Chapter 23 - the question alessandro had been avoiding
The new home was smaller.
Quieter.
There were no marble hallways.
No private elevators.
No unnecessary rooms.
Mia loved it.
She had a bedroom with yellow walls and a bookshelf she could reach herself.
Elena had an office downstairs.
Alessandro had one upstairs.
For the first time, they had separate spaces.
And somehow, the house felt more like a family.
One evening, Alessandro stood in the kitchen.
Elena was making dinner.
Mia was drawing at the table.
Alessandro asked:
“Do you want to stay?”
Elena stopped.
“What?”
“Here.”
She looked at him.
“Do you mean working here?”
“No.”
The room became quiet.
Mia continued drawing, unaware.
Alessandro spoke carefully.
“I don't want to assume.”
Elena put down the spoon.
“You're asking me to stay with you?”
“Yes.”
“As what?”
He took a breath.
“I don't know what word you want.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“I want you here because I love you.”
Elena's eyes filled.
“But I don't want you to say yes because I rescued you.”
“I know.”
“I don't want you to feel indebted.”
“I don't.”
“I don't want Mia to become the reason you stay.”
“She isn't.”
He nodded.
“Then what is?”
Elena walked toward him.
“You.”
He stared at her.
“I stayed because you became someone I could trust.”
He swallowed.
“Then?”
“Then I stayed because I wanted to.”
Mia suddenly looked up.
“Are you getting married?”
Both adults froze.
Elena laughed.
Alessandro looked at his daughter.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because you're standing close.”
Elena covered her face.
Alessandro laughed.
Mia shrugged.
“Adults are weird.”
She returned to her drawing.
Elena looked at Alessandro.
“She's not wrong.”
“No.”
He reached for Elena's hand.
“I'm not asking you to marry me tonight.”
“Good.”
“I'm asking you to choose me.”
She squeezed his hand.
May you like
“I already did.”
---
Related Stories
