Unmasking The Mafia

Chapter 12

Months have passed, and during that time, you and William have grown even closer, finding solace and affection in each other's company.

The incident with Oliver is a distant memory, one that is now a mere shadow in the back of your mind.

On a particularly quiet night, William sits at the dining room table, a thoughtful expression on his face as he stares blankly down at the table, deep in contemplation.

Your voice breaks the silence.

"Everything ok?"

William's attention snaps back to reality, his gaze fixing on you. A small smile tugs at the corners of his lips. He nods slightly.

"Yeah, just thinking," he admits, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.

"Just thinking about... us."

"Really?"

William smiles softly, his hand reaching across the table to gently caress yours.

"Yeah," he whispers, his voice filled with a vulnerable sincerity.

"I'm thinking about our relationship, about our..."

He pauses for a moment, his gaze locking onto yours, his eyes filled with an unmistakable affection.

"About our future together."

You raise an eyebrow.

"Meaning?"

William takes a deep breath, a mixture of nervousness and determination in his eyes. He laces his fingers between yours, his grip firm and reassuring.

"I was thinking," he starts, his voice gentle yet resolute.

"About marriage."

"Marriage? Isn't it early?"

William nods slightly, a flicker of understanding crossing his face.

"Yeah, I know it might seem a bit soon," he admits, his thumb gently caressing the back of your hand.

"But... I can't imagine my life without you. You mean everything to me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. To make it official, to make it permanent."

You sigh.

"Ok, look... considering we've been together for just a year, I don't think it's a good idea to think about it. Yet."

William nods in understanding, a small, regretful sigh escaping his lips. His gaze drops to the table, his eyes filled with a mixture of disappointment and acceptance.

He knows you're right, that it's too early to think about such a significant step. Despite his feelings and desires, he respects your stance and your need for more time.

A few weeks later, as you both sit on the couch watching TV, William turns to you with a soft smile.

"Hey," he begins, his voice filled with a gentle affection.

"Can I talk to you about something?"

You don't answer immediately and a few seconds later you nod.

William takes a deep breath, summoning his courage and gathering his thoughts. He takes your hands in his, his eyes searching yours as he begins to speak.

"We've been together for over a year now," he starts, his voice filled with a hint of nerves and excitement.

"And I know we discussed this before, and I respect your stance on waiting. But I can't ignore how strongly I feel about you. I can't imagine my life without you."