Chapter 14 - THE PROPOSAL WITHOUT A PROMISE OF POWER
Two years later, Nora stood in a small garden overlooking the Hudson.
Roman was beside her.
He looked different.
Not because of his clothes.
Not because of his hair.
Because he no longer carried himself like a man expecting the world to obey.
Their relationship had grown slowly.
They dated.
Argued.
Apologized.
Learned to trust.
Roman had completed the legal obligations imposed on him and continued working to build a lawful life.
Nora had opened a small catering business with Elena.
She loved it.
The long hours.
The planning.
The satisfaction of creating something that belonged to her.
One evening, Roman invited her to dinner.
Not at Lombardi's.
At a small restaurant where nobody knew his name.
They ate pasta.
Shared dessert.
Talked about ordinary things.
Then Roman reached into his jacket.
Nora raised an eyebrow.
“Roman.”
He smiled nervously.
“Before you panic, it's not a contract.”
She laughed.
He opened a small box.
Inside was a simple diamond ring.
“Nora Bennett.”
Her eyes filled.
“The first time I loved you, I thought I had to be powerful enough to protect you from everything.”
His voice softened.
“But you taught me that love isn't power.”
He knelt.
“It's trust.”
Nora covered her mouth.
“I can't promise life will never hurt us.”
Roman swallowed.
“But I can promise that I will never again decide your future without you.”
He looked up.
“Will you marry me?”
Nora began crying.
“Yes.”
Roman stood.
She threw her arms around him.
May you like
For the first time, their love did not feel like a cage.
It felt like a door opening.
