Sunlight poured through the curtains of Adrian's penthouse as Isabel stirred beside him, her engagement ring catching the morning light. It felt like the world had finally slowed down—like for once, they could breathe without bracing for disaster.
Adrian rolled over and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "You didn't run away in the night. That's a good sign."
She smiled, her voice sleepy. "I thought about it. But I figured I might miss you too much."
They laughed softly, their bodies warm under the covers. No longer hiding. No longer broken. Just finding comfort in each other's presence.
"I still can't believe you proposed," she whispered.
He looked at her seriously. "I would've proposed months ago, but you needed to be free first. Not just from Daniel. From everything."
Isabel looked down at her hand, at the ring. "You gave me back more than freedom, Adrian. You gave me myself."
---
At the university, the ripple effects of Daniel's arrest continued. Students felt safer speaking up. Posters for support groups and wellness programs appeared around campus. For the first time in a long while, Isabel walked through the halls with her head held high.
Jude caught up to her outside the business faculty building.
"I heard about the proposal," he said, grinning. "So, when's the big day?"
She laughed. "Can we breathe for a second first?"
He nodded. "You deserve to."
They walked toward the café together, chatting about The Quiet Room's upcoming launch event.
"You know," Jude said, "Vanessa's nervous. She acts cool, but this project? It's everything to her."
"She's doing something amazing," Isabel replied. "Just like you."
Jude shrugged. "I'm just the guy moving boxes."
"Maybe. But you're also the guy who stood beside her when it mattered. That counts."
---
Vanessa, meanwhile, was pacing in front of a mirror, adjusting her blazer for the tenth time.
"I look like a tax auditor," she groaned.
Jude chuckled from the hallway. "You look like a boss."
She rolled her eyes. "It's just a launch, not a presidential speech."
But when the doors to The Quiet Room opened, and the room filled with students, professors, and even reporters, Vanessa's nerves melted into something else: pride.
She stepped onto the small stage.
"Most of us have felt silenced at some point," she began. "By fear. By shame. By pain. This space is for those moments—to turn silence into strength."
Applause followed. And afterward, people came up to her—not just to compliment her, but to say thank you. To say they finally felt seen.
And when Jude pulled her aside and kissed her in the back hallway, she knew she had found something real.
---
That evening, Isabel and Adrian returned to the rooftop where he had proposed. This time, it wasn't just candlelight and romance—it was celebration.
Vanessa, Jude, Harper, and a few close friends gathered under string lights. Music played, soft and easy. There was laughter. There was wine. There was peace.
Harper raised a glass. "To survival. To second chances. And to building something stronger in the ruins."
They all clinked glasses.
Adrian held Isabel close, swaying with her beneath the stars.
"This," he whispered, "feels like the life we were meant to live."
She looked up at him. "Then let's live it. Fully. Fiercely."