Chapter 9 – THE ENGAGEMENT RING IN THE KITCHEN

(One Year Later)

The Chicago estate was completely rebuilt.

The garage had been transformed into a beautiful guest house, and the gardens were blooming with white roses that I had personally selected.

I stood in the massive kitchen, wearing a simple silk dress, chopping vegetables for Sunday dinner.

I was no longer Olivia the maid. I was the estate manager, the head of the Moretti charitable foundation, and the woman who shared Luca’s life.

Leo ran into the kitchen, a toy airplane zooming through the air in his small hand.

“Olivia! Look how fast it goes!” he cheered.

“It’s very fast, sweetie,” I laughed, ruffling his dark hair.

Luca walked in, catching Leo and tossing him into the air, making the little boy shriek with laughter.

Luca set him down. “Go wash your hands for dinner, buddy.”

As Leo ran off, Luca walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.

“It smells amazing in here,” he murmured, kissing my neck.

“You’re distracting the chef,” I smiled, leaning back into his embrace.

“I have a question for you,” Luca said softly.

He turned me around to face him.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

My breath caught in my throat.

He opened it.

Inside sat a stunning, flawless diamond ring.

“Olivia Hayes,” Luca said, his dark eyes filled with absolute love. “You brought light back into this house. You saved my son. You saved me. Will you marry me?”

Tears spilled over my cheeks.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, absolutely.”

He slid the ring onto my finger and kissed me deeply.

It was the happiest moment of my life.

Until the doorbell rang.

Daniel walked into the kitchen, his face grim.

“Boss,” Daniel said, interrupting the moment. “There’s someone at the gate.”

Luca frowned, pulling away slightly. “I’m not expecting anyone. Tell them to leave.”

“Sir, you need to see this.”

Daniel held out a tablet showing the security feed from the front gate.

Standing in the rain, looking soaked and terrified, was a woman.

I gasped.

It was Vanessa Bellini.

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