Chapter 14 - THE PROPOSAL IN THE CHAPEL
Damian proposed on Christmas Eve.
The chapel was decorated with white flowers.
Candles glowed along the altar.
Snow fell outside.
Elena entered holding Lily's hand.
She stopped when she saw Damian waiting near the front pew.
He wore a dark suit.
His expression was nervous.
Elena smiled.
“What's going on?”
Lily giggled.
“It's a surprise.”
Damian looked at her.
“You promised not to tell.”
Lily covered her mouth.
“Oops.”
Elena laughed.
Damian stepped forward.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“A year ago, I came into this chapel because I wanted to be alone.”
His voice softened.
“I thought being alone was safer.”
Elena's eyes filled.
“Then I heard a little girl praying.”
Lily smiled proudly.
“That was me.”
Damian laughed.
“Yes, it was.”
He looked back at Elena.
“She asked God to help her mother.”
His voice broke.
“And I realized I had spent years building an empire while ignoring the people who needed help most.”
Elena began crying.
Damian continued.
“You changed my life.”
She shook her head.
“Damian—”
“You and Lily taught me that love isn't about control. It's about showing up. Listening. Being someone people can trust.”
He lowered himself onto one knee.
Elena covered her mouth.
Lily squealed.
Damian opened a small velvet box.
Inside was a simple diamond ring.
Not enormous.
Not ostentatious.
Beautiful.
“Elena Parker, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down her face.
Damian swallowed.
“I can't promise a perfect life.”
He looked toward Lily.
“But I promise to spend every day trying to be worthy of the family you've allowed me to love.”
Elena nodded through tears.
“Yes.”
Damian froze.
“Yes?”
She laughed.
“Yes, Damian.”
He stood.
She threw her arms around him.
He held her tightly.
Then kissed her.
Lily clapped.
“Yay!”
Damian lifted her into his arms.
She looked at him solemnly.
“Does this mean you're my daddy now?”
Damian's eyes filled.
He glanced at Elena.
She nodded gently.
He looked back at Lily.
“If you want me to be.”
Lily smiled.
“I do.”
Damian closed his eyes.
Then hugged her.
May you like
For the first time since his mother's death, he felt something he'd believed was gone forever.
Home.
