HOME

It is breaking day when we arrive at the gates of the Sterling estate. Security is tripled. We pass through the heavily reinforced gates. We enter the underground garage and when I get out of the car I realize that I still cannot stand on my feet. Dante immediately takes me in his arms, pressing me to his broad chest and kissing my forehead.

I make a mental note to ask Damian what toxin was applied to me that is making it so hard for me to recover.

We take the elevator and immediately reach the huge living room. The feeling of peace, quiet, and safety that you only have at home, next to the people who love you and whom you love, washes over me. Dad and my brothers are already seated and having breakfast. At our entrance, joy lit up their faces.

I told them everything that happened during the night and how I got home. Dante does not let go of me. Meanwhile, his phone keeps ringing and he steps outside to talk. Damian explains to me that I was exposed to an extremely aggressive, dangerous toxin precisely because of the short window in which the antidote must be applied, which becomes fatal through progressive muscle paralysis that sets in without the antidote. Consequently, recovery is also difficult and lengthy. Complete elimination of the toxin takes a long period that varies from person to person depending on the immune system.

Given my recent health issues, it will take a little longer for me to fully rehabilitate.

I turned to Dante, walked up to him, and rested my head on his chest. He took me in his arms, and in front of my family, he knelt and asked me, pulling a wonderful jewelry box from his pocket:

— Evelyn Sterling, you are the woman I love more than life, with whom I want children and whom I can protect as long as I live. I want a wonderful life with you. You have been, are, and will be my only choice. Will you be my wife?

And he opened the box containing a magnificent ring featuring an emerald cut in a unique shape, in a discreet and sophisticated white gold setting, surrounded by small perfect crystals that mirror the emerald and daylight in multicolored rays all around. It is a masterpiece of jewelry! Small and delicate!

Dizzy and happy at the same time, I looked at my dad and brothers nodding approvingly with wide smiles on their faces, and simply answered him:

— YES! I want to!

Dante closed his eyes and breathed deeply, leaned down to my hand and slid the ring onto my finger with such a smooth movement. Then he kissed my hand firmly, with love, longing, but also possession.

The ring fits me perfectly! It is light, delicate, and extremely elegant!

Dante stands up, hugs me gently, and responds to my father and brothers with handshakes, rough manly hugs, and congratulations along with all sorts of wishes.

As I watch them, I enjoy these happy moments with all my dear people and I want to move slowly toward the living room sofa. I feel the air thinning, the light fading, my legs going soft, I want to speak, but the words won't come out of my mouth, my thoughts tangle in my head. A phone rings desperately in Dante's hand. Everyone freezes, looking at each other... then I can no longer hear well and see nothing. I hit the floor with a dull thud, Dante rushes to me and immediately picks me up in his arms while holding the phone up in one hand.

As I gradually fade away, I can still hear a familiar baritone voice telling Dante that if he doesn't hand me over in 30 minutes, I will die. In the fog of my mind, I understand that the antidote was not the correct one or there is a second phase of treatment. Surprised that I can still hear and reason, I try not to lose reality, but, defeated, I drift far away. There is silence, darkness, a slight, constant, discreet ringing in my ears that tells me I am still breathing and alive.

Stay close! I'll be back in 2 days. I await you with love! I write for you!