The morning sunlight poured through the curtains, bathing the room in warmth. Ethan stood in front of the mirror, meticulously adjusting his tie, his movements slower than usual. Ella sat on the edge of their bed, cradling a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the soft hum of morning life around them, creating an air of serenity.
Ethan turned, his gaze lingering on Ella for a moment. She looked so peaceful, so content, and his heart swelled with gratitude. “I have a lot to do at the office today,” he said, breaking the silence. “I might not be back until the evening.”
Ella nodded, taking another sip of her coffee. “That’s fine. I have work to keep me busy too.”
Ethan walked over, leaning down to kiss her. His lips lingered on hers, a gesture more deliberate than usual. “Victor promised to take the kids out today,” he added. “So they’ll be with him for most of the day.”
“That’s nice,” Ella said with a warm smile. “They always have fun with him.”
As if on cue, the twins, Liam and Leo, burst into the room, dragging Grace behind them. “Bye, Mummy!” they chorused, their voices filled with excitement.
Ella chuckled, bending down to hug them tightly. “Be good for Uncle Victor,” she said, ruffling their hair.
“We will!” they promised in unison, their faces alight with anticipation.
Ethan straightened, a smile tugging at his lips as he took in the scene. After a final kiss on Ella’s cheek, he ushered the children out the door. Ella watched them leave, her heart swelling with gratitude.
Her family was whole again. Gone were the days of distrust and heartache. She had finally let go of the resentment that once clouded her heart. The life she had now-a loving partner and joyful children-was everything she had fought for.
The day passed uneventfully. Ella immersed herself in her work, pausing only to grab a quick bite or stretch her legs. She was midway through reviewing a particularly dense report when her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw Victor’s name.
“Victor? What’s wrong?”
His voice was hurried, almost breathless. “Ella, it’s the boys. They’ve gone missing again.”
Her heart dropped into her stomach. “What? How could they-where are they?”
“They’re at the pier,” Victor said quickly. “Ethan’s already there, searching for them. You need to come now.”
Ella’s mind raced as panic gripped her. The pier. Memories of the pier flooded back-some joyous, some painful. Could Tania have escaped? Was someone else targeting her family? She didn’t wait to find out. Grabbing her keys, she bolted out the door.
The drive to the pier felt like an eternity. Every worst-case scenario played out in her mind as she gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white. By the time she parked, her heart was pounding in her chest.
She stepped onto the wooden dock, her eyes scanning the area frantically. The pier was eerily quiet except for the soft lapping of waves against the wooden posts.
“Ethan? Boys?” she called out, her voice cracking with desperation.
Her phone buzzed again. She answered immediately, her voice trembling. “Ethan? Where are you?”
The sound of a phone ringing nearby made her freeze. Slowly, she turned around, her eyes darting across the pier. Then she saw him.
Under a canopy of delicate fairy lights, Ethan stood at the edge of the dock, dressed impeccably in his suit. He was down on one knee, a small velvet box in his hand. Beside him, Liam, Leo, and Grace held up a large sign that read:
“Will you marry me?”
Victor stood a few steps back, grinning like he’d just orchestrated the prank of the year.
“Ethan…” Ella’s voice trembled, her heart racing. “What is this?”
Ethan’s eyes met hers, his smile soft but resolute. “Ella,” he began, his voice thick with emotion, “you’ve been my rock, my light, and the reason I wake up every morning. I want to spend the rest of my life proving to you how much I love you. Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in her eyes as the realization hit her. She turned to Victor, her voice laced with disbelief. “You… You told me the kids were missing?”
Victor chuckled, raising his hands in mock defense. “It was the only way to get you here fast enough.”
“Mummy, marry Daddy, please!” Liam and Leo pleaded, their little faces full of hope and excitement.
Ella looked back at Ethan, her tears spilling over as she nodded. “Of course, I’ll marry you,” she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.
The children erupted into cheers as Ethan slid the delicate platinum ring onto her finger. He stood, pulling her into his arms. Ella buried her face in his chest, laughing and crying all at once.
After a moment, she pulled back, her smile playful through her tears. “You do know, technically, we’re still married, right? I never died.”
Ethan chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I know,” he said softly. “But I’d marry you again and again, Ella. Every single day.”
He leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss so full of love it made the world around them disappear.
“Ewwww!” Grace exclaimed, breaking the moment. “Daddy, you’re going to get cooties!”
Ethan pulled back, laughing as he turned to his daughter. “Cooties, huh? Well, I guess I’ll just have to pass them to you!” He lunged toward her, making Grace squeal as she darted away.
“Hey!” Liam and Leo shouted, running after their dad.
Victor joined in, scooping up Leo and tickling him mercilessly. “Gotcha!”
Ella stood back, watching the joyful chaos unfold. Her heart felt full to the brim as Ethan twirled Leo around, Liam tried to tackle Victor, and Grace giggled uncontrollably as Ethan pretended to chase her.
The sun began to set over the pier, casting the scene in hues of orange and pink. For the first time in a long time, Ella felt completely at peace.
This wasn’t just a proposal. It was a promise-a new beginning for their family, filled with hope, laughter, and endless possibilities.
As she looked at Ethan and their children, her heart swelled with love. They were her everything, and she knew that whatever challenges came their way, they would face them together.