CHAPTER 177: 177 ~ MIRA

~Few days later~

Coming back to America felt different this time. Maybe it was because, for the first time in a long while, it didn’t feel like returning to chaos or unfinished battles. This time, we were coming home to something new.

I kept staring at my hand the entire flight, at the ring that sparkled under the cabin lights. It was so new and shiny. I loved replaying how he slipped it on my finger in Lisbon, under fairy lights and laughter, like he was promising me forever all over again — and somehow, it felt brand new. It was brand new. He was doing it properly this time and it felt so good.

Jace was beside me, pretending to read, though I knew he wasn’t actually turning the pages. He kept sneaking glances at me from behind the book like I wouldn’t notice.

"What is it this time Don Romano?" I said without looking up from the glass of champagne in my hand.

He lowered the book slowly, that smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I’m admiring my wife. Is that a crime?"

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide my smile. "You’ve been admiring me since Lisbon."

"Can you blame me?" he murmured, his gaze dropping briefly to my hand. "My fiancée— or should I say, my rewife-to-be— looks too damn beautiful when she’s happy."

"Stop," I giggled, covering my face. "You’re making me blush."

He leaned closer, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "Good. I like you blushing."

I swatted him playfully, but my heart felt full. It was like love had quietly crept back into every corner it once abandoned. I hadn’t felt this light in a long time.

When we landed, the air felt warmer, familiar. The city skyline rolled by as the car sped toward the penthouse, and I couldn’t stop smiling. I kept replaying the proposal in my head — the soft glow of the candles, his voice trembling slightly when he asked me to spend another lifetime with him.

We were in New York because Jace had some business to attend to.

Donna Carmela was waiting for us when we arrived. She looked radiant, almost too elegant for someone who claimed she didn’t like fuss. The moment she saw me, she pulled me into one of her rare hugs, the kind that made you feel both loved and judged at the same time.

"Ah, my Mirabel," she said, eyeing the ring instantly. "So, he finally did it properly."

"Properly?" I laughed. "We’ve been married for years."

"Yes, but this time, he asked you the way a man should," she said pointedly, sending Jace a sharp look that made him rub the back of his neck like a guilty schoolboy.

I laughed even harder. "He did, Donna. It was perfect."

Her smile softened. "Good. You both deserve peace now. And maybe a grandchild soon," she added with a wink that made Jace groan out loud.

"Mom, please," he muttered.

I covered my face again, laughing so hard that I nearly tripped over the couch. "She’s never letting that go, is she?"

"Never," Donna said proudly. "It’s a grandmother’s duty."

Later that evening, I stepped out onto the balcony to call Roberto. It had been a while since I’d seen my brother, and despite everything that had happened between us, a part of me still needed to share this moment with him.

When he answered, his voice carried the same teasing calm it always did. "Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Mafia Queen herself."

"Roberto," I sighed, laughing despite myself. "I’m calling to tell you something good."

"Better than that?" he teased. "Go ahead."

I hesitated for a moment before saying it softly. "Jace and I... we’re renewing our vows."

There was a pause. "Oh?"

"Yeah," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "He proposed again in Lisbon. It was... sweet. Really sweet."

Roberto chuckled quietly. "You sound happy."

"I am," I said honestly. "Really, I am."

He didn’t say anything for a while, and then his tone softened. "Then I’ll be there. Just tell me when and where."

Something warm bloomed in my chest. "You mean that?"

"Of course," he said. "I might not love your husband, but I love you. And if he’s the one who makes you smile like this, then I’ll behave for one night."

"Behave, Roberto," I warned jokingly.

"No promises," he said before hanging up, and I was still laughing when I walked back inside.

Jace was sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when I entered, and his gaze immediately softened.

"What’s got you smiling like that?" he asked.

"Roberto said he’s coming." I announced.

His brow lifted slightly. "That’s... unexpected."

"I know," I said, walking over to curl beside him. "But it means a lot."

He wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head. "Then it means a lot to me too."

We stayed like that for a while. It was quiet, warm and I felt content. The world outside the windows glittered faintly against the night sky, and for once, it didn’t feel distant or threatening. It just felt... beautiful.

I closed my eyes, resting my head against his chest, and whispered, "I can’t wait for our renewal."

His hand traced lazy circles along my arm. "Neither can I, mia cara. But between us..."

"Hmm?" I hummed a respons.

He smiled against my hair. "I’d marry you every year if it meant seeing that look on your face again."

I laughed softly, my heart swelling. "Careful, Mr. Romano. I might hold you to that."

"Good," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Then I’ll spend every year proving you’re still the best decision I ever made."

And just like that, the future didn’t feel so far away. It was right there om the warmth of his touch, the soft rhythm of his heartbeat, and the promise that whatever came next, we’d face it together.