"Come inside," she indicated, prompting Henry to follow her into the house. As he settled onto the sofa, his mind wandered, searching for someone special. Melissa noticed his distracted demeanor and chuckled softly. "She is sleeping. Wait here; I'm calling her."
"Don't bother," he replied quickly, with urgency in his voice. "I'm here to talk with you, have breakfast with you, and take something precious from you. May you please spare some time for your son?"
Melissa smiled at the affectionate way he addressed her. "Hey, why not? My son is asking something for the first time; how can I deny my lovely Henry? I'll give you everything I can afford to give you." She took his hands gently, her warmth enveloping him as he paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke the words he had rehearsed countless times in his mind. "Aunt Melissa, may you give me your most precious Rosalia?" His voice trembled slightly, filled with sincerity. "I adore her. Believe me, I'll never hurt her. I'll give your daughter all the happiness in the world. I want to marry her."
A big, contented smile spread across her face, her eyes sparkling with joy. "My child!Why didn't you tell me earlier that you love my daughter? Of course, I'll give my Rosalia to my lovely son." His heart soared at her words, filled with joy and gratitude.
"Thanks a lot," he said, placing an affectionate kiss on her forehead, feeling the warmth radiate between them. "May I meet your daughter?"
"Sure, you can," she replied, her voice bright. "I'm going to make breakfast for us, so come downstairs on time." After giving her a nod of agreement, he climbed the stairs to Rosalia's bedroom.
Inside the room, she lay in a deep, peaceful slumber, her beauty captivating him in the soft morning light. "I don't know how a person can be so beautiful!" he marveled quietly. He was drawn to her innocent expression, which made him want to protect her fiercely. Overcome with affection, he gently kissed her forehead. She didn't flinch; the peacefulness of her sleep was unshakable.
Even after trying to rouse her with a gentle splash of water, she remained undisturbed. "How is she sleeping through this?" he wondered, perplexed. Doubting her ability to sleep through anything, he resorted to pouring a full glass of water over her face. The instant shock jolted her awake, wide-eyed and startled by the unexpected chill.
"What the—?" she gasped, her heart racing as she blinked into the reality of Henry's grinning face, contorted in a silly expression meant to scare her.
Seeing her fright, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. Rosalia, still grappling with the shock, shot him a glare that held both anger and amusement. "Yah, Henry, I'm going to kill you today! You've given me a heart attack, you bad boy!"
"I tried everything to wake you up, but you didn't budge," he grinned, dodging her attempts to punish him by holding his ear. The chase began, with Henry sprinting around the room, his laughter echoing against the walls.
Rosalia was determined, her playful nature coming to the forefront as she tried to catch him. After a wild pursuit, she finally snagged him by the ear, pulling him close. "Will you do it again, huh?"
"Ahhhh, Rosa, it's hurting! I won't do it again," he squealed, unable to contain his laughter. Their playful bickering filled the room, easily audible to Melissa downstairs, who chuckled at the joyful chaos her daughter and son were creating.
"What are you two doing?" she called out, rushing upstairs to intervene.
"Auntie, your daughter, my would-be wife, is beating me up!" Henry exclaimed, feigning injury with a mock pained expression, though his eyes sparkled with mischief.
Melissa swiftly moved to Rosalia, playfully snatching her by the ear. "Aiiiiii, Mommy, it's hurting!" Rosalia protested, trying to wriggle free.
"Say sorry to him," Henry teased, enjoying the scene unfolding before him.
"I'm sorry, Henry," she mumbled, a pout forming on her lips. Melissa let go of her ear, but Rosalia immediately turned to her mother, looking hurt.
"Mom, you always love him more than me!" she whined, crossing her arms in mock indignation.
"Because she is my mom, not yours," Henry teased back, grinning widely.
"I love you all. Okay, stop quarreling and come to have breakfast," Melissa said, her tone light and encouraging. She left them momentarily, allowing the laughter and lightheartedness to settle between the two of them.
As the situation calmed, Henry and Rosalia exchanged shy glances. "I didn't expect to see you this morning," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice. "You're the same guy from yesterday, right?"
"Yeah," he chuckled, the weight of unspoken emotions thickening the air between them. A blush crept across her cheeks as she realized how disheveled she looked in front of him, still wearing her pajamas.
To shake off the embarrassment, Rosalia made her way to the washroom for her morning routine, splashing her face with cool water. The droplets trickled down her skin, washing away the remnants of sleep. After brushing her teeth, she indulged in a long, soothing shower, feeling the warm water wrap around her body like a comforting embrace, washing away her drowsiness and preparing her for the day ahead.
Once she was dressed and feeling refreshed, she stepped out of the washroom with a newfound sense of confidence. However, she noticed Henry was deep in thought, a frown etched on his face. Concern flickered within her, knowing he was aware of the recent tension in her life.
Noticing his somber expression, Rosalia quickly tried to lighten the atmosphere. "Henry, I have good news!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
He lifted his gaze, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "What's it?"
"You know that Jacob Kyler isn't bothering me anymore? I was really scared at first, but now I'm not afraid anymore. We can get married happily now!" The hope in her voice was contagious, and Henry couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, we can," he replied, feeling a surge of relief wash over him. The thought of their future together brightened his spirit.
As they settled down for breakfast, their conversation naturally drifted back to the topic of their marriage. "I want to arrange the ceremony somewhere other than DC," Henry declared, catching both Melissa's and Rosalia's attention.
"But what about the guests?" Rosalia asked, confusion creasing her brow.
"I'll manage everything; don't worry," he reassured her, his grip on her hand firm yet gentle, as he tried to convey his determination and commitment to making things perfect for her.
After Melissa left them alone once more, Henry took a deep breath, sensing that the moment had come to address the elephant in the room. "Is it because of Jacob?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.
Rosalia's expression faltered for a moment. "Well, yes, but now that he's out of the picture, I feel so much lighter. I want to focus on us, Henry. I want to make plans for our future together, not let his shadow loom over us anymore."
Henry felt a wave of relief wash over him at her words, but a deeper concern nagged at him. "Rosa, I care about you. I don't want you to feel pressured or rushed into anything. We can take our time. It's important to me that you feel safe and happy."
Her eyes softened at his sincerity. "I know that, and I appreciate it so much. I want this too, but I also want to celebrate it right. I want our families to be there, to share in our joy."
"Then we'll find a way to make that happen," Henry promised, determination igniting within him. "We'll create our dream wedding, wherever that may be."
Rosalia beamed at him, her heart swelling with love. Their connection felt unbreakable, and she knew they were embarking on a beautiful journey together, hand in hand.
As breakfast came to an end, the two of them exchanged soft smiles, both hopeful and excited about the future that lay ahead. The laughter and warmth they shared filled the room, dispelling any remnants of fear or doubt that had once clouded their hearts.
In that moment, surrounded by love and laughter, they both realized that together, they could overcome any obstacle. Their bond was strong, forged through challenges, and they were ready to face whatever came their way.