Page 137 of The Don's Secret Heir

“Let's go to bed. I set up the guest room for you. Papa’s old fashioned and won’t let us share a room.” She giggles.

“I could sneak in after he’s asleep.” I grin wickedly.

“We’ll see,” she says with a smirk, and I stand, wrapping Sonny’s long limbs around me.

When I lay him down on the bed, I still struggle to disentangle myself from him.

Finally, I leave the room, tearing my eyes from my son’s sleeping face and walking out into the hallway.

My breath comes short and for some reason, tears prick at the backs of my eyes.

“It’s okay,” Liana says, quickly taking my hands. “Just breathe with me.”

She takes a deep breath in and I try, but all I make is a wheeze. It’s like the world is caving in on me.

“It’s okay,” she says again, softly, cupping my face with one hand. She breathes in slowly through her nostrils again and I gasp in air like a dying fish, finally catching my breath.

“I love him so much,” I say brokenly. She hugs me tightly, pressing her face against my chest.

“I’m so glad you do.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, pushing her away slightly but still holding her shoulders.

Her lip trembles. “I thought you cheated on me. I didn’t think you’d be a good father.”

That stings, even though it’s based on misinformation.

“I don’t know if I will be.”

She frowns. “You already are, Dario. Sonny was wanting to call you Daddy before he ever knew he was yours. He attached to you right away. I kept being worried you’d realize how much he looks like you.”

“Is that why you were always snatching him away from me?”

She nods. "I didn’t trust you. But I do, now.”

“You promise?” I glance over at her and put a hand in my pocket, fingering the velvet ring box. “Because I bought you something five years ago, and now I want you to have it.”

“You kept a present you bought for me for five years?” she asks incredulously, smiling softly.

“It’s a pretty important present.”

I pull out the ring box and her hands fly to her mouth, covering it.

I open it up, revealing a three-carat engagement ring, one I’ve had hidden in my underwear drawer for five years.

I’d planned to propose to her the night that Maria called. It had upended everything, and apparently, made Liana think I was cheating on her.

“You bought this then?” Her voice is muffled by her hand.

“I wanted to ask you then, Li. But then you left, and I... I just lost it, baby. I can’t live without you. You know that, right?”

“I don’t think I can live without you either.” Tears stream down her face. “You really want to stay married to me?”

I slide the ring on her finger. It’s a perfect fit, after all this time.

“More than that,belissima. I want to have a vow renewal in front of all of our friends and family. I want to show everyone you’re mine.” I pause. “Now, are you going to say yes or did you want to torture me some more?”

She laughs even though tears are streaming down her cheeks and throws herself into my arms.