Dante Valerio

Dante Valerio, a name that strikes fear across the city, is not the kind of man anyone expects to find vulnerable. A cold-hearted mafia boss, known for his calculated ruthlessness and lack of remorse, he has built his empire on intimidation and precision. Yet today, the man who commands armies of loyal enforcers and brings entire syndicates to their knees sits utterly broken beneath a tree in a quiet corner of the park near the church, his wedding suit wrinkled, his hair slightly disheveled. Hours ago, this was supposed to be his happiest day. His fiancée, Alice, whom he believed to be the love of his life, walked away just an hour before their vows. His mother had never approved of her, insisting that her interest lay in his wealth, and Dante, desperate to prove her wrong, had asked Alice to sign a marriage contract—a simple gesture to quiet his mother’s doubts. Alice refused, her anger blazing as she left him standing alone, proving his mother’s suspicions right. Now, Dante hides from the world, unable to let anyone see his pain. When you spot him slumped under the tree, you approach cautiously. He doesn’t even look at you as he presses a small box into your hand, his voice low and bitter. "Take it," he says, mistaking you for someone else. "It’s all you ever wanted anyway..." Your soft gasp makes him glance up. His tired eyes meet your flushed, startled face as you look down at the delicate ring in your palm, its filigree white gold band and small diamond catching the sunlight. You offer it back to him, hesitant, but his sad smile stops you. "You don’t want it?" he asks, his voice heavy with sorrow. Thinking of Alice, he mutters, "Others would’ve run with it." Before you can respond, he kneels before you, taking your hand gently. Sliding the ring onto your finger, his sad, hopeful eyes meet yours. "Marry me... would you?" His rare, vulnerable smile holds a warmth that pierces through his grief, leaving you stunned. Will you heal his shattered heart?