Epilogue Lorenzo
O ne year older, and how my life has changed.
For my birthday, we decided to go to Panamá. It seemed fitting.
It’s funny how a year ago, I was celebrating my birthday feeling sad, empty, and overwhelmed by the life I had. That day had been one of the darkest moments in my life, yet it became the turning point I never knew I needed.
As I sit here, at the same beach where we told each other our deepest secrets, enjoying the warm breeze, I can’t help but wonder, if I hadn’t walked out of my restaurant that day to take a break from it all, would I have still met Sophia? If Aria hadn’t insisted Sophia come to my birthday party, would fate have found another way to weave our lives together?
It’s a strange thought, contemplating the butterfly effect of our choices. Every moment—every decision—has the power to alter the course of our lives. I think back to that day when I felt like I was drowning in expectations and responsibilities. How life pushed us to find each other and discover within each other what we needed, and what we deserved.
Sophia approaches, holding a small cake she worked on baking all day while FaceTiming Isabella for help. I love my girl, but she’s a lousy cook and baker. I tried to help her, but she slapped my hand away and told me to get out, and I cherish my life, so I listened. The cake is round, with a simple white frosting and wobbly red handwriting that spells HAPPY BIRTHDAY ACE . As she sings “Happy Birthday” to me, I look at her with a smile, holding back the lump forming in my throat and the happy tears.
As I blow out the candles, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m celebrating more than another year of life. I’m celebrating the serendipity of love, the twists and turns that brought Sophia into my world. I’m grateful for the chance encounters, the gentle nudges from fate that led us here. It’s a reminder that sometimes, in the chaos of life, the universe has a way of guiding us to where we truly belong.
Without her, I wouldn’t have realized the life I was living wasn’t sustainable. Now, thanks to her, I’m pursuing what I love. While my restaurants are being managed by people I trust, I decided to start culinary school. To many, that seemed surprising and like a waste of time, given how much experience I already have. But it feels right. I’m working toward something, an achievement I can’t wait to accomplish. I still have a year left, but in the meantime, the simplicity of it all makes me feel…complete.
Sophia has grown into her incredible career in no time, and it’s nothing short of inspiring. After much back and forth, she had a meeting with Nico about six months ago, which led her to accept the editor-in-chief position where she worked until recently. She has been doing such a fantastic job, especially with Vogue Elite transitioning to new management. Because of her dedication and talent, she was offered the Executive Director of the Midwest Region, overseeing all the editor-in-chiefs in the area.
It’s been amazing to witness her career blossom from what it was a mere year ago. She has finally started to receive the recognition she deserves for all the hard work she’s put in.
“We should go back and cut the cake. I can’t promise it’s good, though.” Sophia grimaces.
I kiss the side of her head, chuckling. “I’m sure it’s great.”
As we walk back into the villa, the same one that gave us the summer of our lives last year—which we own now—the nerves start to bubble up. Sophia busies herself cutting the cake, her laughter filling the space, while I glance at my phone. A text from Aria pops up, and I have to hold back a laugh at their impatience.
Aria
Where are you?!
Me
Still at the house.
Aria
Enzo, OMG!
Aria
Lorenzo Mancini, I don’t have all of my life, you know? Get to it. —Charlotte
Me
We’ll arrive at the restaurant in thirty, max. I promise.
Aria
I’m starting a timer. Hurry up!
The restaurant I opened in Panamá has quickly become my favorite—not because of its success, but because of what it represents. I named it after Sophia’s nickname—Blue—but in Spanish, Azúl. The whole place is imbued with soft, romantic vibes, with Madagascar periwinkles adorning the outside—all purple, of course. The restaurant feels like an extension of us, something we’ve built together, though she doesn’t know just how much yet.
Aria even made a series of beautiful paintings that hang on the walls, and it’s all been coming together piece by piece. Every time we visit, we add something new—something to give it that homey feel. Because that’s what I want this restaurant to be for us—a place we can always come back to, filled with memories and reminders of the life we’re building.
“Here, try,” she says, lifting a forkful of cake to my mouth.
A satisfied groan escapes me as I savor the rich, chocolate goodness. “Baby, this is amazing.”
Her blue eyes sparkle, stealing my breath away. “Yeah?”
I nod, wrapping my arm around her waist. She leans into me, her arms slipping around my shoulders as our lips meet in a slow, sweet kiss. It’s crazy how each day I grow more addicted to her. Doesn’t matter how much time has passed, the love I have for this woman consumes every bone in my body.
“We’re going to be late,” I say, reluctantly pulling back and grabbing her hand.
“Where are we going?” She frowns, letting go to slip on her sandals then trailing behind me .
“We have dinner reservations at Azúl.”
She rolls her eyes, a playful grin on her lips. “You own the place. We don’t need a reservation.”
I shrug, trying to hide the grin threatening to break through. “They’ve been booked.” The lie is weak, and she knows it, but she simply shrugs, grabs my hand, and rests her head on my arm as we make our way out.
As we walk toward the restaurant, I guide her to the beach that’s in front of it. The sun is beginning to set, and nerves have me on a chokehold, because I want it to be perfect. As we approach, her steps start to slow as she takes in the sight. Thousands and thousands of purple Madagascar periwinkles are arranged in a massive heart shape, each one glowing under the flicker of countless candles scattered around them, their soft light dancing in the golden hues of the sunset.
Her eyes find mine as she covers her mouth with her hands, at a loss for words.
With a shaky breath, I guide her to the center of the heart and step in front of her, taking her hand in mine as I drop to one knee. Her eyes widen more, tears already welling.
“Blue,” I begin, my voice breaking as my heart pounds wildly in my chest. “A year ago today you came back into my life and changed me in ways I never thought possible. You challenged me in ways no one has ever done. After all the games.” We both laugh. “After all the broken deals and the risks we took…there’s only one deal left I want to make. A permanent one.”
Tears start to fall down her face as I continue, and I rasp my throat, trying to hold back mine, but it’s no use. My view becomes a bit hazy as I keep talking.
“I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, protecting you, and continue to build this life together with you. No more running, no more doubts. Just you and me, forever. That’s the deal. What do you say? Care to make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”
For a moment, time seems to freeze as she stares at me, her lips trembling before a soft smile breaks through. “Yes, Ace,” she whispers, her voice full of emotion. “You got yourself a deal.”
Relief and joy flood through me as I stand, pulling her into my arms. We laugh through our tears, and when our lips meet, the world fades away for the briefest moment. But then the sound of cheering and clapping brings us back to the moment. Sophia spins around, her eyes wide as she sees her mom and all of our closest friends running toward us, beaming with excitement.
“What did you do!?” she exclaims, her eyes wide with disbelief.
I gently lift her chin, locking her gaze with mine. “This is the start of our lives, and I couldn’t think of a better way to begin it than with the people we love most here with us.”
Her lip wobbles as her smile deepens, and she throws her arms around me. “I love you, Ace.”
I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear and kiss the tip of her nose. “I love you way, way more, Blue.”
She hums, teasing. “Doubtful.”
I chuckle, scooping her up and spinning her around, her laughter ringing out as her head tilts back, carefree and full of happiness. “We have the rest of our lives to figure out who wins,” I say, my heart swelling with the thought.
And in this moment, as her laughter fills the air, I know I get to be the one to make her laugh and smile for the rest of our lives—like it was always meant to be.
THE END.