Chapter 9 - The Promise on the Hill
In July, Marcello took Johana and María to his private estate in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy.
It was a stunning stone villa surrounded by ancient olive groves, sprawling vineyards, and cypress trees stretching toward the sapphire sky. It was the place where Marcello had grown up, but he hadn't visited it since his wife’s death.
Now, it was no longer a place of sad memories; it was a sanctuary of new beginnings.
María spent her days running through the sunny fields, learning how to pick fresh tomatoes with the villa’s elderly housekeeper, and painting pictures of the Tuscan sunset on large canvases set up in the garden.
On a warm Sunday afternoon, Marcello led Johana up a small winding path to the highest hill on the property, overlooking the vast, breathtaking valley below.
The air was sweet with the scent of wild lavender and crushed pine.
At the top of the hill stood a magnificent white marble gazebo surrounded by blooming red roses. Waiting inside the gazebo were María and an elderly local priest.
Johana stopped in her tracks, looking at Marcello in complete surprise.
"Marcello... what is this?" she gasped.
Marcello turned to her, pulling a small black velvet box from his pocket. He dropped to one knee on the soft green grass.
"Johana," Marcello said, looking up at her with eyes filled with boundless devotion. "You rebuilt my family. You restored my daughter's voice. You gave me back my soul. I don't want another day of my life to pass where you are just 'Miss Johana' or the woman who saved us."
He opened the velvet box to reveal a breathtaking ring—a rare, flawless canary yellow diamond set in platinum, radiating light like a tiny sun.
"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you make our family complete?"
Johana covered her mouth with both hands, tears of pure happiness overflowing and running down her cheeks.
Before she could even answer, María came running out of the gazebo, her little summer dress fluttering in the warm breeze. She threw her small arms around Johana’s waist.
"Say yes, Johana!" María giggled loudly, her voice clear and joyful. "Say yes so you can be my mommy forever!"
Johana dropped to her knees on the grass, gathering María into a fiercely tight hug, then looked up at Marcello, who was waiting with a nervous, hopeful smile on his handsome face.
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"Yes!" Johana cried out, laughing through her tears. "Yes, Marcello! A thousand times yes!"
Marcello slid the ring onto her finger, pulled her up into his arms, and spun her around in the golden Tuscan sunlight as María danced around their feet, her ringing laughter echoing across the rolling hills of Italy.
