The late morning sun poured through the tall windows of the Reynolds estate. Unlike their last formal meeting, the atmosphere was light and relaxed with two families now united, sharing a quiet joy that showed in every smile.
Mr. Harper sat straighter than he had in weeks, the faint fatigue in his eyes softened by the steady smile that curved his lips. Across from him, Mr. Reynolds was equally at ease, though his usual sharp gaze flicked toward his son now and then with something like restrained fondness.
Clara sat beside her father, her hand resting gently over his. She wore a pale blue dress and a quiet glow that made even the servers smile as they passed. Her eyes, though modestly lowered most of the time, would drift toward Liam every few seconds, as if to confirm he was really there beside her.
And he always was.
Liam, in a crisp white shirt rolled at the sleeves, leaned back in his chair with one arm stretched along the back of Clara's. Every so often, his fingers would toy with the ends of her hair or trace invisible circles on her shoulder. When she caught him doing it, she'd nudge him with her elbow and murmur, "You're distracting," to which he'd reply with a low grin, "Good. I intend to."
Their fathers cleared their throats in sync, and both young adults sat up a bit straighter but their joined hands remained under the table, fingers gently interlaced.
"I'm glad we're all here," Mr. Harper began, his voice calm but rich with sentiment. "I know we've had our share of misunderstandings, but seeing Clara and Liam together now… it feels right."
Mr. Reynolds nodded in agreement. "It does. They've made their decision, not just as our children, but as two people who genuinely care for each other. That's all we've ever hoped for."
The conversation turned into practical talk of engagement documents, the logistics of registering their marriage ahead of the official ceremony, and how the wedding itself would wait until after college, giving them time to focus on their studies.
"We'll keep it simple for now," Mr. Reynolds said, exchanging a look with Mr. Harper. "They can register their marriage first. No need for a grand announcement yet."
Clara's cheeks flushed as she glanced at Liam. "It still feels unreal," she whispered, just for him.
Liam leaned in closer, brushing his nose against her temple. "It's very real," he murmured. "You're stuck with me now."
"Promise?" she asked, a shy smile tugging at her lips.
"Forever," he said, kissing the back of her hand.
Later that afternoon, after a light meal and signed papers tucked safely into envelopes, the four of them took a quiet walk through the garden behind the Reynolds estate. Mr. Harper walked slowly beside Mr Reynolds, the two of them chatting like old friends. Mrs. Reynolds strolled ahead, pointing out a few of the flower beds she had planted. Liam and Clara trailed behind, just far enough to speak in soft tones.
"Do you think it'll feel different?" Clara asked, her fingers weaving between his.
"Being married?"
She nodded.
Liam smiled down at her. "Not really. I already feel like I wake up thinking about you, and fall asleep with you on my mind. A marriage certificate just means I get to call you my wife without anyone raising an eyebrow."
Clara laughed, a light, lovely sound. "And here I thought you were the composed one."
"I lose all composure when it comes to you."
They stopped near a low hedge blooming with white gardenias. Liam reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, not a proposal, but something just as meaningful. Inside was a delicate gold ring, simple and elegant, with a tiny engraved "C + L" on the inside of the band.
"I know we're doing the formal rings later," he said, "but I wanted something for now. Just something small. So you know I'm serious. So you never have to doubt again."
Clara took the ring in trembling fingers, then looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "I love it. I love you."
He slid it gently onto her finger. "I love you too, Clara Harper. Almost-wife."
She laughed through her tears and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him into a kiss that was warm, slow, and full of quiet certainty.
The engagement party was everything Clara never expected but everything she had secretly hoped for.
It was intimate and elegant, held in the garden of the Reynolds estate just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a golden haze across the manicured hedges and soft lavender blooms. Fairy lights twinkled overhead like fallen stars, and delicate string music floated on the breeze, weaving through conversations and laughter like a gentle thread. No reporters. Just the people who mattered.
Clara wore a sleek white dress that hugged her figure in just the right places, its simple silhouette made all the more stunning by the way it shimmered subtly beneath the soft garden lights. Her long dark hair was pinned half-up, soft waves cascading down her back, and she wore no necklace—only a pair of pearl earrings and the thin gold promise ring Liam had given her, resting on her finger like a silent vow.
Liam, dressed in a tailored navy suit and pale grey tie, hadn't taken his eyes off her all night. When she first walked into the garden, he froze mid-sentence, the words leaving his mouth forgotten. "You look like the beginning of everything," he whispered to her later when they had a quiet moment alone beneath the arch of white roses. Clara smiled shyly,
Their parents beamed as they raised glasses during the short speech. Mr. Harper, looking healthier since beginning treatment, delivered his toast with a voice full of pride and emotion. "Seeing my daughter with someone who looks at her the way Liam does… I couldn't have asked for a better gift in this life." Beside him, Mr. Reynolds nodded, adding with a small smile, "And we couldn't have asked for a better daughter-in-law."
Then came the surprise—one neither Clara nor Liam had expected.
"As part of our gift to you both," Sophie Reynolds announced, holding up a key wrapped in a velvet ribbon, "we've arranged the transfer of ownership for the Red Maple estate. Consider it a wedding gift. Or an engagement present. Or simply… the place where your story can continue."
Clara gasped, covering her mouth. She recognized the name—Red Maple was a small but beautiful private residence nestled just beyond the city, near the lake and surrounded by trees that turned crimson gold in autumn. It was timeless and secluded, with old charm and modern comforts, and it had always been a Reynolds family vacation home.
"You're giving us a house?" Liam asked, stunned.
"A home," Mr. Harper corrected gently, eyes on Clara. "Somewhere you can begin your life together."
The grand engagement party had finally come to an end, leaving the Reynolds Estate bathed in the quiet hum of the night. Clara, now officially promised to Liam, had stayed behind, her heart still fluttering from the evening's declarations and stolen kisses.
Having just stepped out of a warm bath, Clara stood in front of the ornate vanity in the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a silken robe. The fabric clung to her damp skin, the delicate scent of lavender and vanilla lingering in the air. As she gazed at her reflection, her flushed cheeks, her bright eyes, she couldn't help the tears that welled up.
"Thank you," she whispered silently, her fingers trembling as they touched the glass. *For giving me this. For letting me live again. For him.*
A choked sob escaped her, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of her gratitude.
Liam had just undone the buttons of his shirt when he heard the soft, muffled sound of Clara's crying. His heart clenched, and in an instant, he was at the bathroom door, pushing it open without hesitation.
"Clara?" His voice was rough with concern.
She turned, her eyes glistening, her lips parting in surprise. "Liam—"
He crossed the distance between them in two strides, his hands cradling her face, thumbs brushing away her tears. "Tell me what's wrong," he demanded softly, his gaze searching hers.
She shook her head, a small, tearful smile curving her lips. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just… so happy." Her voice broke. "I never thought I'd have this. You. Us."
Liam exhaled sharply, his forehead pressing against hers. "Clara," he murmured, her name a vow. "You have me. All of me."
His lips found hers in a slow and deep kiss that spoke of devotion, of reverence. Clara melted into him, her fingers tangling in his hair as he pulled her closer, his hands sliding down to the sash of her robe.
The silk slithered open beneath his touch, pooling at her feet, leaving her bare before him. Liam's breath caught as he took her in every curve and every beautiful inch of her. His hands traced her skin with aching tenderness, worshiping her as if she were something sacred.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. His lips followed the path of his hands to kissing her shoulder, the hollow of her throat, the swell of her breast. Clara gasped, her fingers tightening in his hair as pleasure rippled through her.
She reached for him, tugging his shirt open, her palms flattening against the hard planes of his chest. "I need you," she breathed. "All of you."
Liam groaned, capturing her mouth again as he lifted her effortlessly, carrying her to the bed. He laid her down gently, his body covering hers, skin against skin, heartbeat against heartbeat.
Every touch was slow, deliberate and his hands mapping her body as if memorizing her anew, his lips whispering promises against her skin. Clara arched beneath him, her breath coming in soft, broken gasps as he loved her with his hands, his mouth, his body.
He filled her slowly, inch by inch, his thick length stretching her, his breath hot and ragged against her lips as he stilled, letting her adjust, letting her feel the sheer size of him, the way their bodies fit together like they were made for each other. His biceps trembled with the effort of holding back, veins standing out along his forearms as he gripped the sheets beside her head, fighting for control. Liam's eyes never left hers, his fingers lacing with hers as he murmured her name over and over again .
Clara clung to him, her legs wrapping around his waist as pleasure built between them, slow and sweet and overwhelming. When release finally claimed them, a whispered "I love you," their bodies trembling together in the aftermath.
Liam gathered her against him, his arms wrapping around her as their heartbeats slowed. Clara nestled into his chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns over his skin.
Liam's hand stroked lazily down her back, his fingertips tracing the curve of her spine, lingering over the dip at the base before sliding back up. The touch was possessive, reverent, as if he still couldn't quite believe she was his.