Months passed after the Verona campaign's success. The world hailed Lila's designs as breathtaking, a blend of vulnerability and strength — much like her own journey. Ethan's company, too, began to recover, this time built on honesty rather than appearances.
They returned to London quietly, away from cameras and curious eyes. Their love had become something private — something too sacred to display.
One morning, Lila sat by the window of her small art studio, sketching the outline of a wedding dress. But this one was different — soft, unguarded, simple. It wasn't about glamour or grandeur. It was about peace.
Ethan entered quietly, holding two cups of coffee. "You're up early," he said with a smile.
"Couldn't sleep," she replied. "I kept thinking about beginnings."
He sat beside her, watching the soft pencil strokes. "You've been drawing that dress for days."
She nodded. "It's the one I never got to wear."
Ethan's smile faltered. "Lila—"
She looked at him gently. "It's alright. I don't want it to remind me of pain anymore. I want it to remind me of strength — of the girl who survived being left at the altar and still learned to love again."
He reached for her hand. "You didn't just survive, Lila. You taught me how to live."
Their eyes met, and for a long moment, silence spoke more than words ever could.
Weeks later, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, Ethan took her to the countryside outside London. The air smelled of lavender and rain-soaked earth. He led her to a small clearing where wildflowers grew freely, the sun spilling gold across the grass.
There, without an audience, without fanfare, he knelt before her.
"No grand gestures this time," he said softly. "No promises I can't keep. Just one truth — I love you, and I want to build every tomorrow with you."
Lila's heart swelled. There were no tears, no hesitation. Only peace.
She smiled through trembling lips. "Then this time, don't run."
He looked up, eyes glistening. "Never again."
When she said yes, it wasn't the answer of a woman swept away by romance — it was the answer of one who had lived through heartbreak, betrayal, and forgiveness, and still believed in love.
Their second wedding was small, intimate — just a handful of friends, soft music, and the scent of fresh roses. Lila wore the simple dress she had designed herself. And when Ethan saw her walking toward him, he finally understood what redemption looked like.
As they exchanged vows, Lila's voice trembled, not from fear, but from joy.
"Love," she said, "isn't about being perfect. It's about being brave enough to begin again."
When they kissed, the world didn't cheer — but the wind, the sky, and their beating hearts did.
And though their story had begun with abandonment, it ended with something far stronger: forgiveness that bloomed into forever.
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