The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

As everyone gathered around them, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation. Leonardo, dressed in a dashing suit, scanned the crowd with a mix of gratitude and nerves. Among the sea of familiar faces, he spotted his family and Sofia’s family, all beaming with joy. Additionally, he noticed their wedding guests from the past and influential personalities who had joined them before had returned once again to witness this momentous occasion. The media, well-prepared for the event, eagerly poised themselves to capture every detail.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Leonardo cleared his throat, a sign that he was about to address the gathered guests. “Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us,” he began, his voice carrying a mix of sincerity and emotion. “You must be wondering why I suddenly planned this party.”

As he paused, his gaze shifted to Sofia, who looked back at him with curious and affectionate eyes, clearly intrigued by what he was about to say.

“I want to share this precious moment with all of you and the entire world,” Leonardo continued, his tone steady yet heartfelt. “I never thought that I would meet someone who could completely change me, someone I could trust with all my heart. I never believed that I could be so captivated by a person I had never known before. But it happened, and it happened on the very first day I saw her.”

With a tender smile, he reached for Sofia’s hand, bringing her forward to face the camera, ensuring the world could see the woman who had captured his heart. The event was being broadcast live, making it an even more significant moment for both of them.

“She has a way of making me feel alive again,” Leonardo said, his voice filled with deep emotion. “Love was something I never truly believed in before. I never thought I was capable of falling in love. But then, this miracle of a woman came into my life and made all the impossible things possible.”

As he gazed into Sofia’s eyes, a playful chuckle escaped his lips as he thought back to his former self, the old Leonardo who had been skeptical of such emotions.

“I never imagined that I would be standing here, confessing my love to the woman who has become my wife,” he continued. “But there’s something I haven’t done yet-something I want to do right now, in front of all of you.”

Leonardo’s voice softened as he leaned closer to Sofia, speaking to her directly, yet loud enough for the crowd to hear. “I want this love confession to be special, a memory that the world will remember forever, my love,” he whispered tenderly. “No one will ever love their beloved more than I love you.”

Out of nowhere, Leonardo demanded, “Unbutton my shirt, angel.”

His sudden request caught Sofia off guard, and she looked around, feeling self-conscious about the people watching them everywhere.

“What?” Confused and conscious of the onlookers, she looked around, assessing the situation before responding. “Are you serious?” she gasped, worried about the consequences of complying with such a request in public. She didn’t want other women to see her husband partially undressed.

“Please, baby. Unbutton my shirt. Open it,” he insisted, his deep voice whispering with determination.

Sofia hesitated, unsure about his request in such a public setting. “Fine!” she huffed helplessly, realizing that he wasn’t going to back down. With a sense of reluctance, she began to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time.

As she unfastened the buttons, Sofia’s curiosity got the better of her, and she stole a glance at his chest. To her surprise, she caught a glimpse of something inked there. Curiosity turned into surprise and then awe as she continued to reveal more of the tattoo.

Opening three more buttons, she pushed the fabric aside, and there it was, illuminated by the chandelier’s bright lights. Her name was written on his chest, prominently displayed for all to see. It wasn’t a small or discreet tattoo; it was big, spanning from the center to the left side of his chest. Sofia could only imagine the pain he must have endured to get such a significant tattoo in that location.

Overwhelmed by emotions, she looked up at Leonardo’s face. He was watching her intently, biting his lip, and holding his breath, anxiously awaiting her reaction. With her heart pounding, she returned her gaze to the tattoo, tracing her finger gently over the beautifully curved letters of her name.

The first ‘S’ was artfully curved at the bottom, forming a heart, while the last ‘A’ extended into the shape of a heartbeat. The design was exquisite, and Sofia couldn’t help but feel deeply touched by this display of affection.

Stunned, mesmerized, and speechless, she found herself at a loss for words. Tears welled up in her eyes, and her throat tightened with emotion. The realization that her name was permanently etched over his heart filled her with overwhelming love and gratitude.

Disregarding the surrounding crowd and the presence of cameras, Sofia leaned in and pressed her lips gently against the letters of her name, cherishing this intimate moment with her husband. She could feel his heart beating loudly beneath her touch, and his chest rising and falling with each deep breath.

Finally, pulling away, Sofia looked into Leonardo’s beautiful gray eyes, her voice barely above a whisper, “You didn’t have to do this, hubby.”

Her voice trembled with emotion, unable to fully express the depth of her feelings.

Leonardo’s face lit up with a sweet smile as he gently cradled Sofia’s face in his large palm, his touch both tender and comforting. “I wanted to do this for a long time,” he began, his voice soft and filled with affection, “but I didn’t get time, angel. Then I thought of surprising you. I wanted to tell the world who owns my heart. Our children will know how I proposed to their mom.”

A tear glistened in Sofia’s eyes, a mixture of surprise and overwhelming emotions taking over. Leonardo leaned in and kissed her, a kiss filled with deep love and passion, causing Sofia to feel as though she were floating. The world around her seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in that moment.

The realization that Leonardo loved her and her alone, that she was the one who held his heart, brought forth more tears of joy and happiness. He pulled away slightly, his own emotions evident as he looked at her with adoration.

“I love you, Leonardo,” she announced with all her heart, “I love you so much.”

As if on cue, the sky above them suddenly glowed and illuminated like a magnificent display of bursting firecrackers. Sofia was left in awe at the breathtaking sight. Little did she know that this surprise was also a part of Leonardo’s plan. He had secretly arranged for the pyrotechnician to put on this mesmerizing show, timed perfectly to coincide with his proposal.

“Omg, look at the sky,” Sofia whispered, utterly astonished by the magical scene.

Leonardo tore his gaze away from her beautiful face for a moment to glance upwards. Although the view was truly enchanting, he knew that his surprise was far from over.

“Baby girl, look there,” he said, pointing towards the eastern horizon.

Sofia gasped, her hand instinctively covering her mouth in surprise. As she followed Leonardo’s gaze, she noticed words beginning to shine in the dark sky, forming a question that his heart had longed to ask for so many days.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed, her heart pounding with excitement and happiness.

“Yes, I will marry you, Leonardo Morelli!” Sofia joyfully announced, her answer loud and clear.

He turned his eyes back towards the sky, where Sofia was also looking with a beaming smile. The words have popped up, shining in the dark sky: MARRY ME.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

It wasn’t merely a question; it was a declaration of love, and Leonardo had orchestrated it all to ensure her answer was a resounding yes. Overwhelmed with emotions, he pulled her close and kissed her once more, expressing through that kiss all the love and happiness he felt.

“You’ve made me the happiest man alive, my love,” he whispered against her lips, his heart full of joy and contentment.