Chapter 9 - The Promise Kept
Six years ago, I had let fear and family pressure dictate my life, walking away from the only woman I ever loved because I believed my world was too dark for her.
Fate, with a wicked sense of humor and four identical faces, had given me a second chance.
That evening, after we returned to the brownstone and finally got the quadruplets settled into their new, massive bedroom upstairs, the house grew wonderfully quiet.
I stood on the private balcony outside my master suite, looking out over the glittering skyline of Boston. The Charles River reflected the city lights like a ribbon of molten silver.
Footsteps approached softly from behind, and a familiar warmth wrapped around my waist. Elena rested her head against my back, her arms circling my torso.
"Penny for your thoughts, Mr. Moretti," she whispered.
I turned around in her arms, looking down into those familiar hazel eyes that had haunted my dreams for seventy-two months.
"I was just thinking about how lucky I am," I said softly, my hands resting on her hips. "You gave me four incredible sons, Elena. And you gave me a second chance I didn't deserve."
"You earned it, Dominic," she replied, her voice steady and full of fierce affection. "You fought for us when it mattered most."
I reached into my pocket—not for an engagement ring meant for a stranger, but for a simple silver band I had custom-ordered that very afternoon.
"When you left six years ago, I never got to ask you properly," I said, dropping gently to one knee on the cold stone of the balcony.
Elena gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as her eyes welled with tears.
"Elena Vance," I said, looking up at her with absolute devotion. "You are my heart, my anchor, and my strength. Will you marry me—for real this time?"
May you like
Elena didn't hesitate for a single second.
"Yes," she choked out, a bright, tearful smile breaking across her face as I stood up and slipped the silver band onto her finger. "Yes, a million times yes."
