Chapter 6 - The Golden Light
Six months later, the Moretti estate on the Boston peninsula was transformed.
The harsh, gray winter had given way to a glorious, warm summer. The rolling lawns that stretched down toward the Atlantic were a brilliant, vibrant green, dotted with blooming hydrangeas and wild roses.
The heavy, suffocating silence that had once defined the vast mansion was completely gone, replaced by the bright, ringing sound of music, laughter, and life.
On the sweeping stone terrace overlooking the water, a massive wooden table was set for a summer dinner party. Soft yellow fairy lights were strung between the white pillars of the veranda, casting a warm, romantic glow across the stone.
Emma—now seven years old, her cheeks round, flushed, and healthy—was running through the sprinkler on the lawn, wearing a bright pink sundress, her loud giggles echoing across the bay.
Chasing close behind her was Leo Moretti, who was currently covered in water and holding a tiny pink plastic water gun, pretending to be hopelessly defeated by his niece.
Sitting at the stone table, watching them with a deep, peaceful smile, was Lucy Vance.
She looked stunning. She was wearing a flowing lavender summer dress that fitted her gorgeous, curvy frame impeccably, her chestnut hair falling in soft, glossy waves over her shoulders. The stress, exhaustion, and fear that had defined her face for six long years had completely evaporated, replaced by a radiant, blooming beauty that drew every eye in the room.
Her mother, who had made a remarkable recovery thanks to the specialized treatment at the new private clinic in Brookline, was sitting in a comfortable armchair nearby, chatting happily with Mrs. Gable over iced tea.
Lucy felt a pair of warm, strong arms gently wrap around her waist from behind.
She leaned back against the broad chest of Matteo Moretti, resting her head against his shoulder. He rested his chin against her hair, breathing in the soft scent of vanilla and rain that followed her everywhere.
"You're ignoring your guests, Mr. Moretti," Lucy murmured with a soft smile, covering his hands with hers.
"My guests are entirely preoccupied with shooting my brother with a water pistol," Matteo replied smoothly, his deep voice rumbling against her back. "I am focusing on what matters."
He turned her gently in his arms until she was facing him.
Matteo looked incredible. He was dressed in a casual white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his dark hair catching the golden light of the setting sun. The silver at his temples only added to the striking, aristocratic handsome authority of his face. But when he looked at Lucy, his dark eyes held only softness, warmth, and an overwhelming devotion.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet-lined mahogany box.
Lucy’s breath hitched in her throat. "Matteo..."
Matteo didn't drop to one knee with corporate theater. He simply stood before her, holding the box open between them. Inside sat a breathtaking ring—a flawless, emerald-cut yellow diamond set in a band of paved rose gold, glittering brilliantly in the evening light.
"Six months ago," Matteo said softly, his voice trembling slightly with a rare, beautiful vulnerability, "a brave, extraordinary woman pulled my child back into the light. She taught my house how to breathe again. She taught me how to love again."
He looked into her eyes, his thumb gently tracing her jawline.
"I don't want a nanny for my daughter, Lucy," Matteo whispered, his dark eyes shining with absolute devotion. "I want a mother for Emma. I want a partner for my life. I want you to share this house, my name, and every single day I have left on this earth."
Tears of pure, unadulterated happiness welled in Lucy’s eyes, sparkling like diamonds in the sunset.
Across the lawn, Emma stopped running. She dropped her water gun and sprinted up the stone steps of the terrace, her small face lit up with absolute joy.
"Is she saying yes, Daddy?" Emma squeaked, skidding to a halt beside them and grabbing Lucy’s lavender dress. "Is Lucy staying forever?"
Matteo looked down at his daughter, then back up at Lucy, a brilliant, genuine smile breaking across his handsome face—a smile that transformed him completely.
"That depends on Lucy, sweetheart," Matteo said softly.
May you like
Lucy let out a tearful, joyous laugh. She bent down, scooped Emma up into her arms, and then reached out, wrapping her other arm around Matteo’s neck, pulling him close until their foreheads rested together.
"Yes," Lucy whispered, her voice overflowing with love as she kissed Matteo gently on the lips, surrounded by the warmth of the summer sun, the sound of the ocean, and the love of the family she had saved—and the family that had saved her. "Yes, I am staying forever."
