Chapter 69: The Right Way

Months had passed  in those months, Isabella and Antonio had built something stronger than either of them had ever imagined. Their love had evolved, transformed, deepened. What started as a union born from misunderstandings, complications, and his overwhelming desire to protect his family had turned into something far more beautiful—a partnership grounded in trust, passion, and unwavering support.

Today, on their anniversary, Antonio had made up his mind. He was going to ask her the one question he had been wanting to ask since the day they had met. But this time, it would be different. This time, it would be the right way.

Isabella had no idea what was coming. For weeks, Antonio had been planning the perfect moment, the perfect setting, to propose to her again, and this time, it would be on his terms, not hers. The thought of asking her to be his wife all over again felt like the most important thing he had ever done.

But there was one person he needed on his side for this grand gesture—someone who was a little less discreet than usual. His three-year-old son, Luca.

Luca had been a natural accomplice in Antonio’s scheme, his innocent heart full of excitement for his father’s plan. He had been asking questions for days, eagerly helping Antonio pick out a ring and practicing the lines he would say to his mother. Luca had even taken part in creating the perfect moment, a perfect evening that Antonio hoped would be unforgettable for Isabella.

It was a late afternoon when Antonio received the final call that the setting was prepared. The house was subtly decorated, and everything was arranged for the evening ahead. The lights outside twinkled like stars, and the soft melody of classical music drifted in from the garden where a private dinner was set. It was perfect—just like Isabella deserved.

Antonio looked at his son, who stood by the door, his little hands clutching a small velvet box. He had been waiting for this moment just as eagerly as Antonio had. Luca looked up at his father, eyes wide with excitement.

“You ready, Luca?” Antonio asked, bending down to meet his son’s gaze.

Luca nodded enthusiastically, his little face lighting up. “Mommy’s going to love it, right, Daddy?”

Antonio smiled softly, running a hand through Luca’s messy hair. “She’s going to love it, buddy. You’ve helped make this the best night ever.”

With a deep breath, Antonio held Luca’s hand and together, they walked into the living room. Isabella was in the kitchen, preparing their favorite meal, completely unaware of what was about to happen. Antonio’s heart beat faster as he thought about the emotions that would flood over her when she realized the surprise.

It felt like a lifetime had passed since that first, forced proposal—when he had asked her to marry him not out of love, but out of duty. But now, as he looked at the life they had created, he knew without a doubt that she was the woman he wanted to spend forever with. His love for her had only grown deeper with time. She was the mother of his child, his partner, his everything.

And tonight, he was going to make her see that.

Antonio turned to Luca, giving him a smile. “Are you ready to help me make Mommy’s day?”

Luca grinned and nodded, looking down at the ring box in his hands. Antonio gently took the box from his son and placed it in his pocket, his fingers brushing the cool metal that represented everything he wanted in life.

“We’ve got this,” Antonio said, squeezing Luca’s small hand.

Just then, Isabella walked into the living room, a soft smile on her face. She looked up at Antonio, her eyes warm, her lips curving into a smile.

“Dinner’s almost ready. I just need to—” Her voice trailed off as she noticed the look on Antonio’s face. She paused, a quizzical expression forming on her face. “What’s going on?”

Antonio’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, looking as beautiful as ever, her eyes glinting with curiosity. He had always been a man of action, not one for words, but tonight, he felt a different kind of nervousness. He wasn’t afraid of what she might say. He wasn’t afraid of the future. What he felt was the weight of the love he held for her and the overwhelming desire to ask her the question that had been burning in his heart for so long.

“Isabella,” Antonio began, his voice steady but full of emotion, “when I first asked you to marry me, it was... complicated. I didn’t know what I wanted. I was broken, and I didn’t know how to fix it. But you fixed me, Bella. You healed me, and you gave me the greatest gift in the world. You gave me a family.”

He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to Luca, who was standing at his side, his small hand held tightly in his father’s. Isabella’s eyes softened, and she smiled at Luca, unaware of the significance of this moment.

“Luca,” Antonio said softly, looking down at his son. “Luca and I have something we want to give you tonight. Something that comes from the heart.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box, opening it to reveal the ring. Isabella’s eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching in her throat.

“You gave me everything I could have ever wanted,” Antonio continued, his voice thick with emotion. “You gave me your trust, your love, and you’ve been the mother of our son. But I’ve never truly asked you the right way.”

He turned to Luca, kneeling down beside him. “Luca, buddy, you know what to do, right?”

Luca’s eyes sparkled as he held out the box toward Isabella, his little hands trembling with excitement.
**Chapter 69: The Right Way (Extended)**

Antonio’s heart was pounding in his chest, and his hands were trembling slightly as he knelt before Isabella. The soft glow of the candles flickered around them, casting gentle shadows on their faces. The moment felt surreal, as though the world outside had paused just for them.

Isabella’s eyes were wide with surprise and emotion, her breath catching in her throat as she looked from the ring in Antonio’s hand to Luca’s innocent face. The little boy held out the velvet box, his small hands trembling with excitement. Her gaze shifted back to Antonio, who stood with such purpose, his love for her shining through his every word.

Luca’s tiny voice broke the silence, sweet and pure. “Mommy, will you marry Daddy again?”

Isabella’s chest tightened, tears springing to her eyes. She had never expected this. She hadn’t realized how much she needed this—how much they both needed this. She was overwhelmed by the love, the tenderness, and the simple beauty of the moment. Her son, so innocent, so unaware of the full weight of the question, was helping his father ask her to be a part of their family forever. It felt like a dream.

“Yes, Luca,” she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. “I will marry Daddy again.”

Antonio stood, walking over to her with a gentle smile. “Bella, will you marry me again? Will you be my wife, and the mother of our son, forever? This time, I’m asking you properly, from the depths of my heart.”

Isabella’s eyes shimmered with tears as she looked at the two people who meant everything to her. Her heart swelled with love for them both. She had never imagined a love like this. She had never imagined the life they would build together.

With trembling hands, she reached out and took the ring from the box. She looked up at Antonio, her voice soft but filled with emotion.

“Yes, Antonio. Yes, I will marry you. I will be your wife, and Luca’s mother, forever.”

Her eyes met Antonio’s, and the look they shared was filled with everything—love, gratitude, and the unspoken promise of forever. Antonio smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes, and his heart swelled with pride and joy. He could see the love in Isabella’s eyes, the depth of the bond they shared. This was it—this was the moment he had been waiting for.

Slowly, he took the ring from the box, his hands gentle as he slid the band onto her finger. The soft metal felt like the most natural thing in the world, the perfect fit, just like their love. Isabella’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at the ring, her heart racing with joy.

As he slid the ring on her finger, Isabella looked down at it, her hand trembling slightly. The diamond caught the light, sparkling in the dim room, a symbol of all the promises Antonio had made to her and the future they would share.

Just as the last part of the ring was slid into place, Luca—who had been watching intently—excitedly rushed forward. With a grin on his face, he grabbed a basket full of delicate flower petals he had been holding in his hands. The petals were soft, like cotton, and they fluttered as they spilled from his tiny hands, falling over his parents like a rain of blossoms. It was a perfect moment—a scene so beautiful that it could have come from a fairytale.

Antonio laughed softly, reaching down to ruffle Luca’s hair as the little boy beamed up at them, proud of his contribution. “Good job, Luca,” he said softly, his voice filled with warmth.

Isabella, her heart overflowing with love, looked at Luca and then at Antonio. The three of them, standing together in the soft light, felt complete. This was their family. They had created this. She was overwhelmed, unable to hold back the tears that slipped from her eyes.

Antonio moved closer to Isabella, his fingers gently lifting her chin. “I love you,” he whispered in Italian, his voice full of devotion. “You are my everything. I don’t need anyone else in the world but you.”

And then, without another word, Antonio leaned down and kissed her. It was a kiss filled with all the promises he had made, all the promises he still intended to keep. It was a kiss that said everything—about the journey they had been on, about the love that had transformed them both, and about the future they would build together.

The kiss was soft at first, a gentle caress of lips, but it quickly deepened. Isabella’s hands found their way to Antonio’s chest, pulling him closer as their kiss grew more passionate. The world seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in each other.

When they finally pulled away, breathless, Antonio looked down at her, his heart racing in his chest. He could feel the warmth of her in his arms, the weight of her love, and it filled him with an overwhelming sense of contentment.

Luca, standing beside them, clapped his hands together in excitement. “Mommy and Daddy are kissing! YAY!” he cheered.

Both Antonio and Isabella couldn’t help but laugh, their hearts full of love and happiness. They looked down at their son, who was smiling at them with all the joy a three-year-old could possibly feel. It was perfect—truly perfect.

“We should take a picture,” Isabella said with a laugh, wiping the tears from her eyes. “A memory of this moment.”

Antonio nodded, his smile widening. “I think that’s a great idea.”

They moved over to the nearby table where Isabella had placed her phone, and Luca eagerly ran over to help. Antonio and Isabella stood side by side, their arms wrapped around each other as Luca jumped in front of them. He held the phone, trying his best to focus on the lens as he aimed the camera, his small fingers pressing the screen clumsily.

Isabella smiled at her son, bending down to help him hold the phone steady. Antonio smiled too, his heart swelling with pride.

“Ready, Luca?” Isabella asked softly.

Luca nodded, a look of concentration on his face as he aimed the phone once more. With a quick “cheese!” from the little boy, the picture was taken. The three of them stood there in the soft glow of the lights, laughing and full of love. The moment felt perfect, frozen in time—a picture that would always remind them of the night their family grew even stronger.

Antonio reached down and kissed Isabella’s cheek once more, pulling her close, as Luca clung to his leg. He looked at his wife, his son, and their future ahead of them. This was all he had ever wanted. This was his family. And nothing could ever tear them apart.

As the night carried on, the three of them shared a quiet, beautiful evening together—dinner, laughter, and love filling the air. It was everything Antonio had dreamed of and more. Tonight wasn’t just an anniversary celebration. It was a celebration of their love, their family, and the promise that they would always stand together, no matter what.

The night was far from over, and as Antonio held Isabella close, their love felt stronger than ever. He had asked her the right way, and this time, there was no doubt in his heart. She was his—now and forever.