. “For complicating your life. For dragging you into a world you should have never been part of.”
She lets out a breath, her shoulders sagging. “You didn’t drag me, Elio. I walked into it. And I’d do it again... for you.”
Something warm spreads through my chest, something that’s always been there but I’ve failed to acknowledge all this while.
Taking a slow breath, my fingers tighten around the small velvet box in my pocket. I’ve carried it with me ever since the moment I realized I needed to turn things around with her.
Now that she’s right here before me, I’m not letting her go.
Retracing my steps, I slowly drop to one knee.
Aria’s breath catches. “Elio…”
I pull out the sapphire ring, flipping the box open. “Aria, will you do me the honor of having me as your husband?” My voice has never been steadier. “This time, for real. No games. I want you…both of you, in my life forever.” I glance at her stomach lovingly. “And if I can’t do life with you, then I don’t want to do life at all.”