Chapter 32 She Had a Child Before Marriage?!
Maggie opened the box to find a pair of rings inside.
She glanced at Fiorello and immediately understood the gesture.
He said, "Wedding rings. We didn't have time to buy them when we got our marriage license, so I'm making up for it now."
"When did you get these?" Maggie asked, visibly moved.
She had not cared much about having a wedding ring, but his attention to detail touched her deeply.
"I bought them yesterday," Fiorello said as he took her hand, picked up the woman's ring from the box, and gently placed it on her finger.
A candle flickered, a gift was given, both setting a romantic mood.
He said, "Maggie, I hope we can go the distance in this marriage."
There were no grand declarations of love or sweet nothings, but it was earnest and real.
She married in a hurry, he in eagerness; both wanted their marriage to last.
"Okay," Maggie nodded.
He smiled and took the man's ring to wear himself, "Let's eat before the pasta get cold."
Maybe it was the gift or maybe it was the charming and romantic atmosphere, but Maggie felt that tonight's pasta was the most delicious she had ever had.
In that moment, Maggie felt that living her life with Fiorello like this was truly wonderful.
Fiorello was a gentleman, and being with him felt completely natural.
The next day.
Maggie woke up bright and early to head to the farmers' market to get groceries for lunch.
As she was changing her shoes to leave, Fiorello also got up, "Where are you off to so early?"
"The farmers' market. My mom and the rest are coming over for lunch, so I need to prep. By the way, did you invite your relatives?"
"I made some calls," Fiorello answered. "Wait for me, I'll just change clothes and come with you."
Since she would be buying quite a bit and could use a hand, Maggie agreed to go together with Fiorello.
They left the house, grabbed something to eat at a restaurant, and then headed to the farmers' market.
Maggie had long since become familiar with the nearby farmers' market. Knowing exactly what she wanted to buy, she headed straight for the stalls while Fiorello followed behind, carrying the items.
This was Fiorello's first time in such a cluttered and chaotic farmers' market – crowded and noisy – he was somewhat unaccustomed to it.
After finishing their purchases, the two hurried back to start preparing the meal.
As for the issue with the electricity being cut off due to unpaid bills, Fiorello had called Holden to get it sorted out.
In the kitchen, Maggie worked on the meal while Fiorello, apron tied around his waist, assisted her.
Though Fiorello was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and wasn't required to do these chores, it didn't mean he was incapable.
Around ten-thirty, the doorbell rang. Maggie was working on a pork hock stew when Fiorello went to answer the door.
It was Eleanor and Holden at the door, both pausing for a few seconds in surprise upon seeing Fiorello wearing an apron.
"Fiorello, are you actually cooking?" Eleanor was astonished.
Holden looked like he had been struck by lightning, sizing up Fiorello and giving him a thumbs up. "Fiorello, the ideal homebody, the perfect husband."
Fiorello gave Holden a glance: "If you want to stay for dinner, keep the chatter down."
Holden laughed. "Got it."
From the kitchen, Maggie called out, "Fiorello, who is it?"
Holden raised his voice, "Maggie, it's me."
Holden stepped inside while Eleanor followed, "Maggie, let me help."
Eleanor dressed down today, opting for something more casual and less polished.
"You all go relax in the living room, I've got this," Maggie said with a smile.
The kitchen wasn't large, and Fiorello signaled with his eyes for Eleanor to rest in the living room.
Holden, quite unabashed, made himself at home as a guest, lounging on the couch.
Before long, Dulcinea and Arya also arrived. It was their first time visiting, so they weren't familiar with the way. Fiorello went downstairs to the entrance of the complex to meet them.
Once Dulcinea learned that Fiorello was the CEO of Visionary Futures Group, her manner changed from the casualness she had shown earlier, and she became somewhat reserved.
Here was a CEO worth billions, a person at the apex of the corporate pyramid, and yet there he was, down-to-earth, cooped up in a three-bedroom house, helping out in the kitchen?
If Dulcinea hadn't confirmed it several times, and hadn't seen the lady of the Flores household, Eleanor there, she would have doubted her own eyes from their previous encounter.
Dulcinea kept an eye on Eleanor's interactions with Maggie. Eleanor seemed to be fond of Maggie and was very warm towards Arya as well, which puzzled Dulcinea even more about what the Flores family was truly like.
Suddenly desperate to use the bathroom, Dulcinea asked, "Maggie, could you show me to the bathroom? Which room is yours?"
The guest bathroom was occupied by Holden, and Dulcinea was in a hurry, so she considered using the master bathroom instead.
"My room doesn't have a bathroom," said Maggie as she looked towards Fiorello, "May I use the bathroom in your room?"
Fiorello nodded, "Sure."
Their brief exchange revealed information that surprised everyone.
My room? Your room?
They're not sleeping in the same room?
What did that imply about a husband and wife not sharing a bedroom?
Holden and Eleanor exchanged glances, as did Arya and Dulcinea.
Maggie, not realizing what was amiss, led Dulcinea to the master bathroom.
After Dulcinea finished, she came out of the bathroom, pulled Maggie aside, and in a hushed tone asked, "You don't share a room with Fiorello? You sleep separately?"
Dulcinea had also noticed that there were no feminine products in the master bathroom.
Maggie did not feel that there was anything amiss and responded with a light smile, "Yeah, we're not close, so of course we sleep separately."
Dulcinea was momentarily speechless.
Not close?
Dulcinea reminded her, "Maggie, you two got a marriage license, haven't you two...you know?"
Maggie shook her head, embarrassed, just as Arya walked in.
Arya also asked quietly, "Maggie, have you and your husband sleeping apart all this time?"
Maggie found herself being interrogated in the bedroom, while Fiorello faced a similar line of questioning from Eleanor in the living room.
Eleanor had been looking forward to cuddling her grandchildren and was surprised to hear that her son and daughter-in-law were sleeping apart.
Maggie nodded, "Yeah, Fiorello and I feel the same. We want to spend some time getting to know each other to see if we're a good match."
Dulcinea pressed on, "If you're not compatible, are you going to get a divorce?"
Dulcinea thought to herself that it was a stroke of good fortune from above that Maggie had found such a great family. No matter what, she felt she needed to bring the two together, making sure they stayed paired up.
A man with Fiorello's qualities was hard to find, even with a lantern.
Considering Arya and Dulcinea, Maggie said, "I guess so. If it's not right, we shouldn't force it."
Life is long, and an incompatible marriage can be miserable. Arya pondered for a moment and then said, "Maggie, you're doing the right thing. Get to know each other first. You rushed into a quick marriage, so take your time to see."
"Okay, got it, Mom," Maggie replied, suddenly remembering the food on the stove, "Oh no, I still have the beef simmering. I need to go check on them."
After Maggie left, Arya pulled Dulcinea aside and asked, "Dulce, has Maggie been acting unusual lately, or has she told you anything?"
"No, Auntie, why?" Dulcinea replied.
Arya shared her concern with a troubled look, "Yesterday, Maggie came back and mentioned that she remembered some things. I'm worried that if she's recalled that incident, it could ruin the life she has now."
Dulcinea's heart skipped a beat at the thought that if Maggie really remembered, or if Fiorello discovered Maggie's secret, their relationship could be doomed.
Years had passed since that incident, and Dulcinea had almost forgotten about it.
"Don't worry, auntie, with me around, I'll make sure Maggie is looked after and that she and Fiorello have a happy marriage," Dulcinea assured.
"Maggie is lucky to have a friend like you," Arya said with a warm smile. "Dulce, I've been dreaming a lot lately, about the child, my granddaughter... just like that, I feel so... so remorseful."
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