Chapter 15 - The Bloom of White Eden
It was a perfect Saturday in late June.
The sky was an endless expanse of flawless sapphire blue. The sunlight glittered across the marble fountain, where water danced peacefully in the breeze.
Standing in the center of the terrace, Thomas was carefully pruning a magnificent, towering rose bush covered in hundreds of pristine, porcelain-white petals.
A White Eden climber.
Beside the rose bush sat a polished granite plaque embedded in the stone wall, engraved with the words:
In Memory of Lucia Moretti & Vincent Morales
“Truth Blooms in the Light.”
I walked down the stone steps wearing a simple, elegant ivory sundress, holding a basket of fresh strawberries picked from the greenhouse.
“How is she looking today, Thomas?” I asked, leaning over to inhale the sweet, delicate perfume of the white blossoms.
Thomas turned, wiping his brow with a clean handkerchief, his eyes twinkling with genuine joy.
“Strongest roots I’ve ever seen, lass,” Thomas said with deep satisfaction. “You give a plant the right soil, the right care, and enough honest sunlight, and it will outlast any storm.”
Footsteps sounded on the stone terrace behind us.
Luca walked down the steps, wearing a crisp white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He walked up behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my waist and pulling me gently against his chest.
I leaned back into his warmth, feeling the steady, powerful beat of his heart against my back.
“Thomas,” Luca greeted the old gardener with a warm nod.
“Boss,” Thomas smiled, tipping his cap respectfully before gathering his pruning shears. “I’ll leave you two to enjoy the afternoon. I’ve got some hydrangeas calling my name by the north gate.”
As Thomas walked away, humming a cheerful Italian tune, Luca rested his chin on my shoulder, looking out over the magnificent sea of green and white.
“Do you remember what you asked me in the potting shed nine months ago?” Luca murmured softly, his lips brushing against the side of my neck.
“I asked a lot of questions that almost got me fired,” I teased, turning in his arms to face him.
Luca laughed softly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet jeweler’s box.
He didn't open it immediately. He looked down at me with eyes full of an ocean of love, gratitude, and devotion.
“You asked why my mother planted these roses,” Luca whispered. “She planted them because she believed that no matter how dark or corrupt the world becomes, something pure can always grow if you’re brave enough to protect it.”
Luca opened the box.
Inside rested a stunning, custom-designed ring: a flawless emerald surrounded by a delicate band of platinum white rose petals.
Luca dropped to one knee on the sunlit stone terrace.
“Lily Carter, you saved my life. You brought light back into this house, and you showed me what it truly means to love without fear. Will you marry me?”
Tears of pure happiness blurred my vision. I looked down at the man who had torn down an entire underworld empire just to keep his promises, the man who held my heart in his hands.
“Yes,” I choked out, a radiant smile breaking across my face. “Yes, Luca. A thousand times yes.”
Luca slipped the ring onto my finger, stood up, and pulled me into an embrace that lifted me completely off my feet.
May you like
When his lips met mine, the entire world faded away, leaving only the warmth of the summer sun, the gentle rustle of the leaves, and the sweet, triumphant bloom of the white roses all around us.
THE END
