Chapter 9 - Five Years After the Ballroom, Adriano Asked Bella to Marry Him Again—But Her Answer Was Not What He ExpectedFive years after the night Bella left the ballroom, Adriano took her back there.
The hotel had been transformed again.
Not into a Moretti headquarters.
Into a public cultural center.
Bella had designed the restoration.
Adriano had funded it without attaching his name.
They stood beneath the chandeliers.
Mateo played quietly in a corner with a toy car.
Adriano looked at Bella.
“I remember this room.”
“So do I.”
“You told me to keep dancing.”
“I did.”
He laughed.
“I deserved it.”
She smiled.
Then he removed a small box from his pocket.
Bella raised an eyebrow.
“Adriano.”
“I know.”
He opened it.
Inside was not a diamond.
It was her original wedding ring.
The one she had left beside his whiskey.
She stared.
“I thought you lost it.”
“I could never lose it.”
She looked at him.
“Why didn't you sell it?”
“Because it belonged to the woman who changed my life.”
Bella's eyes filled.
He continued.
“I don't want to marry the woman I hurt.”
He took a breath.
“I want to marry the woman who survived me.”
She cried.
“You're terrible at proposals.”
“I know.”
She laughed.
Then she said:
“Yes.”
Adriano closed his eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“But?”
She smiled.
“It's a different marriage.”
He nodded.
“A different life.”
“Yes.”
“A different man.”
“Yes.”
They embraced.
Mateo looked over.
“Are you getting married?”
Bella laughed.
“Apparently.”
Mateo frowned.
“Again?”
Adriano laughed.
“Yes.”
Mateo considered.
“Can there be cake?”
Bella looked at Adriano.
May you like
He smiled.
“Definitely.”
