Rose was seated in Ermanno's apartment in front of him and looking around the place.
"Do you like it?" Asked Ermanno.
"It's nice. But I thought you lived with your parents." Said Rose.
"I do. Actually we all do" said Ermanno.
"We?" Asked Rose.
"Yes. We all Devonte family live together in my great-grandfather's mansion. This is like a bachelor's pad where we bachelors come with girls we can't take home to meet our moms. And if we are working in late, we just stay here or we stay here just to get some privacy. It can get a little crowded there. I bought this place when I had my first fight with my dad." Said Ermanno.
"Hmm.... So what is that you want to talk and I want to tell you something too." Said Rose.
"You go first" said Ermanno.
"I don't have much to say than, I don't want to marry you. I have spent past 5 years frightened by you and feeling guilty for my sister's death. I have come to realise it was not my fault that she met with an accident. And only my support couldn't let her to her death. So you blaming me was inadequate. I have also realised my parents only care of their status and not me. They got excited when they came to know you asked me for marriage. And said they will disown me if I said no. I am not desperate for their affection. I will go away, far away from everyone and start a new life" said Rose.
Ermanno got up from his place and went close to Rose and sat down next to her.
And to Rose's shock he hugged her.
"What are you doing?" Asked Rose frozen in her spot.
"It's ok Rose. You don't have to lie to me. You don't have to sound brave. I know you are not brave." Said Ermanno.
"I am not?" Asked Rose.
Ermanno smirked and broke the hug but held her close.
"I know everything about you Rose. I know you don't have a bone of bravery in your body. I also know you may have practiced this speech you just said many times in your mind, right?" Said Ermanno.
Rose bit her lower lip and looked down and asked "how did you know I practiced it?"
"First you said it without emotions. It was like you just wanted to say it without breaking down crying. I know you care for your parents or else you wouldn't have finished your studies early to come back." Said Ermanno.
"They don't care about me" said Rose.
"Ofcourse they do. They want what is good for you. And they can see that you will be happy being part of my family. Don't you want to be part of my family? I thought you loved my mom." Said Ermanno.
"I love your mom. And your family is so much fun" said rose with a shy smile.
Ermanno smirked and knew he was in the right path.
"Then why don't you want to marry me?" Asked Ermanno innocently.
"You hate me" said Rose.
"I was angry then. But now I am not. I have moved on. Rose we both have lost a loved one. We are going through the same pain. We can understand eachother better and make a better future. You have no idea what I have been through these five years" said Ermanno with a sad face and turned his back to Rose.
Rose looked at him and placed her hand on his back and asked "what happened?"
Ermanno was playing with her and she was loosing her game.
He turned to look at her with a sad face and said "after loosing Sofia and my baby. I lost it. I drowned myself in work but also drowned myself in drugs, alcohol and whores. My parents and family were concerned about me and tried to get me out of my grief but nothing was working. And now my dad is always angry at me and my mom is always crying for me. I love my mom so much and seeing her cry for me is hurtful. I want to be better Rose please help me"
Rose had tears in her eyes. And BINGO, Ermanno knew he had her.
"Will you love me?" Whispered Rose.
"What?" Asked Ermanno.
"I.. aaah.. I was asking. How... " Stumbled Rose.
"How what? How will we marry? How we will tell everyone? Don't worry about any of that. I will take care of it. You just say yes to us." Said Ermanno.
Rose thought for a second and nodded.
Ermanno smiled wide and hugged Rose and said "my mom will be very happy."
Rose sat there hugging Ermanno and thinking about how she came to say no to him and ended up saying yes.
Ermanno was his father's son. He grew up seeing his father getting what he wanted by manipulating people to what he wanted them to do and agree to everything he said.
Guess it was genetic to get some of his father's skills in him.
Ermanno broke the hug and said "we should inform everyone about us getting married"
And before Rose could answer Ermanno dialled a call to Sabrina.
"Hey mom I have good news. Rose said yes and we are getting married." And that is all it took for Sabrina to scream out in excitement. She congratulated them and told them she will inform everyone.
Ermanno then suggested they tell her parents personally.
Ermanno entered Rose's house with Rose and heard Cindy laughing out loud and congratulating someone.
"Oh Sabrina, I am extremely excited for our families to be united..... Yes ofcourse we will be there... Okay we will see you then. Bye."
"Mom" called Rose.
"Oh my god Rose, Ermanno. Oh, I am so happy for you both." Said Cindy and hugged Rose.
She then hugged Ermanno and he said "I finally made you my mother-in-law"
Cindy giggled and then said "you have always been a tease." And then continued "Sabrina called up and invited us to dinner."
"My mom is super excited. Ok, I guess I'll see you tonight" and looked at Rose and said "goodbye baby" and kissed her lips pulling her from her waist.
"Oh my" said Cindy and looked away.
He broke the kiss and winked at Rose and said good bye to Cindy and left.