Chapter 17 - The Choice Dominic Never Expected Me to Make
A year after the night at Orelio, Dominic asked me to marry him.
He did it badly.
We were in the kitchen.
Leo was throwing cereal.
I was wearing pajamas.
Dominic was arguing with the coffee machine.
Then he turned.
“Marry me.”
I stared.
“What?”
He froze.
Apparently the sentence had escaped before the plan.
“I had something prepared.”
I looked around.
“Is it hidden in the toaster?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
“At the restaurant.”
“What restaurant?”
“Orelio.”
I laughed.
“You planned a proposal?”
“Yes.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“And you just ruined it?”
“Yes.”
I laughed harder.
He looked irritated.
“This is not how this was supposed to happen.”
“Do you have the ring?”
“No.”
That made it worse.
I couldn't breathe from laughing.
Finally he started laughing too.
Leo laughed because we were laughing.
Then Dominic came around the counter.
His expression became serious.
“I don't need the ring.”
My laughter faded.
“Elina Valdez.”
“Yes?”
“I loved Elena.”
“I know.”
“I always will.”
“I know.”
“You never asked me to stop.”
“I wouldn't.”
He took my hand.
“And somehow, without replacing anything, you gave me another life.”
My eyes filled.
“You gave Leo family.”
“He gave me family.”
“You gave me a reason to become someone he can be proud of.”
“You did that yourself.”
He shook his head.
“You reminded me I could.”
I touched his face.
“So this is your proposal?”
“Yes.”
“It's terrible.”
“I know.”
“Yes.”
He blinked.
“Yes?”
“Yes, Dominic.”
He kissed me.
Leo threw cereal at us.
Perfect.
But I had a condition.
Not about money.
Not the wedding.
Not even his old business life.
“I want to keep my name.”
Dominic smiled.
“I expected that.”
“And I want to adopt Leo.”
His expression vanished.
“What?”
“If we marry.”
He stared.
I suddenly became nervous.
“I don't want to replace Elena on paper either. I want him to know exactly who his mother was. But if something happens to you, I don't want anyone questioning whether I belong to him.”
Dominic's eyes filled.
“Elina.”
“If you don't want—”
He pulled me against him.
For a long time, he couldn't speak.
Finally:
“Yes.”
I cried.
“So that's okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
He laughed through tears.
“I've never been more sure of anything.”
The legal process took time.
Elena remained Leo's mother on every part of his story.
I became his adoptive mother.
Not replacement.
Addition.
The judge asked whether I understood the responsibility.
I looked at Leo sitting in Dominic's lap.
“Yes.”
The judge smiled.
“Then congratulations.”
Outside, Marisol hugged me.
“You're a mother.”
I looked at Leo.
“I think I've been one for a while.”
Dominic heard.
His face changed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Don't get emotional.”
“I'm not.”
“You're crying.”
“Wind.”
“We're inside.”
He glared.
I kissed him.
Our wedding was scheduled for autumn.
Small.
Family only.
Orelio catered.
Victor threatened to charge full price.
He didn't.
I wore no veil.
Dominic wore dark blue because I had officially banned all-black suits for major emotional events.
Rafael walked Marisol to her seat.
Sofia carried Leo until he demanded to walk.
The ceremony took place in a garden.
Elena's photograph stood on a small table near the front.
Not as tragedy.
As family.
Before walking down the aisle, I touched the joined lockets around my neck.
Mine and hers.
Marisol stood beside me.
“You ready?”
I looked toward Dominic.
Leo stood next to him in a tiny suit.
He saw me.
“Mama!”
I stopped.
It was the first time.
Not El.
Mama.
My hand flew to my mouth.
Dominic's eyes widened.
Leo shouted again.
“Mama!”
Everyone laughed and cried at once.
I knelt.
Leo ran to me.
I picked him up.
The carefully planned procession disappeared.
I walked down the aisle carrying my son.
Dominic met us halfway.
“That wasn't the plan,” he whispered.
I smiled.
“Our family doesn't seem good with plans.”
He kissed Leo's forehead.
Then mine.
And for once, nothing terrible happened afterward.
No anonymous calls.
No hidden documents.
No secret relatives.
Just vows.
Music.
Dinner.
Laughter.
May you like
And the strange peaceful realization that the worst chapter of our lives might finally be behind us.
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