After proposing, Ethan took Aoife to a restaurant he had booked early in the morning, showing how well-prepared he was.
“When did you start thinking about proposing to me?” Ethan hid it well, and Aoife, who had been living with him for so long, didn’t notice anything unusual.
Take the ring, for example. She hadn’t tried it before, and the first time she put it on, it fit just right.
“I’ve been thinking about today for a long time, but I was afraid of being rejected, so I didn’t dare.” Ethan didn’t want to mention his embarrassed mental state and smoothly changed the topic. “Did you like the piece I played just now? Is the technique better than the old man you praised before?”
“It’s beautiful. I didn’t know you could play the piano.”
“You still have a lot to discover about me. You’ll see little by little in the future.” Ethan’s eyes sparkled. “Do you feel surprised?”
Aoife asked, “What was the name of the piece you played just now?”
“‘Dream Wedding.’ Did you like it?”
Aoife happily nodded, her eyes curving like a crescent moon. “I loved it. It’s exceptionally beautiful.”
Little did Aoife know that this piece would accompany her through the most difficult times, even if she forgot everything, she would still hum this “Dream Wedding” unconsciously.
The rings Ethan had custom-made were a pair. Aoife’s ring was set with a diamond, and the men’s ring was relatively elegant, just a simple band with a small inscription inside.
The inscription on Aoife’s ring read: “Auqenstern,” which translates to “star” in English, and in German, it has another meaning: “the dearest person.”
Ethan’s ring was inscribed with: “serendipity,” the ability to make fortunate discoveries accidentally, or to find treasures by chance. To him, Aoife was his treasure, and being with her was the luck he had accumulated in his life.
Today, amidst blessings, they were together, to grow old together, forever and ever, happiness in this life and the next… What a beautiful wish. Aoife seemed to have seen a brand new future.
She had broken free from the shadows of the past, openly welcoming the sun that belonged to her. She was no longer the unloved girl; from now on, she would have a loving family, a husband, and children.
Aoife held Ethan’s hand, envisioning a lifetime journey with this man, filled with tender and beautiful moments.
Just as Ethan had proposed, he was already thinking about marriage. Their kind of “runaway lovebirds” couldn’t appear under the sun. Without a marriage certificate, they were only husband and wife in name. Wanting to celebrate and have witnesses, yet fearing rumors spreading online.
Though the place was remote, caution was still necessary when needed.
“When your child is born, I’ll look into things back in the country…”
As soon as Aoife heard those words “back in the country,” her face turned pale.
Psychological shadows couldn’t dissipate so quickly. Ethan hurriedly reassured her, “It’s okay. Someday, we’ll be able to go back and be together openly.”
Aoife was unsure. Afraid, with a restless unease. She couldn’t help but feel that Finn wouldn’t let her off so easily.
Forced to smile, Aoife seemed comforted by Ethan. Now, she could only think positively.
Bad luck, however, strikes unexpectedly. Just as they were about to return, Aoife witnessed a car accident.
A little girl, just a few years old, was hit by a car and thrown several meters away, blood spilling in a chilling sight, deterring onlookers.
At the gruesome scene, Ethan quickly pulled Aoife into his arms, covering her eyes. “Don’t look.”
Trembling in his embrace, Aoife’s mind was filled with the moist redness on the ground.
There were no cameras in this place, and the driver who caused the accident fled immediately. Despite the crowd of spectators, no one dared to intervene, fearing unnecessary trouble.
Gradually calming down, Aoife patted Ethan’s hand. “I’m fine. I’m not scared.”
Only then did Ethan release her, and when Aoife opened her eyes, aside from the little girl lying on the ground, she saw mostly indifferent gazes around, wishing to keep their distance.
Tears welled up in Aoife’s eyes. She told Ethan, “I can’t just stand by. None of these people are helping, and if we wait, she’ll die.”
Wanting to go help, Ethan firmly grasped her hand. Compared to Aoife’s nervous expression, he remained unusually calm.
Furrowing his brows, as if contemplating something, he sighed after seeing the tears in Aoife’s eyes. “The hospital is a bit far from here. The ambulance won’t arrive anytime soon. We can only drive her there. Wait here and don’t move. I’ll go get the car.”
Things were different overseas compared to back home; a simple emergency call and ambulance response weren’t the solution. Many hospitals wouldn’t take in patients without someone signing or paying for them.
While Ethan was rational, he softened at the sight of Aoife’s tears.
Approaching the girl, Aoife knelt beside her. Being heavily pregnant, she was cautious not to move her, fearing more blood would flow from her wounds.
Still conscious, the little girl, coughing up blood, tightly clutched Aoife’s pinky finger, her tearful eyes pleading for help.
Seeing such a scene, how could Aoife not be moved? She remembered her own past, the desperation and plea for help, hoping someone would save her.
With a life growing inside her, she understood the value of life.
Driving the car closer, Ethan carefully lifted the girl and had Aoife hold her in the back seat.
As they drove, the girl closed her eyes, but her grip on Aoife’s finger didn’t loosen. Aoife knew she wanted to live.
Rushed into the hospital’s emergency room, Ethan intended to leave with Aoife, but the nurses and doctors stopped them, asking them to complete some formalities and wait for the girl’s parents.
Having signed the papers, they were still not allowed to leave, now waiting for the girl’s parents to arrive.
After paying a sum of money for the operation, the girl survived but was not out of danger.
“Are you tired?” Ethan asked.
Still pale, lips dry, Aoife shook her head. Sitting in the chair in the corridor, Ethan got her a cup of warm water.