To us.
“Yes,” I whisper, my voice trembling with the weight of my emotions. Then louder, with more certainty: “Yes, Theo, I will marry you.”
The smile that spreads across his face is so full of joy, so radiant, that it takes my breath away. He stands, slipping the ring onto my finger before pulling me into his arms.
I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him as tightly as I can, as if letting go would somehow break the spell of this perfect moment.
“I love you,” I whisper against his chest, my heart beating wildly.
“I love you more than I ever thought was possible,” he murmurs back, his voice rough with emotion.
He pulls back just enough to kiss me. It’s just him, just us, wrapped up in this beautiful moment that feels like the beginning of forever.
When we finally pull apart, I look down at the ring on my finger, sparkling in the dim light. It feels like a symbol of everything we’ve been through everything we will go through together.
A promise that no matter what comes next, we’ll face it side by side.
His hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing away the tears that are still slipping down my face.
“Are you happy?” he asks, his voice gentle.
I laugh, shaking my head. “I’ve never been happier in my entire life.”
“Good,” he says, leaning down to press another kiss to my forehead.
“Because this is just the beginning, Grace. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
I smile up at him. “I know you will.”
We stand there for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, watching as the last of the sunlight fades away and the stars begin to twinkle above us.
The night air is warm and gentle, and I can hear the soft lapping of the waves as we sway together, lost in our own world.
Eventually, he leads me back to the seating area, where a bottle of champagne has been set up, along with a tray of my favorite desserts.
He pours each of us a glass, and we sit together, sipping the bubbly drink and talking about everything and nothing all at once.
“So, when do you want to get married?” he asks, his tone casual but his eyes full of that familiar intensity.
I smile, biting my lip. “I don’t know… soon? I don’t want to wait too long.”
“Good,” he says, grinning. “Because I don’t want to wait either.”
We spend the night dreaming about our future—the places we'll go, the life we'll build. It feels like a storybook ending, but I know it's just the beginning of our fairy tale.
As the stars twinkle above us and the waves carry us gently through the night, I can’t help but think that this—right here, with Theo by my side—is where I was always meant to be.
Eventually, he leads me back to the yacht, where a beautiful suite awaits us. The bed is draped in silk, and there’s a bottle of champagne waiting on the nightstand.
All I can focus on is him—his unwavering gaze, his steady hand in mine. He pulls me close, kissing me deeply. As we lay in each other’s arms, the yacht’s gentle rocking lulls us to sleep, and peace washes over me.
This is my life now.
I never could have imagined that my stalker would lead me to love.
20
THEO