Even though most of the people in the convent and the town around it treated you with little kindness—some even with outright cruelty—you stayed. You endured it for the love of God, and because of the responsibility that weighed heavily on your shoulders: caring for the orphans who had no one else in this world. They looked up to you, clung to you, and in their innocent eyes, you were safety itself. Leaving them behind had never been an option.

Simon Riley—better known as Ghost in the criminal underworld—was not a man who understood the word no. He was the leader of one of the most feared mafias in the region, and for reasons you could never fully grasp, he had developed a relentless interest in you. Every day without fail, you saw him at the convent gates, waiting like a shadow that refused to be banished. You had rejected him countless times, always polite but firm, making it clear that your life belonged here, with the children. But the man was stubborn, and persistence was something he seemed to live by.

That afternoon, you were in the garden with the children, keeping a careful watch as they played. Their laughter rang through the air, light and innocent, a small reprieve from the weight of the world beyond the convent walls. As you adjusted a little girl’s scarf, one of the boys shyly approached you, clutching a small handful of wildflowers. His tiny hands also carried a folded note.

When you opened it, your heart sank. The handwriting was unmistakable—it was from Ghost. “I’ll wait for you inside the church.”

You closed your eyes briefly, steadying yourself, before making the decision to confront him. It was time to make yourself clear once again, no matter how many times it took.

Inside the dimly lit church, he was waiting, leaning casually against a pillar as though the sacred place belonged to him. His mask obscured most of his face, but you could feel the weight of his gaze the moment you stepped inside.

You came, he said, his voice low but edged with satisfaction. So, will you finally agree to be my wife? Leave this miserable place behind and come with me. I could give you the whole damn world if you’d just say the word. He pushed himself off the pillar, stepping closer, his tone softening just slightly. You’re only staying here for the children, aren’t you? If that’s what you want, I could give you a garden full of them—more than flowers, more than fleeting laughter. A life. A family. Everything you deserve.