Six months later, Amara noticed the city had changed. Or maybe it was she who had changed.
The glass buildings no longer seemed cold or out of reach. They shone brightly, reflecting the life she had finally embraced.
She stood on the balcony of Leonardo's villa, the evening breeze playfully tugging at her hair.
Below, the gardens were alive with vibrant colors, a scene so different from the stifling house she used to call home. Here, she felt free.
"What's on your mind?" Leonardo's voice came from behind her. She turned to see him approaching, casually dressed this time-no suit, no power mask. Just him.
"I was reflecting," she said softly, "on how far I've come. How far we've come."
He wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her close. "Do you regret any of it?"
Her smile grew wider, tears welling up in her eyes-but they were tears of happiness. "Not at all."
Leonardo reached into his pocket, and her heart raced as he pulled out a small velvet box. He opened it to show a ring-simple, beautiful, and timeless.
"Amara," he said, his voice calm, "you changed my life the moment we met. You taught me that love is about partnership, not ownership. Will you make me the happiest man... will you be my wife?"
Her breath hitched, but there was no doubt, no fear. Just surety.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice shaky with joy.
"Yes, Leonardo."
He placed the ring on her finger, and as they kissed under the setting sun, Amara realized she had truly found it -not just love, but freedom, respect, and a future she had never imagined.
From a one-night stand to becoming Mrs.
Billionaire-her path had been full of heartbreak, betrayal, and challenges. But now, it was filled with hope.
And this time, it was her story.
The celebration that followed their engagement wasn't the flashy event everyone had anticipated from Leonardo DeLuca. Instead, it was a cozy affair-just the two of them, sitting at a table under the stars, their laughter soft and gentle in the nighttime air.
Amara held onto his hand, frequently glancing at the ring now gracing her finger. It wasn't the diamond's sparkle that enchanted her, even though it glimmered beautifully in the candlelight. It was the promise it represented.
A promise of choice, freedom, and love that invited rather than demanded.
"Can you believe," Amara joked lightly, "that my life now feels like it's straight out of one of those dramatic novels? A billionaire, a proposal under the stars..." She let out a soft laugh. "If I weren't living it, l'd think it was too magical to be real."
Leonardo leaned in, his dark eyes shining. "Let's ensure it stays real, Amara. Every single day.
Every single moment."
She felt a warmth in her chest. For years, words had been used as weapons in her previous marriage, twisted for manipulation and control.
But with Leonardo, words were like anchors, bringing her stability and reminding her that she was seen, appreciated, and loved.
Later that evening, they strolled through the gardens quietly, the moonlight casting a silver glow over the roses and ivy. Amara stopped by a fountain, the gentle sound of trickling water calming her restless mind.
"I used to picture my future in bits and pieces"" she confessed softly. "Fragments of a life that never fit together. I thought love meant losing who l was. I thought being a wife meant fading into the background."
Leonardo took her hand. "And what about now?"
She faced him, her smile fragile but growing stronger. "Now I know that love means being found. Being recognized. With you, I don't fade away-| become more of who I really am."
He lovingly caressed her cheek with his thumb.
"That's all I've ever wanted for you, Amara. To see you shine brighter than you ever believed possible."
Her heart filled with warmth, tears escaping her eyes, but they were no longer tears of sorrow.
They were tears of thankfulness, of release.
In the distance, the city sparkled like a sea of possibilities, but for Amara, the future was no longer something to dread. It was a path she had chosen, a life she had taken back.
When they finally went inside, Leonardo poured them each a glass of champagne. He raised his glass toward her. "To freedom," he declared.
Amara lifted hers, her voice confident and steady. "To love."
Their glasses clinked softly, a sound that promised everything that was yet to come.
And in that quiet, golden moment, Amara realized-her story was no longer about betrayal or mere survival. It was about rebirth.
About love that healed rather than harmed.
About a journey that started with one chance-filled night and would lead to forever.