Accardi by allison franklin novel

You Were My Favorite Hurt, And My Hardest Goodbye by Ava Knight 113 Summary Genevieve is overwhelmed with emotion when she hears Matteo's voice and sees him dressed impeccably in a black suit. His presence and the familiar charm he carries shake her deeply, making her feel both vulnerable and cherished. Matteo approaches her with tenderness, offering a white peony and expressing his joy in their shared connection, especially as she reveals they are expecting a child together. Their interaction is filled with warmth and deep affection, highlighting the strong bond they share.

Matteo reminisces about the moment he first saw Genevieve, describing how she stood out among others and captivated him instantly. He confesses that from the moment their eyes met, he was in love with her and that she became his miracle amid past pain and hardship. Their conversation reveals Matteo's trust in Genevieve, shown through his sharing of his real name and the meaningful memories tied to their first encounter, including the lighter she used, which holds a secret compartment.

In a heartfelt proposal, Matteo kneels and presents Genevieve with a unique engagement ring hidden inside the lighter. He expresses his deep love and desire to spend his life with her, asking her to be his wife and partner in leading his family with strength and courage. Genevieve is moved to tears, overwhelmed by the sincerity and intensity of his words and actions. Their kiss seals the moment, symbolizing the fulfillment of a long-held wish. The ring Matteo gives Genevieve is revealed to be intricately designed with three intertwined bands and two diamonds flanking an empty space.

He then surprises her by fitting her mother's opal ring into the design, symbolizing a connection to her family. Matteo shares that he sought and received her father's blessing, adding a gold band to the ring afterward. This gesture deepens the significance of their engagement and shows Matteo's respect and commitment. As the chapter closes, Matteo embraces Genevieve passionately and hints at their upcoming journey to Italy, referring to her as his fiancée. The promise of their future together is filled with love, hope, and anticipation for the life they will build side by side.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen Genevieve felt as if her entire body had melted the moment she heard Matteo's soft, familiar voice. She swallowed hard, fighting to suppress the tremor that suddenly seized her hands. Slowly, she turned to face him. Her breath hitched sharply at the sight before her. Matteo looked impeccable in his perfectly tailored black suit, complemented by a slim black tie. His face was freshly shaven, his hair slicked back neatly, and his hands were tucked deep into his pockets.

Then, with a smile that revealed the charming dimple she adored, he weakened her resolve so completely that she had to lower herself onto the stool behind her. Matteo's gaze dropped to the floor briefly before he took a step toward her. His hands stayed buried in his pockets as she observed him carefully stepping over the scattered candles. Just before reaching her, he lifted his right hand and plucked a random flower from a nearby vase. Standing before her, he extended the white peony toward her, and she accepted it with a shy, tender smile. "Matteo..." she breathed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently, placing a hand over her stomach-the same way she had done countless times before. Gen covered his hand with hers. "We're doing well." His lips curled into a wider grin. "We..." His eyes met hers, sparkling with a raw, unfiltered joy that made her inhale sharply once again. "I love hearing that." With a tenderness that stole her breath, Matteo cupped the side of her face and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. When he pulled back, his forehead rested against hers. "You look absolutely devastating," he whispered.

"Just when I think I'm used to your beauty, you manage to leave me breathless." "You're pretty remarkable yourself, Matteo," she murmured in return. He pulled away slightly, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "I'm only this appealing with you by my side." Gen teased, "I think every woman in New York would beg to differ." He shrugged and settled on the stool beside her. His eyes flicked toward the door before returning to her face. "I was sitting right where you are now when I first saw you," Matteo began, and Gen's heart fluttered, butterflies stirring in her stomach.

He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. Then, his gaze drifted back toward the door. "You were part of a group of ten, yet only you stood out. God, I'd only ever seen beauty like yours in photographs." The flickering candlelight cast his eyes in a deep, dark brown hue. "I knew who you were, but you still surprised me. You still took my breath away." "Matteo..." she whispered. "I thought God had abandoned me," he confessed, looking down at the hand he gently squeezed. "Then you approached me and proved me wrong.

So very wrong." "Can I ask you something I've always wondered?" Gen said cautiously, afraid she might interrupt the flow of his heartfelt words. "Anything," he replied softly, placing a tender kiss on the back of her hand. "Why did you tell me your real name that night? When no one else is allowed to say it. Why did you trust me with it?" "Isn't it obvious?" he asked, still tracing the delicate lines of her hand with his thumb. She shook her head, then remembered he couldn't see the gesture. "No, not to me." "You were my gift from God," he answered, his dark eyes slowly lifting to meet hers.

"All the trauma, the heartbreak, the anger, the sins... you were my one miracle. My only chance. Genevieve, I refused to waste that chance with a fake name or one I never wanted. I was in love with you the moment our eyes met. I knew then-right then-that it would lead to this..." At that moment, Gen's breath caught in her throat as he reached into his pocket and pulled out... a lighter. Her eyebrows knitted together as he held it open for her to see. She glanced between the lighter and his amused expression, confusion flickering across her face.

"Do you need a light?" he asked again, a playful glint in his eyes. "Those were the first words you ever spoke to me. The ones that sealed my fate. The ones that took away all my free will." He set the lighter down on the counter, and suddenly it clicked. It was the very Zippo lighter she had used to light his cigarette-the one with a faint smudge of red nail polish near the bottom, left there when she'd packed it after painting her nails. "How did you..." she started. "Remember finding my hoodie in your carry-on the second time you left for Boston?" Matteo asked.

Gen nodded absently, still staring at the lighter. "I saw it there, and the idea just came to me." He flicked the lighter open, revealing a ring nestled inside its hollowed-out interior. She recognized it immediately-the black velvet box concealed within the lighter's casing, a secret hiding place she'd never guessed. Tears welled up in her eyes as he took her left hand and knelt before her. "Matteo..." she whispered. "Genevieve... I loved you before I even knew you. The moment you spoke to me, I vowed you would be mine. Every second without you is agony, only relieved when you hold me close.

I call you my weakness, but I'm the one who's weak. I can't breathe without you. Every time I think I couldn't possibly love you more, or that my heart couldn't grow any bigger, you prove me wrong." He shook his head softly. "I want you to be my Donna. To stand by me and lead my family with the strength, courage, tenacity, and fire you've shown time and time again. I want you to bring peace to our allies by striking terror into the hearts of those who oppose us.

I want the Accardi name to be the most feared in the world because of your intellect, determination, and fierce spirit." Rising, Matteo cupped her face with a reverence that made her heart pound wildly. Gen swallowed hard, caught in the intensity of his gaze. "But more than that, Genevieve Belle Sinclair, I want you to be my wife. I want to wake up beside you every morning and have you give me a reason to go to sleep every night, just so I can hold you in my arms. I want to make you proud. I want to love you every second of every day. I want to watch you become a mother to our children.

To grow old with you. To die knowing there was no one else on earth who was loved more than you." His grip tightened as he stepped closer. "I want you: today, tomorrow, in this life and the next. I want to declare my love to you before my men, before our families, before God. To promise to be your man, your protector, your forever. Genevieve... my weakness... marry me," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. A stray tear escaped down Gen's cheek, but she quickly brushed it away before it could fall.

Biting her lip, she smiled shyly at the floor, then lifted her gaze to meet his hopeful eyes. "Do you remember the first words you ever spoke to me?" she asked softly. Matteo's nervous expression softened, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "Fuck yes," she whispered back. Their eyes locked, and at the same moment, Matteo lowered his head and cradled her face in both hands. His kiss was fierce and passionate-a fulfillment of a wish made long ago on the day they met. Gen wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks.

When he finally pulled away, he reached for the lighter again, extracting the ring and sliding it onto her finger. It fit perfectly, just as she had known weeks earlier when she'd tried it on. She held the ring up to the flickering candlelight, marveling at its beauty. Three delicate bands intertwined: one silver, one black, and one gold. Two large diamonds flanked an empty space in the center. "It's beautiful. So unique, Matteo. I love it," she whispered, awestruck by the intricate design unlike anything she'd ever seen. "It's not finished yet," he admitted.

Her brow furrowed as she looked up at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, examining the ring more closely. "Can I see your mother's ring?" he requested. Gen extended her right hand, letting him slide the opal ring from her finger. Then, carefully, he twisted the opal ring through his engagement ring. It fit perfectly, as if her mother's ring had always belonged nestled between the two diamonds. He slid the combined rings back onto her finger, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it while his eyes locked onto hers. Speechless, she held the rings up again, disbelief washing over her.

"It's..." she began. "Do you like it?" he asked. "No... 'Like' isn't strong enough," she said, studying the rings more intently. "Wait..." Her cheeks flushed at the memory. "When I first saw it, it was only black and silver." She looked at him, curious. He smirked mischievously and took her hand again, running his finger over the intertwined bands. "I had the gold one added later." "Later? After what?" she inquired. His eyes flicked upward. "After I asked your father for permission. He gave me your mother's wedding ring along with his blessing." Gen's breath escaped in a sharp gasp. "Wh-what?

You talked to my dad?" "It's only proper to ask for a woman's hand, isn't it?" he said with a devilish grin. "When... where... how did... what did he say? What?" she stammered, overwhelmed. Matteo chuckled and tugged her from the stool. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he cupped her face once more and kissed her deeply, bending her backward in a passionate embrace. "We'll talk about it on the plane," he promised. "Plane?" she echoed, eyes wide. "Yes, the plane we're taking to Italy, my beloved fiancée," he said softly, his voice full of promise and love.

Conclusion This chapter beautifully captures the culmination of Genevieve and Matteo's journey, weaving together their past struggles and present devotion into a tender moment of commitment. Their shared vulnerability and deep affection shine through every word and gesture, revealing the profound bond that has blossomed between them despite the hardships they've faced. The symbolism of the intertwined rings, blending family legacy with their future, underscores the strength and unity they now embody as they prepare to step into a new chapter together.

Amid the promise of a future together, deeper layers of Matteo's world are poised to unfold, revealing the complexities of loyalty, power, and sacrifice. Genevieve's strength and resilience will be tested as she navigates this new role-not just as Matteo's partner, but as a key figure in a legacy that demands courage and cunning. The tender moments between them hint at a fierce bond, but the road ahead may bring unexpected trials that challenge everything they thought they knew about love and trust.