Ethan’s POV
I sat in our family’s front hall, nursing a cup of tea and my pounding headache. The hangover from last night’s celebration with my sisters was brutal. My eyes felt like sandpaper, and I’m pretty sure I looked like death ward over.
"Stop playing those drinking gas with your sisters," Mom scolded, shaking her head at the sight of . "Just look at yourself, Ethan. Still feeling sick?"
I nodded weakly, not even getting a chance to respond before we heard movent at the entrance. The front door opened, bringing voices and footsteps into our ho.
"Sounds like Serena and the girls are back," Mom said, standing to greet them.
I straightened up, trying to look sowhat presentable despite my hangover. When they walked in, I imdiately noticed Ryan following behind my sisters. So last night’s drunken phone call had actually worked. Interesting.
Mom went straight to Serena, clasping her hands and checking if she was alright. Then she turned to Ryan with a welcoming smile.
"You must be the Mr. Blackwood that Serena keeps talking about. Please, co in."
I could read Mom’s assessnt imdiately. If my sisters had brought this man ho, they must have decided he was worthy. Mom was tough but practical that way.
Ryan nodded respectfully. "It’s a pleasure to et you, Mrs. Quinn."
Once everyone settled in the sitting room, I caught Ryan’s eye. "Ryan, you made it." I couldn’t help the small grin that ford on my face. My late-night effort hadn’t been wasted after all.
Then Serena dropped her bombshell. "Mom, I rember everything now."
The room went still. Mom’s eyes widened, then imdiately filled with tears. "Serena, you truly rember? Everything?"
Serena nodded, and I watched as three years of my mother’s grief and worry dissolved in that single mont. "Yes, everything. You and Dad must have missed so much these past three years."
Mom was crying openly now. "My foolish girl, as long as you’ve co back safely, we can let the past stay in the past."
The emotional mont hung heavy in the air until Zoe, practical as always, broke in. "Mom, don’t cry. We have company, rember?"
Mom wiped her tears away, forcing a laugh. "Look at carrying on! Mr. Blackwood, please forgive . I’m just overco with happiness."
Ryan stepped forward, his expression serious. "Mrs. Quinn, please don’t apologize. The fault is mine for not taking better care of Serena during her ti away from you. I promise that going forward, I’ll never let her suffer or feel lonely again."
I watched Mom’s face carefully. Ryan had just hit exactly the right note - taking responsibility while promising future care. Mom was already nodding approvingly.
"Good, good. Knowing Serena has found soone who cares for her brings us peace," she said, her voice warm with acceptance. "Serena can be stubborn sotis, so you’ll both need to be patient with each other."
I almost laughed at the understatent. Stubborn didn’t begin to cover it when it ca to my eldest sister. But watching Mom symbolically place Serena’s hand in Ryan’s, I felt genuinely happy for both of them.
Dinner was surprisingly comfortable. Ryan fit in seamlessly with our family dynamic, and for the first ti in years, the Quinn household felt complete again.
After dinner, I watched Serena pull Ryan toward our gardens. I gave them their privacy, but couldn’t help feeling satisfied. My plan was coming together perfectly.
Later that night, Ryan called .
"Is the ring ready?" he asked without preamble.
"All set," I confird, feeling a surge of excitent. "Are you really planning to propose here in London?"
"Serena’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. I want to host a birthday celebration and propose to her then."
I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm. "That’s perfect! She’ll be thrilled."
But then I rembered sothing crucial. "Though, there’s one thing..."
"What’s wrong?" Ryan asked, imdiately alert.
"Miss Carter is Serena’s best friend. If you propose without her being there to witness it, she might actually kill you both."
Ryan chuckled. "I’ve already thought of that. I was planning to contact her tonight to arrange the surprise."
I was impressed. The man really had thought of everything. "Let handle contacting Miss Carter," I offered quickly. Any excuse to talk to Maya was worth grabbing.
"Fine by ," Ryan agreed, and I could hear the knowing smirk in his voice.
After discussing a few more details about the birthday celebration, we hung up. I imdiately dialed Maya’s number, sitting by the window with what I’m sure was a ridiculously hopeful smile on my face.
It took several attempts before she finally answered, and when she did, I was greeted with a furious bark.
"Ethan, what the hell? Why are you calling in the middle of the damn night?"
My smile dimd. "I’m calling about sothing important."
"Well, spit it out. So of us are working here." Her tone was acid.
Since Serena had left New York, I knew Maya had been drowning in extra work. "You’re still working this late?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
Maya made an exasperated sound. "Ethan, if I wasn’t working, that would an your multiple calls just woke up. Which would be worse?"
I grimaced, taking the verbal beating in silence. After a mont, she finally cald down.
"What is it? Just tell ."
"Ryan is going to propose," I said.
The sharp intake of breath on the other end was imdiate. "Propose? In London? Why the hell would he do that?"
"It’s complicated," I explained. "The day after tomorrow is Serena’s birthday. Ryan wants to throw her a birthday party and propose then."
"Do you want to co?" I asked, trying not to sound too eager or desperate.
Maya was still stuck on the logistics. "What is Ryan thinking? Why not wait until they’re back in New York? Who’s even in London?"
I hesitated, knowing I was about to blow up her entire understanding of the situation. "The thing is... Serena is actually my sister. My real sister."
"Three years ago, she had an accident at sea and lost her mory. Now she’s rembered everything. London is her actual ho."
The silence that followed was deafening. I started to panic.
"Maya? Look, I wasn’t trying to hide this from you. I barely had any contact with Serena myself, and I couldn’t be certain until now. That’s why I didn’t say anything sooner."
The silence stretched on, and my heart sank lower with each passing second.
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