Chapter Twenty – A Future Together
The end of university always felt like something far away, a mountain too tall to climb. But suddenly, the final exams were done, the campus buzzed with the hum of farewells, and Eliana found herself standing in the courtyard, sunlight spilling across her gown.
William stood beside her, tall and proud, his arm brushing against hers as students took photos and laughed around them. They had survived. Not just university, not just sleepless nights and endless lectures—but the kind of heartbreaks most couples never lived through.
As she adjusted her cap, William leaned close, his lips brushing her ear.
"You look like the most beautiful graduate in the world," he whispered.
Eliana blushed, biting her lip. "There are hundreds of girls out here."
"Doesn't matter," he said, his hand finding hers. "I'd still only see you."
Later that evening, when the crowds had thinned and friends had drifted off to their celebrations, William asked her to take a walk. He led her toward the old oak tree near the edge of campus, the one where they had shared coffee during first year, where she had once fallen asleep on his shoulder after an exhausting exam.
"Do you remember this spot?" he asked, glancing up at the tree.
"How could I forget?" she smiled softly. "It's where you first confessed you liked me."
"And you thought I was joking." He chuckled, though his eyes were tender.
Eliana lowered her gaze. "Back then, I didn't know what to do with someone who wanted me so much."
"Back then," William said, taking her hands in his, "I didn't know how much I could hurt because of you. And yet—" He paused, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Even now, after everything, there is no one else I'd rather stand with in this life."
Her breath caught. His words were simple, but they sank deep into her heart.
Before she could answer, William pulled something from his pocket. A small velvet box.
Eliana froze, her eyes wide as the moonlight spilled across his face. He sank to one knee beneath the oak tree.
"Eliana," he began, his voice steady but thick with emotion, "you've broken me, healed me, and made me understand what love truly is. I don't want a life where I keep doubting if you're mine. I want a life where you choose me, every single day. So tonight, right here where it all began…" He opened the box, revealing a delicate ring that glimmered like starlight. "Will you marry me?"
Her hands flew to her mouth, tears brimming. For a moment, she couldn't speak. The world seemed to stop—the campus, the air, her heartbeat, everything was suspended in the magic of that question.
"Yes," she finally whispered, her voice trembling. "Yes, William, I'll marry you."
Cheers erupted from behind them—Maddie, some classmates, and even a few professors who had quietly followed, already knowing what was about to happen. Eliana laughed through her tears as William slipped the ring onto her finger, then rose to kiss her as the small crowd clapped.
It wasn't just a kiss. It was a promise.
The following weeks blurred into a rush of wedding planning. Between job applications, family visits, and picking out venues, Eliana found herself swept into a whirlwind of lace fabrics, cake tastings, and endless questions about guest lists. Maddie was everywhere, offering suggestions, sometimes a little too eagerly.
"You should definitely book the Crystal Ballroom," Maddie said one afternoon as she flipped through a glossy magazine. "It screams elegance. And William's family will be impressed."
Eliana smiled politely, though a small part of her wanted something quieter, more personal. But William squeezed her hand under the table, giving her a reassuring smile as if to say: It's your choice, not anyone else's.
And in those moments, the planning felt less overwhelming. Because even when everyone else had an opinion, William only cared about her happiness.
One evening, after a long day of visiting venues, William carried her shoes in one hand as they walked barefoot across a grassy field. The city lights twinkled in the distance, but here it was quiet, just the two of them.
"You know," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face, "I used to dream about this. Not the ring, not the wedding, but just… you and me, planning a life together."
Eliana leaned her head on his shoulder, her chest swelling with warmth. "I never thought I deserved someone like you."
"You don't deserve me," he teased with a crooked grin. "You own me."
Her laughter echoed into the night, soft and pure.
For the first time in years, her heart felt steady. No shadows of Stephen, no echoes of regret. Just William, the man who loved her through every mistake.
And soon, he would be her husband.