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Chapter 145 – Amara's POV
"He didn't just love me. He studied me, remembered me, and planned a future wrapped in all the things I didn't even know I dreamed of."
I should've known Ethan had something up his sleeve.
He was acting strangely calm lately — too calm for someone planning a wedding. While I stressed over floral arrangements and bridesmaid dresses, he always looked like he knew something I didn't.
And now I did.
I stood frozen in the middle of the rooftop, my hand pressed tightly to my chest, my heart pounding wildly.
Golden hour had painted the sky with the perfect brush of oranges and pinks. Tiny fairy lights twinkled above us, and the breeze carried the scent of lavender and something warm—comforting.
It was perfect.
"Surprise," Ethan whispered beside me, his hand lightly resting on the small of my back.
I turned to him slowly, blinking back tears. "You... planned this?"
He nodded. "Every detail. This rooftop… it's where it all changed for me. I wanted to start the next chapter right where I first realized I loved you."
My heart squeezed. I remembered that night clearly—how the fireworks lit up the sky, how I stood beside him wondering if he could ever see me the way I saw him. Turns out, he had. Maybe even before I did.
I took a step forward, my heels clicking softly against the stone floor, and looked around.
Rows of white chairs lined with soft gold ribbons. A delicate arch wrapped in peonies and tiny white lights. At the center, a narrow aisle with scattered petals—wildflowers, just like the ones I picked behind my childhood home.
I turned to face him, my lips trembling. "You remembered everything."
"Of course I did," he said gently, stepping closer. "I told you… I've always been watching."
I laughed softly, tears now freely sliding down my cheeks. "You're insane."
"About you," he said with a grin.
I leaned into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist, breathing him in. "You planned this whole thing behind my back?"
"I had help. Arya kept the secret like a pro."
Of course she did. That woman had a gift for keeping things buried until the perfect moment.
Ethan held my face between his hands, his thumbs brushing away my tears. "I didn't just want to marry you, Amara. I wanted to give you something unforgettable. You deserve a wedding that reflects every part of your soul."
I shook my head with disbelief and joy. "Ethan… this is more than I ever imagined."
He leaned down, pressing his forehead to mine. "Good. Because I'm not done."
I blinked. "There's more?"
With a mischievous smile, he pulled back and snapped his fingers. From the side of the rooftop, music began to play—soft, melodic, familiar.
"Can't Help Falling In Love."
My breath caught in my throat.
Our song.
The one that played the morning after we first spent the night together. The one he said made him realize he'd never stop choosing me.
He held out his hand. "Dance with me?"
We didn't need a crowd. The city twinkled below, and the wind carried our laughter as he pulled me into his arms and began to sway.
We danced slowly, my head resting on his chest. His heart beat in rhythm with the music, and I couldn't stop smiling.
"Promise me something," I whispered.
"Anything."
"Even after the wedding… after kids and years and chaos… promise we'll always find time for this."
He kissed my forehead. "Always."
We danced until the song ended, then danced again. And again. Time didn't exist for us in that moment. It was just him and me and a love that had grown from fire, pain, healing, and hope.
When we finally stopped, he walked me over to the edge of the rooftop where a small table was set with wine, candles, and the dinner he had cooked himself.
"You cooked?" I asked, raising a brow.
He laughed. "Okay, fine. I ordered from your favorite restaurant and plated it like I cooked."
I burst into laughter. "I knew it!"
We sat, we ate, we talked about everything and nothing. I told him how scared I used to be that love would always be complicated. He told me how terrified he was when he almost lost me.
"You saved me, Amara," he said, his voice low. "You pulled me out of myself."
"You didn't need saving," I said softly. "You just needed to see yourself through the eyes of someone who loved you."
We watched the sun dip below the skyline, the world going dark except for the thousands of tiny lights above and around us.
When it was time to leave, I almost didn't want to. "I don't want this night to end."
Ethan smiled and took my hand. "It doesn't have to. This is just the beginning."
And I believed him.
We took the private elevator back down to the car, our fingers intertwined the whole way. I rested my head on his shoulder as we drove home, the city lights flickering by like our own private fireflies.
That night, as I curled into his arms in bed, I whispered, "Thank you for loving me like this."
He kissed my shoulder. "Thank you for letting me."
And just before sleep claimed me, I realized something.
He hadn't just planned a wedding.
He had given me a memory I would carry for the rest of my life.
And I couldn't wait to call him my husband.