Chapter 9 - The Proposal
That evening, as the sun set over the ocean, painting the sky in vibrant shades of orange, purple, and pink, Adrian led me down to the water’s edge.
The beach had been transformed. A wooden path lined with glowing lanterns led to a private setup right near the waves: a low table surrounded by plush white cushions, covered in red rose petals, champagne candles, and fine crystal.
Mia was staying at the main house with Victoria and the nanny, leaving the two of us alone under the emerging stars.
We ate a quiet, romantic dinner, listening to the gentle lap of the waves. The air was warm, smelling of ocean salt and blooming jasmine.
When dinner finished, Adrian stood up and offered me his hand. I took it, stepping onto the cool sand beside him.
“Two years ago,” Adrian began, his voice soft, echoing over the sound of the ocean, “I thought my life was complete. I built an empire, I accumulated wealth, and I thought that was enough. I was cold, isolated, and arrogant.”
He looked into my eyes, his gray-blue gaze shimmering under the moonlight.
“Then a brilliant woman walked into my office and challenged me every single day,” he continued, taking both of my hands. “And then one morning, her little girl looked at me and reminded me what truly matters in this life.”
Adrian slowly dropped to one knee on the cool sand.
My heart stopped beating. I covered my mouth with both hands, tears spilling over my eyelashes.
He pulled a small, black velvet box from his jacket pocket and opened it. Inside sat a massive, flawless emerald-cut diamond ring, glowing softly in the candlelight.
“Nora Hayes,” Adrian said, his voice trembling with a rare, beautiful vulnerability. “You brought warmth, love, and light back into my world. You made me a better man, and you gave me a daughter I would lay down my life for. Will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man alive? Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” I cried out, dropping to my knees right onto the sand in front of him, throwing my arms around his neck. “Yes, absolute yes!”
Adrian laughed happily, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into a fierce, passionate kiss right there on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
When he slid the ring onto my finger, it fit perfectly—a symbol of a love that was meant to be from the very beginning.
Suddenly, we heard tiny cheering coming from the top of the sand dunes.
We looked up to see Mia standing next to Victoria Kane, jumping up and down, waving a flashlight in the air.
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“HE SAID YES! THEY’RE GETTING MARRIED!” Mia screamed into the night air.
Adrian chuckled, standing up and pulling me to my feet. He scooped me up into his arms, spun me around under the moonlight, and held me tight against his heart.
