By the time Jared pulled into his driveway, the exhaustion from the past week had finally caught up with him.He should have gone inside.He should have unpacked, taken a shower and slept for a few hours before thinking about anything else.Instead, he turned the engine off, reached into the passenger seat and carefully picked up the small velvet box. He opened it just enough to reassure himself it was still there before closing it again with a faint smile.His gaze drifted to his phone.Eight missed calls.Seven unread messages.Every one of them from Becky.The guilt he'd been pushing aside all day returned immediately."I know," he murmured, rubbing a tired hand across his face. "I know."He opened their conversation, reading every message for the first time.The first few were cheerful.Have a safe flight.Text me when you land.Hope everything's okay.Then they gradually changed.Are you still travelling?Jared?Can you at least let me know you're alright?The final one had been

Becky stood in front of her wardrobe with her arms folded, staring at rows of clothes she suddenly disliked. She had been standing there for almost ten minutes, and every outfit looked wrong. Some were too casual, others too formal, while a few simply didn't feel right anymore.With an exasperated sigh, she pulled another dress from its hanger, held it against herself in the mirror and frowned."No."She tossed it onto the growing pile on her bed before reaching for another."Also no."Her bedroom door creaked open, and Jessica leaned against the frame, taking in the mountain of discarded clothes with barely concealed amusement."I was wondering why your room looked like a clothing store exploded."Becky didn't even turn around."I have nothing to wear."Jessica blinked dramatically before stepping inside. "You own enough clothes to outfit half the university.""None of them are right."She sat on the edge of the bed, lifting a blouse from beneath another dress and shaking her head wi

Becky stood motionless, her fingers still resting lightly in Jared's hand as her eyes wandered across the breathtaking scene before her. For several long seconds, she couldn't find a single word to say. Every thought disappeared beneath the quiet weight of disbelief, replaced by the overwhelming realization that everything spread out in front of her had been created for one reason.For her.The gardens stretched across the hillside like a dream brought to life. Thousands of tiny fairy lights shimmered through ancient oak trees, their golden glow reflecting across a small lake that rested peacefully at the centre of the grounds. A wooden pathway wound gracefully over the water, lined on both sides with white roses and delicate candles protected beneath glass lanterns. Beyond the bridge stood an elegant glass pavilion decorated with soft ivory drapes, countless flowers and warm lights that made the entire structure glow against the evening sky.A gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh

Becky stood frozen, her hands trembling around the bouquet as Jared knelt before her beneath the canopy of glowing lights. For a few heartbeats, neither of them spoke. The music drifting across the gardens continued softly in the background, but even that seemed distant compared to the thunder of her heartbeat.She stared at him in complete disbelief."Jared..."His eyes never left hers. There was no trace of nervous laughter now, no teasing smile, only quiet sincerity. He reached into his jacket and carefully removed a small velvet box, though he didn't open it immediately. Instead, he rested it lightly in his palm before taking a slow breath."I know this probably looks like I'm about to ask you a different question," he said, smiling faintly as he noticed the astonishment on her face. "But we're not there yet."A watery laugh escaped Becky before she could stop it."You nearly gave me a heart attack.""I realised that after I knelt."She shook her head, still laughing through tears

Morning sunlight spilled gently through the curtains, filling the bedroom with a warm golden glow that seemed almost reluctant to disturb the peaceful silence. Becky stirred first, burying her face deeper into the pillow before stretching lazily beneath the duvet. A familiar warmth against her side made her smile before she had even opened her eyes.She didn't need to look.She already knew.When she finally blinked awake, Jared was still asleep beside her, one arm draped loosely across the blanket. Without the perfectly tailored suits and carefully composed expressions he wore so often, he looked younger somehow. More relaxed. More like the man she had fallen in love with than the businessman everyone else admired.She rested her chin on her hand and studied him for a moment."You know," she whispered with a mischievous smile, "you snore."Jared's eyebrows twitched."I do not."She laughed quietly."So you were awake.""I woke up when someone started spreading lies.""They're not lie