When the empire was secure again, Alexander finally acted.
He flew to New York. Not to her office, not to her apartment—but to the small café where she worked on designs for community projects.
She looked up from her sketches, startled. "Alexander?"
He dropped to one knee before the entire room, sliding a small velvet box onto the table.
"Elena Carter," his voice cracked, raw with emotion, "I built walls around myself to survive. And you tore them down with nothing but fire and truth. I was a fool not to trust you. But if you give me another chance, I will spend my life proving that you are not my weakness… you are my strength."
The café went silent. All eyes were on them.
Tears shimmered in Elena's eyes. "You broke me, Alexander…"
His voice broke. "And I'll spend forever putting you back together."
She closed her eyes, trembling—then whispered, "Yes."