22 The Proposal

Marcella held her sister's hands and kissed her forehead. "Rest in peace, Mellissa…" she whispered. "May you walk with our family in the green pastures you loved for eternity. I'll join you in due time…"

She couldn't stop her tears, but she held back. She is an adult. She cannot act like a whiny child in front of others. She already ruined Antony's suit with her tears and snot.

She walked to Andrew Romano's body. She held his hand and kissed it. "Thank you for being the best husband for Mellissa, Andrew… You showed her what love is and she was the happiest when she was with you. Rest in peace…"

Tony was standing on the other side of the table. He placed Andrew's hand that was hanging back on the table. He then walked to the coroner standing at the corner of the room.

"I want the report, the first draft, if you know what I mean," he said.

Tony knew this case wasn't like any other case. The ones who took their life must be powerful. Too bad the men they hired didn't finish the job.

He knew they won't want to get outed. They will have the men they hired killed and they will change the autopsy results. He cannot blame the coroner. He has a family he will have to look after. He will give in to their wish.

But Tony wanted the real autopsy. Only then he can pay back the ones who broke Marcella's heart, exactly the same way.

Marcella saw Tony talking to the coroner. The room was chilly and she walked out. Just as she stepped out, a tall man wearing a dark coat, grabbed her by the arms. She was stunned and went silent. He pushed her to a corner and covered her mouth.

Marcella blinked her eyes as she recognized the man. The man saw that she had recognized her and slowly released her.

"Please, don't shout, Marcella…"

"Chris?" She raised her brows out of surprise. "What are you doing here?"

He is Christopher Benjamin, the son of Uncle Carl and her first cousin twice removed.

"I heard what happened, Marcella. I am deeply sorry," Chris said and kissed her cheek. They were a close family, and she liked this cousin of hers. "Mellissa…It's such a…" he sighed, lacking words to express his sorrow.

Marcella nodded. "It is… terrible…"

"I see no ring on your finger…" he held her hand.

Marcella was surprised that the conversation shifted there out of nowhere. She saw the panic in his eyes as he looked around.

"What is it, Chris?" she asked.

"Your sister… She wanted her son to be raised in a complete family in case something happened to her…"

"What?" Marcella asked.

Chris is also a lawyer and was working with his father. She understood that he was talking about the will.

"You were the top priority guardian in case something happened to her. But… Your sister wanted to leave her son to you only if you were married. My dad slipped it out one day when he was drunk. Marcella," he held her shoulders.

Marcella had a lot of questions but seeing the panic on his face, she kept silent. She had a feeling that he had more to say.

"I don't know what your sister knew. Her in-laws were on the first will too. But a couple of days back, we received a call from her. She sounded anxious. She wanted to change the will. She wanted to leave her son to you no matter what. She also made other changes. We devised the new will and before they got to sign the will, they disappeared. Marcella… the old will is the valid one right now, although they had…"

Chris stopped hearing the mortuary door open. He stepped back seeing Tony getting out. Taking in a deep breath, he hid his panic and brought forth a professional smile.

"Hey there, Tony," Chris nodded with a smile.

Tony nodded back. "Chris…"

"Be strong, Marcella. Ring me if you need any help," Chris said and walked away.

Marcella leaned back on the wall holding her chest. She couldn't grasp all the information that was given to her. She was in total shock.

Leaning on the wall, she covered her face. Her sister joked the other day that she wouldn't let her be her son's godmother because she was unmarried. She thought she was joking; just trying to get her married.

But she was not joking?

What prompted them to change their will?

If the first will is going to be the only valid will, then that means...

I won't be able to get custody of Joseph like my sister wanted!

Her sister wanted her to have custody of her son. She found her suitable to raise her son in case something bad happened to them.

But now, because of technicalities, her sister's wish might not be granted... It was the last thing Mellissa wanted to do. She wanted to give custody of her son to her.

Mellissa was all she had. And now she's gone. She did not leave her alone, she left her son for her.

Will Mellissa be able to rest in peace if her last wish was not granted?

What can I do?

Her knees went weak, and she slid down the wall and ended up squatting on the floor.

What can I do to make sure my sister's last wish comes true?

She can fight for custody. But no, she cannot. She does not have the power to fight Paul Romano.

She has brought only trouble to her family. She has lost almost all of them. She felt so useless for not being able to do anything. She despised herself.

As she was almost on her knees in utter desperation and despair, she heard the gentle voice that was like an invigorating stream in the woods.

"Marcella, don't cry..." Tony's voice shook. She looked up and he knelt in front of her.

"I will do anything to help you..."

Marcella's lips trembled. "Anything?" she asked.

He held her hand and nodded. "Everything," he said, his utterance sure as a promise.

Her eyelids fluttered as she pondered. The warmth of his hands reached her heart.

She met his eyes.

Looking into the sapphire pool of his calm eyes that held ginormous strength, she who felt like a restless bird that was tossed around in the storm, found her stay.

He didn't have to say a lot of words. But she could feel how earnest he was as he looked at her.

Everything, he says... How can he help me?

Then it hit her.

Marriage... If she was married, she will get custody of her nephew just like Mellissa wanted.

"Then marry me, Tony," she said.