Chapter 32 - The Question in the Stars
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"Ethan..." I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth, tears instantly blurring my vision.
Ethan looked up at me, his dark grey eyes filled with a raw, terrifying vulnerability that made my chest ache with pure love.
"Ava Vance," Ethan said, his voice trembling with profound emotion. "When you walked into my life, I was a man living in a cage made of money and secrets. You broke through my walls. You taught me how to feel, how to trust... and how to love."
Tears streamed down my cheeks, but I couldn't look away from him.
"I don't care about empires, Ava," Ethan continued, holding the ring toward me. "I don't care about fortunes. I only care about spending every remaining second of my life making sure you feel safe, cherished, and adored. Will you do me the absolute honor of becoming my wife?"
Silence stretched over the rooftop for a split second, filled only by the gentle hum of the city below.
"Yes!" I sobbed, laughing through my tears. "Yes, Ethan! A thousand times, yes!"
Ethan let out a breathless, radiant laugh. He slipped the flawless diamond ring onto my finger, stood up, and pulled me into his arms, spinning me around on the terrace while I held onto him for dear life.
He set me down and captured my lips in a passionate, wild kiss that took my breath away entirely. The diamond on my hand caught the moonlight, flashing like a beacon of hope against the dark night sky.
When he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against mine, he smiled softly. "I love you, Ava."
"I love you, Ethan," I whispered back, kissing his lips again.
Behind us, the terrace doors opened quietly. Lucas, Lena, and Cooper stepped out onto the roof, holding glasses of champagne, cheering and clapping for us under the stars.
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Everything was perfect. The nightmare was over. We had won.
Or so we believed.
