elicately along the path, casting a warm golden glow over the cobblestones. Andrew had planned every detail of this evening meticulously, yet his heart raced with an un

eavy with the significance of the promise it carried. Sophia would be arriving any moment, and Andrew rehearsed his words s

g, but she had slipped away unnoticed, as she often did. Andrew had asked her to meet him here, and she had sensed the weight in his voice wh

soft glow of the lanterns. He turned as she approached, his expression lighting up in a way th

er lips curving into a hesit

aid, closing the space between them. "Aw

x of determination and vulnerability. "You're not usually one for theatric

irm but gentle. "You are," he said simp

re Andrew's world of light could truly be hers. But Matteo's voice echoed in her mind, a constant reminder

a's heart slammed against her chest as the velvet box in his hand snapped open, re

in ways I never imagined. You've shown me what it means to truly feel alive, to dream beyon

um of the party, even the gentle breeze-all faded into silence as Sophia stared down

ded, her voice barely a whisper

t into his arms, allowing the warmth of the moment to wash over her. But beneath the surface, her mind churned with the

with congratulations and raising glasses of champagne in their honor. Sophia smiled graciously, her hand resting in Andrew's as he proudly introduced

a masterful blend of polite approval and quiet scrutiny. As the r

one carefully measured.

unease. "Andrew's always had a streak of

ugh her eyes never left Sophia. "Bu

ing paranoid. She's just n

York's social and business circles had taught her to trust her instincts, and something about Sophia didn

a quiet moment on the balcony. The city stretched out before them, its lights t

he teased, pressing a kiss to her te

er chest felt tight. "You don't

hing," he said, his t

gut. She turned away, gazing out at the skylin

to face him. "Of course I'm sur

t words. "I just... I don't want to b

g her cheek. "Life is complicated, Sophia

r, and she forced a smile,

sparkling on her finger. It felt heavy, not because of its size but because of what it represented. She thought of h

ced at the screen. A single message from Matteo: "Y

the path ahead was far from clear. Between Andrew's love and Matteo's control, she was caught in a web