Arec’s POV:
The elevator dinged softly as it reached the top floor. My fingers fidgeted with the keys in my pocket, a habit I’d picked up when I was nervous, though I didn’t quite understand why I felt that way.
Spending ti with Ella had beco the highlight of my days, yet the closer we grew, the more I found myself second-guessing the smallest things.
Would she smile at the way she did yesterday? Was I being too forward with the gifts? Did I text her too much today?
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the familiar entryway to the penthouse. I stepped inside, greeted by the faint scent of lavender, her favorite candle was burning again. I smiled.
"Ella?" I called out, my voice echoing slightly.
"In here!" Her voice ca from the living room.
I walked in to find her curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs and a book in her hands. She looked up as I entered, her face lighting up in a way that made my chest tighten. I have practically moved back in after the night we explore each other’s body as real couple.
"You’re back early," she said, closing the book and setting it aside.
"I couldn’t focus," I admitted, slipping off my jacket and tossing it over a nearby chair. "Work felt... distracting today."
Her lips quirked into a knowing smile. "Distracting, huh? I wonder why."
I chuckled, running a hand through my hair as I sat down beside her. "You might have sothing to do with it."
Ella laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, I hope it was a good kind of distraction."
"Always," I said, my voice softening.
The room fell quiet for a mont, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. It was the kind that felt warm, like we didn’t need to fill the space with words to feel connected. I found myself studying her face, the way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, the faint smile that lingered even when she wasn’t speaking.
"How was your day?" I asked finally, breaking the silence.
"Uneventful," she said with a shrug. "I read a little, worked on so wedding details, and tried to convince myself not to order takeout again."
I raised an eyebrow. "Let guess, you ordered it anyway?"
She grinned sheepishly. "Maybe."
I shook my head, amused. "You know, I could cook for you more often. Or we could cook together."
"Cooking together?" she repeated, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "That could be fun."
"I’m serious," I said, leaning back against the couch. "We could make a date out of it. Pick a recipe, shop for the ingredients, argue over who gets to chop the vegetables..."
Ella laughed, the sound light and genuine. "I’d like that."
Her agreent filled with an unexpected sense of pride, like I’d just won a small victory. I wanted to keep making her smile like that, to keep building these little monts that felt so ordinary yet so extraordinary at the sa ti.
---
Later that night an idea hit in the quiet hours of the night, long after Ella had fallen asleep beside . I lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering how I had ended up here, how we had ended up here.
Our engagent had begun as a business deal, a ans to an end. It was supposed to be straightforward, unemotional, and temporary. But sowhere along the line, it had beco so much more. Ella had beco so much more.
Now, every look she gave , every laugh, every touch, it all felt real. Because it was real. And for the first ti, I wanted everything between us to reflect that.
Which is how I found myself in my office the next day, jotting down ideas for the perfect proposal while pretending to review reports.
I wanted it to be personal. Sothing that would show her how much I’d co to know and love her, not just the obvious things, but the little things too. The way she humd under her breath when she was focused. How she always saved the last bite of dessert for , even if she pretended not to.
So I planned an evening around her. I booked a private table at her favorite restaurant, an intimate spot overlooking the city skyline. I made sure the nu included all her favorite dishes, even the obscure ones she always ntioned but never ordered.
And the ring. I spent hours with the jeweler, agonizing over the design. It had to be perfect. Not too flashy, Ella hated anything ostentatious, but elegant, tiless, and uniquely hers. When I finally held the finished piece, a delicate band with a stunning oval diamond, I knew it was right.
The hardest part was keeping it a secret. Ella had no idea what I was planning, and every ti she looked at with that curious smile of hers, I had to fight the urge to blurt everything out, I never knew it could be this hard to keep a surprise secret from her.
"Why are you grinning like that?" she asked as I helped her into the car that evening.
"No reason," I said, failing miserably to sound casual.
She narrowed her eyes at . "You’re up to sothing."
"? Never." I closed the car door and walked around to the driver’s side, ignoring the way her suspicion made my heart race.
As we drove, Ella peppered with questions about where we were going. I dodged them all, enjoying the mix of curiosity and slight annoyance on her face.
When we pulled up to the restaurant, her eyes lit up. "Wait, this is..."
"Your favorite spot," I finished for her, stepping out to open her door.
Her smile was radiant as she stepped out of the car, her hand in mine. "You’re full of surprises tonight."
"You have no idea," I murmured under my breath.
The evening unfolded perfectly. The food was exceptional, the atmosphere was intimate, and Ella was relaxed and happy, completely unaware of what was coming.
I waited until dessert, tiramisu, was served. As she took her first bite, her eyes widened in delight.
"This is amazing," she said, her voice muffled by the spoon in her mouth.
I laughed, nerves tightening in my chest. "I’m glad you like it."
She looked at , her expression softening. "Thank you for tonight. It’s... perfect."
I swallowed hard, knowing it was now or never.
"Ella," I began, reaching across the table to take her hand.
She tilted her head, her brow furrowing slightly. "What is it?"
I stood up, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure she could hear it. As I moved around the table, she looked up at , confusion flickering across her face.
Then I got down on one knee.
Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock. "Arec..."
"Ella," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "When we first got engaged, it was... practical. A deal. But sowhere along the way, everything changed. You changed everything. You made see what love could be, what it should be. And now, I can’t imagine my life without you."
Her eyes were glistening, and I felt my own throat tighten.
"I don’t want this to be just a contract anymore. I want it to be real. You and , forever. Will you marry , for real this ti?"
I pulled out the ring, holding it up to her. The way she looked at in that mont, utterly stunned, tears streaming down her face,was sothing I’d never forget.
Ella lowered her hand from her mouth, her voice trembling as she said, "Yes. Of course, yes!"
Relief and joy flooded through as I slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, just like I’d imagined.
I stood up, and she threw her arms around , burying her face in my chest. "I can’t believe you did all this," she whispered.
I held her tightly, my chin resting on the top of her head. "Believe it. Because I ant every word."
The rest of the evening felt like a blur. We stayed at the restaurant long after the other diners had left, talking, laughing, and basking in the glow of the mont.
As we drove ho, Ella couldn’t stop looking at the ring. "It’s beautiful," she said, turning it this way and that to catch the light.
"Not as beautiful as you," I said, earning a playful eye roll.
When we got back to the penthouse, she turned to , her expression serious. "Arec, tonight was... everything I didn’t know I needed. Thank you."
I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing against her cheeks. "You don’t have to thank . Just promise one thing."
"What’s that?"
"Promise that no matter what. That we’ll keep building sothing real together."
She smiled, leaning into my touch. "I promise."
I leaned in and kissed her in a long, passionate embrace, knowing we were in for a long night ahead.
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