She never doubted Alessio’s sincerity or intentions.
They felt like a family from that very first moment. It was somewhat inevitable, though never formally discussed, that she and Dash would move into his home. It happened gradually and organically, a night here and there, and then a weekend, until it made more sense to be there than not, because none of them wanted to spend a night apart, anyway.
Alessio spoke to Charlotte and Dash in Italian, delighting in teaching them his native language, and Charlotte continued to speak to Dash, and now Alessio, about Maggie and Michael, making sure they were still an important and present part of the family.
Winona was, from the start, overcome with delight at this turn of events. Though mindful of how the developments would affect Caleb, she was a mother, and could not sacrifice one son’s happiness for the other’s. Besides which, it was obvious to anyone who was in the same vicinity as Alessio and Charlotte that they were so utterly in love, it would be pointless to question their commitment.
The year moved on, month by month, season by season. Winona, in consultation with Charlotte, and perhaps sensing that priorities were shifting, hired an assistant chef midway through the year, someone who was keen to learn everything they could from Charlotte. Charlotte and Grace worked well together, and it was obvious to Charlotte within weeks that Grace would be a perfect replacement, if Charlotte ever wanted a future away from the pub. Of course, it was impossible to think of such a thing…
Until it wasn’t.
While her heart was still in this beautiful village that had been such a perfect safe-haven and bolthole for her after the shock of losing her brother, Alessio had become the wind at her back, a source of strength and courage, so gradually, over the course of that year, as their relationship grew roots deep in her soul, and Dash became comfortable with the new shape of their family, Charlotte began to yearn to see more of the world, with her two favourite people. They travelled in the term breaks, spending most of the summer in Italy, which Dash fell in love with—and not just because he had liberal access to the chocolate factory!
But the village was where they spent the next Christmas, with Christmas eve at Winona’s house for dinner, and the event was in such stark contrast to the year before, which had been so tense. That seemed like a lifetime ago! Now, they sat with genuine happiness and affection around the table: Winona, Caleb, Alessio, Charlotte, Dash and Dash’s grandparents, the relaxed, convivial atmosphere making it easy to enjoy every moment.
The following morning, when Charlotte woke, it was to find both Alessio and Dash humming in the kitchen, preparing a special breakfast. She watched them for a moment, her heart in her throat, emotional at the sight of the two of them, so perfect together.
It was an emotion that only strengthened when she sat down to breakfast to see Dash and Alessio exchanging cheeky looks—explained when she sliced into a pancake to hit something hard. And metallic. And bejewelled. With a look of confusion, she continued to cut around it, then gasped, because an enormous solitaire diamond ring had been baked right into the middle of her pancake.
“Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed. “I could easily have choked on that.”
“You always cut right through the middle,” Dash pointed out with a grin.
Charlotte’s eyes filled with happy tears. “That’s true, darling, I do.”
She stared at the ring, then from Dash to Alessio. The former was grinning from ear to ear and the latter was looking serious and, she realised, a little nervous.
“Alessio,” Dash elbowed the Italian. “You’re meant to ask the question now.”
Charlotte bit into her lower lip to hold back her smile.
In that moment, she loved him more than ever before. How could he possibly doubt her answer?
“Last Christmas, I realised the truth of my heart and I came here, hoping you would feel as I did. I wanted to marry you then, Charlotte. I think I’ve felt that way from the first moment we met. But in the year we’ve spent together, I’ve only become more and more convinced that this here, with you and Dash, is where I belong—where I’ll always belong. I ask you to marry me with a heart and soul that are, and always will be, regardless of your answer, yours.”
Charlotte stared at him, her heart in her throat, tears in her eyes, and then she scraped back her chair, moving towards him at the same time he stood and reached for her, so they embraced, a mix of arms and happy sobs, a relieved groan from Alessio, and a beaming expression from Dash who watched on.
Their wedding, held that spring, because neither wanted to wait for anything more than a hint of sunshine, only confirmed what they already knew: they belonged together, the three of them. They were a family. A year later, when Charlotte gave birth to twin girls, Dash became a big brother, and he adored his little sisters, proudly watching over them, protecting them, and as the girls grew, teaching them everything he knew about life.
For Charlotte, she could never have imagined, after the grief she’d endured, that she would find such happiness and completion, but she had. With every day that passed, she counted her blessings, which were many. Most of all, she recognised how wrong she’d been: fairytales not only existed, but she was also living one, and like all good fairytales, she knew they’d live Happily Ever After.
THE END
The Billionaire’s Cinderella Captive
XENAKIS I
All the characters in this book are fictitious and have no existence outside the author’s very-vivid, non-stop imagination. They have no relation to anyone bearing the same name or names and are pure invention (mwah-ha-ha).
All rights reserved. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reprinted by any means without permission of the Author.
The illustration on the cover of this book features smokin’ hot model/s and, as gorgeous as they are, bears no relation to the characters described within.
First published 2022
(c) Clare Connelly
Cover Credit: adobestock