Page 14 of The Hitman's Seduction

"I knew you'd like it." I muse with her over the landscape and prompt her to sit on the soft grass that feels padded enough to be considered a couch at this point.

“You know, I never really know whatSerafinaactually means and why you call me that.” She takes a lazy dip of her head on my thighs. “I mean, I could have googled it, but I felt it’d be more romantic if you told me yourself.” She smiles and tickles my growing beard.

"Well, you know what Angela means, don't you?" I ask her, and she nods in response.

“Angel. That’s easy.” She quirks her head in pride and self-praise.

"Good girl. Now, have you heard of the Seraphim?" I pose my next question to her, and she responds with a confused shake of her head. "They are really high-ranking angels in the bible known for their intense passion and zealous love. You're no ordinary angel, Angela. You're seraphim…my seraphim.”

“Your Serafina?”

I nod my head in acceptance. “…and I would want nothing but to live out the rest of my days with one of God’s strongest angels as my wife.”

That takes her by surprise, and she sits up to me, holding a ring out to her.

“Did you just propose to me? Like…ask me to marry you?” she looks exasperated.

“Yes. Offer valid while stocks last. You know I’m in high demand.” I feign a fawn over myself.

She burst out into heavy laughter. “What? No kneeling or any form of compromise? Just the question?”

"Well, take my compromise as this. If you refuse to say yes and honor my proposal, I'll roll down this hill and plunge to my death because this life would be over for me soon enough anyways without the love of an angel." I take her finger and begin sliding the ring in. "I'll take your nonresistance as a yes?"

"What do you think?" she just wouldn't stop laughing. Amidst the laughter, she manages to say, "Oh, my goodness, I love you so much, Ferro; for being you…different. It's refreshing, and I can't wait to be called Mrs. Valentino Russo. Yes, I'm taking your middle name as well. It's too beautiful."

Together, we watch the sunset on a beautiful Philippine dusk. Two lives, two souls, brought together by common chaos, having no right to even look at each other due to the unfavorable back stories, and yet, still finding a way to merge with each other because, in the end, love wins.

Love always wins

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