Chapter 10 - The Mistress of the Blackwood Estate
Six months later.
The grand gardens of the Blackwood estate in Westchester were blooming with white roses and vibrant hydrangeas under the warm June sunshine. The once-cold, austere stone mansion was alive with the sound of music, laughter, and high-spirited chatter.
Out on the sprawling green lawn, seven-year-old Leo—with a full head of thick, shiny dark hair and rosy, healthy cheeks—was running around in tiny sneakers, chasing Kieran’s massive German Shepherd with pure, unbridled childhood joy.
"Slow down, Leo!" Marco shouted from the terrace, laughing as he grilled steaks on the outdoor patio. "Don't trip over your own feet!"
I stood by the French doors of the grand ballroom, wearing a flowing blush-pink silk dress, holding a glass of iced lemonade. The faded gray robe, the fuzzy socks, the crushing stack of overdue medical invoices, and the suffocating terror of midnight phone calls felt like a distant, faded nightmare from another lifetime.
Warm, strong arms slid around my waist from behind. Kieran pulled me flush against his chest, resting his chin on my shoulder, breathing in the scent of my perfume.
"Are you happy, my love?" he asked, his deep voice sending pleasant shivers across my skin.
I leaned back against him, covering his hands with mine. "More than I ever thought was possible. Sometimes I still wake up at three in the morning and think it's a dream."
"It's not a dream," Kieran said softly, turning me around in his arms to face him. He reached into the inner pocket of his bespoke suit jacket and pulled out a small, velvet box.
My breath caught in my throat.
Kieran dropped down onto one knee on the marble terrace, right there in the sunlight, in front of his men, in front of the gardens, in front of the entire world. He popped the box open, revealing a breathtaking, flawless ten-carat blue diamond ring that shimmered with the exact color of his eyes.
"Saraphina Torres," Kieran said, his voice ringing out clear, steady, and filled with an emotion so powerful it brought tears to my eyes. "You brought light into my darkness. You taught me how to love, and you showed me that life is worth living. You will never clean another room, you will never cry another tear over an unpaid bill, and you will never face this world alone again. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Out on the lawn, Leo stopped running and jumped up and down, clapping his hands wildly. "Say yes, Sari! Say yes so Kieran can officially be my brother!"
The entire security team, including hardened men with scarred faces, erupted into cheers and whistles.
Tears of pure happiness spilled down my cheeks as I dropped to my knees beside Kieran, throwing my arms around his neck and pulling him into a passionate, breathless kiss.
May you like
"Yes," I sobbed against his lips. "A thousand times, yes!"
Kieran slid the diamond onto my finger, stood up, and lifted me high into the air, spinning me around as the warm summer sun bathed us in golden light. The feared mafia boss had conquered New York, but in the end, it was love that had conquered him.
