Chapter 2: The Marriage Proposal

Valentina stared at the man in front of her as though she had suddenly lost the ability to understand human language.

"What?" Valentina frowned, making sure she had not misheard him.

"I said, I want you, Valentina." Dante repeated himself without hesitation. His gaze remained steady, making it even harder for Valentina to dismiss his words as a joke.

"You just kissed me in front of everyone, and now you're saying you want me?" Valentina pointed at herself with the tip of her finger. Her lips parted slightly before she finally shook her head.

"I need a wife and a mother for my child," Dante explained as he slipped both hands into his pants pockets.

"A wife and a mother?" Valentina repeated the words slowly. She then looked Dante up and down, trying to find some sign that he was messing with her.

Valentina crossed her arms over her chest. A faint smile appeared as she began to understand what the man meant, even though it still sounded strange. "If you need someone to take care of your child, I can understand that. You helped me earlier, so maybe you think I can be your child's nanny in return."

Dante shook his head. "Not a nanny... A wife. I need a legitimate relationship. That way, there won't be any awkwardness when you live with me and become my child's mother."

Valentina fell silent. She never expected their conversation to turn into a marriage proposal within minutes. "Are you serious?"

Dante nodded once. "I have no reason to joke about something like this."

Valentina took a deep breath. Her thoughts raced in every direction. "Why me?"

"You're a brave woman. You don't simply accept it when everyone looks down on you. You also didn't hesitate to walk away from a man who clearly doesn't appreciate you. So I like this decisive side of you," Dante explained.

Valentina opened her mouth to interrupt, but Dante continued. "I need a woman who can be a mother to my child, not someone who simply performs the duties. I see enough courage in you to believe that you can do it."

Valentina stared at him without blinking. His answer made far more sense than she had expected. "So you want me to marry you just because..."

Her phone's ringtone interrupted her. Valentina looked into her bag and immediately recognized the name on the screen.

Mom.

Her smile disappeared instantly.

Valentina let out a quiet breath before answering the call. Before she could even say hello, her mother's voice exploded from the other end of the line.

"Have you gone crazy, Valentina?! What did you do to Bianca?!"

Valentina pulled the phone a few inches away from her ear. Her expression tightened as her mother's voice continued without giving her a chance to explain.

"Your sister has been crying this whole time! You humiliated her in front of everyone just because of a little joke! Can't you think before you act?!"

Valentina clenched her fist. Her eyes briefly closed when she faintly heard Bianca crying on the other end. "Mom, listen to me first. Bianca was the one who..."

"You need to apologize!" Her mother's voice cut her off again.

Valentina lowered the phone for a moment, staring at the screen with her jaw clenched, then brought it back to her ear. "I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

Before her mother could respond, another voice entered the conversation. It was Adrian.

"If you still want to keep our relationship, stop making a scene and apologize to Bianca."

Valentina stared blankly ahead. The man who had mocked her just minutes ago now sounded as though he had the right to decide what she should do.

"And if I don't?" Valentina challenged.

"Don't expect our relationship to continue." Adrian's threat was delivered firmly, as though it would be enough to make Valentina beg him again, just as she always had.

But this time, Valentina only smiled faintly. "You forgot, Adrian? Our relationship is already over. So you don't need to threaten me anymore."

Valentina took a breath before continuing. "From now on, you're free to have a relationship with Bianca without having to hide it from me."

"Valentina!" Adrian shouted so loudly that Valentina pulled the phone away from her ear again.

"Our wedding is only a few days away! Don't cause trouble now!" Adrian yelled.

Valentina looked at Dante, who was standing not far from her. He did not interfere, simply waiting calmly.

"The wedding is off," Valentina said slowly. "I'm not marrying you."

Adrian shouted again, but Valentina no longer wanted to listen. She pressed the button to end the call and slipped her phone back into her bag.

"Is your offer from earlier still on the table?" Valentina asked the man in front of her.

Dante looked at her without changing his expression. "It is."

Valentina gave a small nod. Becoming the wife of a complete stranger certainly sounded insane. But after years of chasing Adrian and trying to earn a place in a family that always blamed her, Dante's offer felt like an escape route she had never had before.

"Then I agree to marry you, Dante." Valentina extended her hand.