Chapter 10 - The Mistress of the Rossi Estate
Three months later.
The summer sun shone brightly over the Hudson River, casting a brilliant golden light across the manicured lawns and blooming rose gardens of the Rossi estate.
The underworld of New York had completely restructured. Without the Morettis, the Rossi family had absorbed the shipping docks, solidifying their status as the absolute rulers of the city's trade and commerce. The four remaining syndicate families had bowed to Dominic's total authority, recognizing him as the undisputed king of the New York underworld.
Inside the mansion, everything had changed.
I stood on the second-floor balcony overlooking the rose garden, sipping a glass of iced tea. I was wearing a simple, breathtaking ivory silk dress that draped elegantly over my body. The deep laceration on my right cheekbone had healed into a thin, faint white line—a subtle mark of courage that Dr. Vance had managed to minimize masterfully.
I wasn't ashamed of the faint scar. It was a reminder of the night I stopped being invisible.
Behind me, soft footsteps echoed against the hardwood floor.
Two warm, powerful arms wrapped gently around my waist from behind, pulling my back firmly against a broad, solid chest. Dominic leaned down, resting his chin lightly on my shoulder, his dark hair brushing against my neck.
"What are you thinking about?" Dominic murmured softly in my ear, his deep voice sending a familiar, thrilling shiver down my spine.
"I was just thinking about how much can change in three months," I answered, turning slightly in his embrace to look up into his icy blue eyes. "Three months ago, I was sweeping these floors, trying to avoid being seen."
"And now you own the floor," Dominic said with a dark, breathtaking smile.
He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the faint white scar on my cheek. His touch was incredibly tender, filled with an intense, devotion that he showed to no one else in the world.
"How is Ma doing today?" he asked softly.
"She's wonderful," I smiled. "She's in the greenhouse with the new gardener, planting yellow roses. Her memory has been remarkably sharp this week."
"Because she's happy," Dominic said, his thumbs lightly caressing my hips. "Because she has you."
He stepped back slightly, reaching into his inner suit pocket. He pulled out a small, black velvet ring box.
My heart gave a sudden, violent thump inside my chest.
Dominic looked into my eyes, all the ruthless mob boss intensity melting away into absolute vulnerability.
"When I made Bianca remove her ring in that conservatory," Dominic said softly, his voice heavy with deep emotion, "I swore I would never allow another woman to wear the Rossi family ring unless she possessed true strength, unconditional loyalty, and a pure heart."
He opened the velvet box.
Inside sat a stunning, custom-cut oval emerald ring, surrounded by a delicate band of small, flawless round diamonds. It was modern, elegant, and entirely unique—nothing like the cold, sharp platinum monster Bianca had worn.
"Skyler," Dominic said, holding the open box between us. "You took a blow meant for my mother. You stood by my side during a mob war. You healed my family, and you stole my heart. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you become the true mistress of the Rossi estate?"
Tears of pure happiness welled in my eyes, spilling over my lashes and running down my cheeks.
I didn't hesitate for a single second.
"Yes," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "Yes, Dominic. Absolutely yes."
Dominic let out a breathless, joyful laugh. He took the elegant emerald ring from the box and slid it smoothly onto my left ring finger. It fit perfectly.
He pulled me into his arms, lifting me slightly off my feet as his lips claimed mine in a deep, passionate kiss that sealed our promise under the warm summer sun.
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I had entered this house as a clumsy, quiet maid in a plain apron, insulted and dismissed by a spoiled heiress. But through loyalty, courage, and love, I had taken the blow that changed everything.
The engagement ring was on. The mob war was won. And I was finally home.
