Chapter 14 - THE PROPOSAL SHE NEVER EXPECTED
Two years after the Founders' Gala, Gideon invited me to a private dinner.
We had been dating for nearly a year.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Happily.
He'd met Owen.
Owen had interrogated him over dinner.
Gideon had answered every question.
Then helped wash the dishes.
My brother had approved.
Reluctantly.
That evening, Gideon took me to a rooftop garden overlooking Manhattan.
White flowers lined the walkway.
Soft music played.
The city glittered beneath us.
I smiled.
“This is beautiful.”
Gideon looked nervous.
That made me laugh.
“Gideon?”
He took my hand.
“Vivian.”
My heart began racing.
He continued.
“When I first met you, I admired your intelligence.”
I smiled.
“Good start.”
He laughed softly.
“Then I admired your courage.”
My eyes filled.
“And eventually, I realized something.”
He looked into my eyes.
“I was falling in love with the woman who kept showing up, even when life had given her every reason to stop.”
I covered my mouth.
Gideon reached into his jacket.
A small velvet box.
He opened it.
Inside was a beautiful diamond ring.
“Vivian.”
His voice trembled.
“I don't want to rescue you.”
My eyes filled.
“You've already rescued yourself.”
He smiled.
“I just want the privilege of building a life beside you.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
“Will you marry me?”
I laughed through my tears.
“Yes.”
Gideon closed his eyes.
“Yes?”
I nodded.
“Yes, Gideon.”
He slipped the ring onto my finger.
Then kissed me.
And for the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to be loved without conditions.
Our wedding took place the following spring.
A small ceremony in a garden outside New York.
Owen walked me down the aisle.
Sofia designed my gown.
It was ivory.
Elegant.
Backless.
Not because anyone demanded it.
Because I wanted it.
My scars were visible.
And when Gideon saw me, he began crying.
Not from pity.
Not from sadness.
But because he thought I was beautiful.
I walked toward him smiling.
And when we exchanged vows, he whispered:
“Every part of your story brought you here.”
May you like
I smiled through my tears.
“And I'm grateful it brought me to you.”
