and sign that document. Scribbling my name on the empty line, I laid the pen back onto the table and handed him the paper. He observed it for a while and then smiled in satisfaction.
“It looks perfect, cara. I'm glad this is finally settled and I wish you a lot of success,” he declared, and reached for something inside of his pocket. “There is just one more thing I want you to have and then we can go home and I'll let you rest.”
He pulled out a small black jewelry box and handed it to me. I opened it and stared at my wedding ring. It was the same ring he had once snatched from my finger in a display of his threatening rage. It was the same ring he had already attempted to offer back, only to receive my determined refusal to accept it. Tears shimmered in my eyes as all the memories surged in. I gave him an uncertain glance. “Alessandro...”
“It's okay, cara,” he whispered. “I don't expect you to put it on. I just wanted you to have it.”
Seeing this ring on my finger was exactly what he had hoped for, but he wouldn't ask for it. It was up to me to make the decision. I stared at the jewelry box. There was a time when I would have thrown it in the trash without a second thought, but I didn't feel the slightest urge to do that. Instead, I entertained some very new and confusing thoughts. It had been so long since I had that ring on my finger. I wasn't sure if I was ready to wear it again, but Alessandro made an effort and it encouraged me to take a chance and return the favor. I didn't want to overthink things, so I just reached a spontaneous decision. Alessandro's dark eyes widened as I picked up that box without a word, and slid the ring on my finger. I thought it would hurt, but it didn’t. Instead, it felt as though something had clicked into place. I met Alessandro's arrested glance as he reached for my hand and lowered his lips to my knuckles. His eyes remained glued on the ring, then returned to me.
“Thank you,” he muttered with glistening emotion pouring out of his dark eyes. “I can tell this isn’t easy for you, but you don't know how much this gesture means to me, Olivia.”
I spread out my fingers and surveyed the golden wedding band for a long time. After a while, I even admired it. I didn't know what was wrong with me. It was as if, suddenly, I discovered I felt comfortable with being Mrs. Damiani. I didn't know when this feeling came to life inside me, but I couldn't deny it was there.
“It must feel really weird,” Alessandro uttered a soft remark.
I stared at him, considering his words. “No. Not at all. Actually, it feels a lot less heavy than I remember.”
He gulped, as if he couldn't believe what I had told him. “That's a good thing, right?”
“Yes, Alessandro,” I sighed. “That's definitely a good thing. Along with everything else you've done for me this evening.”
He nodded, his gaze growing distant as though he was lost in thought. “But is it enough? Do you think you’ll be able to leave the past behind and give us a fresh start?” he inquired with noticeable hesitation.
I glanced at the ring on my finger and smiled. “I think I might come to appreciate this whole marriage thing a lot more the second time around if you continue to be this persuasive.”
Alessandro reached for my hand, and gently placed it into his, gazing at me expectantly. “Cara, are you certain this is how you feel?” he probed with palpable caution.
“Not entirely,” I said in a light, teasing tone. “There is always a possibility that my pregnancy hormones are doing all the talking at this point.”
“Don't joke,” Alessandro said in a tortured, serious voice, kissing the top of my hand yet again. “Olivia, please don't joke. When it comes to you, I don't want to take any chances.”
“Then don't,” I warned silently, and intertwined my fingers with his. “Be the man you promised you would be and there’s no need to worry.”
“Is that all it’ll take to keep you with me?” he inquired gently.
“Yes, Alessandro. That's all it takes. That's all it ever took,” I explained softly. “If you set me free, I'll stop running.”