Melissa’s POV

I stood outside the hospital room with my heart pounding.

I couldn’t believe it. When I heard the news, I thought it was a lie.

I thought someone was playing a trick on me, but it was true.

Dante was awake, and he didn’t remember anything. He didn’t remember Ariana. He didn’t remember their marriage. He didn’t remember their children. He thought it was 15 years ago.

He thought he was engaged to me.

This was my chance.

My second chance.

God had given me another opportunity. I wasn’t going to waste it.

I took a deep breath and smoothed down my dress.

I fixed my hair.

I practiced my smile.

The sweet smile.

The loving smile.

The smile that Dante fell in love with all those years ago.

I opened the door.

He looked at me, his face lit up. His eyes got bright as a smile spread across his face. The most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

"Melissa," he said, his voice weak.

Hoarse but full of love and relief.

I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tight as I buried my face in his shoulder, letting the tears come, fake tears spill.

"I was so scared," I whispered. "I thought I lost you. I thought you were gone."

His arms wrapped around me, weak but strong. He held me close. His hand rubbed my back.

"I’m here," he said. "I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere."

I pulled back and looked at his face. His eyes were looking at me like I was the only woman in the world.

Like I was everything.

I kissed him.

Soft.

Gentle.

His lips were dry.

Cracked, but they were warm.

They were real, and he kissed me back. His hand cupped my face. His thumb brushed away my tears.

"I’m so sorry," he whispered. "I’m so sorry I missed our big day. I was coming. I was on my way. And then..."

He stopped, his face twisted in confusion and pain. He didn’t remember the accident.

"Shh," I said. I put my finger on his lips. "Don’t think about it. Don’t worry about it. You’re here now. That’s all that matters."

He grabbed my hand and held it tight. "I was so scared you would leave. I thought you would think I stood you up."

I smiled at him, the sweet smile. The loving smile. "I would never leave you, Dante. I love you. I love you so much to do that."

"When I get out of here," he said, "we’re getting married right away. I don’t want to wait anymore. I don’t want to risk losing you. We’re going to the courthouse. We’re getting married... okay?"

I closed my eyes, letting his words wash over me.

A family.

A real family with him, the way it should have been. The way it was supposed to be.

"Yes," I whispered. "Yes, Dante. Let’s do it. Let’s get married and be a family."

He kissed my forehead. "I love you, Melissa."

I held him tighter. I buried my face in his neck. I breathed him in. His smell.

His warmth.

His love.

This was my chance.

My second chance.

God had given me another opportunity, and I wasn’t going to let anything ruin it, not Ariana, not the children, not the past.

None of it.

Dante was mine.

He was always supposed to be mine, and now he was.

For real.

For good.

I pulled back.

I looked at him with love in his eyes. He looked at me like I was his whole world because I was. I was his whole world again.

"The doctors said you need to rest," I said. "You need to get better. So when you get out of here, you’re healthy. You’re ready to be my husband."

He smiled. "I’ll be the healthiest groom you’ve ever seen."

I kissed him again, soft and sweet. "I know you will."

How lucky am I?

He squeezed my hand. "I’m never letting you go. You are my whole life."

His words were like music.

Like a prayer answered.

He didn’t remember Ariana.

I sat on the edge of his bed and held his hand, watching his face. He was tired

"Rest," I said softly. "I’ll be here when you wake up. I’m not going anywhere."

He smiled. His eyes started to close. "Promise?"

I kissed his hand. "I promise."

He drifted off to sleep, his breathing slowed, and his hand relaxed in mine.

He looked peaceful.

Dante Russo was mine again, just like he is supposed to be.

I looked at Dante’s face at the man I loved.

The man I had lost and had found again.

"Thank you," I whispered to God to the universe. "Thank you for giving me another chance."

The door opened, and a nurse walked in. She checked the machines. She wrote something on his chart.

She looked at me.

Her eyes were curious.

"You must be his wife," she said.

I smiled. "Yes, I am."

I am Dante’s wife now.