A Year Later...
Today belonged entirely to Liora. The results of years of unrelenting dedication and exhaustion was finally within her grasp, it was university graduation day.
Sitting in one of the front rows of the outdoor theater, a radiant bunny smile illuminated Liora's face as a whirlwind of overwhelming emotions washed over her. It was almost certainly the first time her fellow classmates had ever seen her smile like that; today was easily the happiest day of her entire academic journey. The years leading up to this moment had been far from kind, but today softened every bitter memory.
As she waited for the ceremony to officially begin, Liora found herself drifting back through the memories of the past year. She recalled the shock of being fast-tracked into her senior year, and how fiercely she had pushed herself through ten exhausting months of studying to prepare for the final exams that took place two months ago. Above all, she remembered Ronan's constant presence by her side. Tears of deep gratitude welled in Liora's eyes as she thought about how Ronan had patiently guided her through her studies, making sure she stayed grounded and stress-free despite managing his own chaotic schedule at the corporate headquarters. She truly considered herself the luckiest person alive to be loved by someone like Ronan.
Ronan, too, had been rising rapidly to the pinnacle of the business world over the past year. His expanding company required him to travel abroad for frequent international business trips. Yet, the physical distance had never once brought sadness to their relationship. Whenever the longing became too much, Ronan simply used his teleportation powers to bridge the gap. All he needed was a private restroom in whatever country he was visiting. No matter where in the world business took him during the day, he spent every single night back in England, inside his grand estate, resting in his own bed, wrapped comfortably around his Bunny Angel.
The shrill, excited squeals of students echoing down the outdoor walkways suddenly shattered Liora's quiet daydream. Looking toward the source of the commotion, a breathtaking smile instantly spread across her lips as she saw the cause of all the chaotic shrieking: the absolute owner of her heart, her handsome, brilliant boyfriend, Ronan Brown.
Dressed impeccably, Ronan, an illustrious alumnus of the university, had been invited as the chief guest for today's commencement ceremony.
Liora chuckled softly to herself as she watched Ronan's sharp eyes frantically scanning the audience, searching for her. The dense crowd of students jumping up and down to catch the CEO's attention made it nearly impossible for their eyes to meet, but the sight warmed Liora's heart nonetheless.
Their relationship was still a closely guarded secret from the public eye. Ronan often struggled with the secrecy; every time he saw Liora in public, every instinct urged him to pull the girl into his arms. Indeed, keeping things quiet hadn't been without its close calls. On one occasion, Ronan had used his power to sneak Liora into his private executive office at the company. When an unsuspecting employee accidentally walked in on an intensely intimate moment between them, Liora had nearly panicked. Fortunately, Ronan had used his power to gently erase the employee's memory of the event. Ever since that nerve-wracking day, Liora had refused to step foot in the corporate office, forcing Ronan to return home to the mansion whenever he wanted to see her.
In fact, just this morning, Liora had delivered a stern lecture to Ronan, instructing him to act like a complete stranger while on campus. Recalling the pouty, aggrieved expression Ronan had made during that lecture brought another fond smile to Liora's face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats as we begin today's ceremony..."
The announcer's booming voice pulled Liora back to the present.
The commencement proceeded smoothly, filled with solemn speeches and formal presentations. When Liora was finally called up to receive her degree, tears of immense joy sparkled in her eyes. Not only had she completed her degree, but she was also graduating with the absolute highest academic honors in her yaer. Standing on the stage as the crowd broke into enthusiastic applause, Liora's eyes gravitated toward the front row. There sat Ronan, looking up at her with a gaze brimming with boundless pride and love. Catching each other's eyes, Liora couldn't help but share a subtle, silent laugh with her lover.
As she began walking off the stage, however, a familiar figure standing slightly off to the side caught her attention, freezing her in her tracks.
Watching him through a veil of emotional tears was her...
"D-Dad?" Liora gasped softly to herself.
Seeing her father standing tall in a crisp, tailored suit with his hair neatly styled made a lump form in Liora's throat. She had never seen her humble, hardworking father look so distinguished. Deep down, Liora instantly knew that Ronan was the secret architect behind this miraculous moment.
Unable to contain herself, the moment Liora stepped off the platform, she broke into a run, throwing her arms tightly around her father's shoulders. Nearby, Ronan deliberately averted his gaze to keep up appearances, but a warm, proud smile remained fixed on his lips.
As the ceremony drew toward its conclusion, the time arrived for the keynote address. The announcer introduced Ronan, and a hush fell over the crowd as the young CEO took the podium. The students hung on his every word, completely spellbound by his rich, commanding voice. When he finished, thunderous applause echoed across the entire grounds.
"And now, for the most prestigious honor of the afternoon." the announcer declared, his voice echoing through the speakers. "We respectfully invite Mr. Ronan Brown, CEO of Vante Corporation and the youngest leading entrepreneur in England, to present the Award for the Brightest and Most Outstanding Student of the Year!"
Ronan stepped back up to the center of the stage amidst renewed applause.
Down in the audience, Liora's heart began to hammer wildly against her ribs. She couldn't help but wonder who would claim the coveted title. Secretly, desperately, she wished it would be her. To receive such an honor directly from Ronan's hands would make this the undisputed happiest day of her life.
Holding her breath, Liora squeezed her eyes shut, her heart thumping in her ears as the announcer opened the gold envelope.
"The recipient of the Brightest and Most Outstanding Student of the Year Award is... Liora Miller! Please come up to the stage!"
The moment her name resonated across the speakers, Liora practically shot out of her chair like an electric current had hit her. Up on stage, Ronan bit the inside of his cheek, exercising every ounce of his willpower to keep from bursting out laughing at his girlfriend's adorable, startled reaction.
Trembling with pure excitement amidst the deafening applause, Liora walked up the steps and made her way across the stage to stand directly in front of Ronan. The brilliant, wide bunny smile never left her face for a single second.
Liora wanted nothing more than to hurl herself into Ronan's arms right then and there, but she tightly disciplined herself to stay professional.
Holding the golden medal on its ribbon, Ronan waited with a warm, stunning smile as Liora closed the distance. The breathtaking, rare boxy smile, a smile Ronan reserved exclusively for Liora, was captured by dozens of cameras, destined to go viral across social media by the next morning.
With immense care, Ronan draped the medal over Liora's neck and handed her the official leather-bound certificate. Radiant with joy, Liora extended her hand, meeting Ronan's in a formal handshake.
"Congratulations, my love." Ronan murmured softly under his breath, his tone so low and controlled that only Liora could hear it.
A bright flush crept up Liora's neck. "Thank you, Mr. Brown." she replied sweetly, her voice dripping with playful reverence.
Ronan's brows twitched in subtle amusement at the formal title, but his expression melted back into pure warmth. Leaning in just an inch closer, he whispered, "I am so extraordinarily proud of you, my angel."
One Week Later
Though the chaotic stress of university life had finally come to an end, Liora found herself feeling oddly hollow. She spent most of her days wandering aimlessly around the quiet mansion, waiting for Ronan to come home. The rest of their group, Maya, Ethan, Michael, and Sophia, had already returned to the Mo Kingdom to oversee its ongoing restoration.
What bothered Liora most, however, was Ronan's baffling behavior over the past week. Usually, whenever university breaks arrived, Ronan would clear his schedule to spend every waking moment with her. Ever since graduation, Ronan had been tied up at work, claiming he couldn't leave because of urgent tasks.
Liora couldn't help but feel deeply suspicious. Was it really possible for someone to suddenly become this busy? Ronan had been the one pushing hardest for Liora to finish her degree precisely so they could finally enjoy uninterrupted time together.
Seeking a distraction, Liora had invited Sophia, who was visiting Earth briefly, over to the estate. Currently, the two were sitting side-by-side on a wooden bench in the estate's private gardens.
"Try not to overthink it, Lio." Sophia said gently, leaning back against the bench. "He's just genuinely swamped right now. Maybe a major new contract came through, who knows?"
Liora pouted, looking down at her lap. "It's fine if he's busy, Sophie... but it feels like he doesn't even make time for me when he is home anymore. He hasn't even kissed me properly all week!"
Sophia let out a loud laugh. "Ah, so that's what this is about! Someone is feeling neglected and needy~"
Liora's face flushed bright red. "Heyy, Sophie! Stop it!"
Sophia's teasing laughter was cut short by the buzzing of Liora's phone. Whirling around, Liora's eyes widened as she checked the caller ID.
"Who is it?" Sophia asked, peering over.
"Speaking of the devil... it's your great emperor." Liora muttered, crossing her arms with a slight glare at the screen. "He finally remembers I exist after ignoring me for days."
"Well, don't just stare at it, answer him, Lio!" Sophia chuckled.
Letting out a dramatic sigh, Liora swiped the screen to accept the call. "Hel-"
"Hey, Lio! Meet me at the restaurant downtown at seven tonight." Ronan's rushed voice barked through the speaker before Liora could even finish her greeting. "Make sure you dress up nicely. We're having dinner together. Okay, bye!"
Click.
Ronan hung up the phone as if he were being chased by a monster, leaving Liora staring blankly at her glowing phone screen in absolute speechlessness.
"What happened?" Sophia asked, tilting her head.
"Seriously, what is wrong with that man lately?" Liora huffed, slamming the phone down onto the wooden bench.
"Why? What did he say?"
Liora sighed heavily. "Nothing... he just told me to dress up and meet him at a restaurant at seven for dinner."
Sophia's eyes lit up. "Wow, see? That sounds wonderful!"
Liora offered a small, hesitant smile, nodding along. "Yeah... but I need to figure out what to wear. What should I dress in, Sophie?"
"Come on," Sophia said, grabbing Liora by the wrist and pulling her up off the bench. "Let's go raid your closet and pick out the absolute best outfit right now!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
By eight o'clock that evening, Liora was sitting alone at a dimly lit corner table inside the upscale restaurant, staring vacantly at the condensation dripping down her untouched glass of water.
She had arrived precisely at seven, exactly as Ronan had instructed. Yet, an entire hour had slipped by, and there was still no sign of her boyfriend. She had tried calling Ronan's phone repeatedly, but every single call went straight to voicemail.
Dark, anxious thoughts began to spiral through her mind. Does he not love me anymore? Is he tired of me? Did I do something wrong without realizing it? Is there something he's keeping from me? A thousand painful, unanswered questions raced through her head, heavy and suffocating.
By 8:30 PM, tears began to sting the corners of Liora's eyes. Ronan still hadn't shown up. A painful mixture of rising anger and deep sorrow washed over her. She had trusted Ronan completely... but she had been left sitting alone in a crowded room.
By nine o'clock, the restaurant was entirely empty.
"Excuse me, Miss," a polite waiter said softly, stepping up to the table with a courteous bow. "I'm very sorry, but our restaurant closes at nine."
Liora snapped out of her trance, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. "Oh... oh, I'm so sorry. I'll leave right away."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Having waited as long as humanly possible, Liora finally arrived back at the Brown estate in the back of a quiet taxi.
As she pulled up the driveway, she noticed the entire mansion was completely shrouded in pitch darkness. It meant Ronan hadn't even returned home yet.
Exhausted, heartbroken, and utterly drained, Liora unlocked the heavy front doors using her spare key card. Stepping inside, she reached for the main light switch, illuminating the grand entryway.
The moment the lights flickered on, the scene before her made her breath catch in her throat.
A breathtaking path paved with vibrant, fresh red roses lined both sides of the corridor, leading directly toward the main living room. Liora stood frozen, gazing at the sight in complete bewilderment before slowly following the path forward.
Reaching the living room, she looked around in utter shock. The entire space had been transformed with thousands of fresh floral arrangements, warm golden fairy lights, and elegant decorations.
"What is going on here...?" Liora whispered to herself, her heart hammering in her chest. "Who did all this?"
"Ron? Ronan?!" she called out loudly, wondering if her boyfriend was hiding somewhere nearby. But silence was the only response. It seemed she was completely alone in the house.
Turning away from the living room, she moved toward the grand staircase to go upstairs. To her utter astonishment, the marble steps were entirely carpeted in a thick blanket of velvety red rose petals.
Carefully stepping onto the fragrant petals, Liora began climbing the stairs step by step, her confusion growing with every stride. Reaching the second-floor hallway leading toward their master bedroom, she paused. The entire corridor had been transformed into an enchanting, romantic wonderland. For a brief moment, the overwhelming beauty of the scene made her completely forget her earlier sadness. She closed her eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath, inhaling the intoxicating scent of fresh blooms filling the air.
"Did Ronan really do all of this?" Liora muttered under her breath. "But why? Is this his way of apologizing for neglecting me all week? Where even is that idiot right now?"
Shaking her head, Liora reached out and gently pushed open the doors to their primary bedroom.
The moment her eyes registered the sight inside, her heart practically stopped.
"Oh my god..." Liora gasped out loud.
She took a few slow, hesitant steps toward the king-sized bed, her eyes widening in complete shock as she read the giant, glowing letters arranged meticulously across the mattress:
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
The moment the reality of the words crashed into her mind, Liora's hands instantly flew up to cover her mouth, a sudden wave of heat washing over her.
Before she could process anything further, a soft, radiant crimson light suddenly illuminated the room from behind her. Though she instinctively realized what was happening, Liora couldn't bring herself to turn around right away as tears began spilling uncontrollably down her cheeks.
"Turn around, my love." came Ronan's deep, velvet voice, rich with unconditional warmth and affection.
Sniffling softly, Liora slowly turned to face him.
Just as she had anticipated, Ronan was down on one knee, holding an open, crimson velvet box in his hands. Resting inside was an exquisitely crafted diamond ring that sparkled brilliantly under the warm lights. Ronan looked up at her, a tender, loving smile gracing his features as Liora wept.
"First of all... I am so, so sorry for ignoring you all week, love." Ronan began softly, his own eyes shining with emotion. "If I hadn't stayed away, I never would have been able to keep this entire setup a surprise. And... I'm so sorry for making you wait at that restaurant for two hours tonight. It was the only way I could get you out of the house for long enough to transform the mansion."
Liora let out a trembling breath, her shoulders shaking with soft sobs.
"But I didn't come here tonight just to ask for your forgiveness, my love." Ronan continued gently, his smile softening further. "I came to ask you a question... though I think you already know what it is."
Liora continued to weep quietly, unable to form a single word. Stepping forward, Ronan reached up, gently taking one of Liora's hands away from her face and pressing a tender, lingering kiss onto her knuckles.
"So, my love... listen to me," Ronan whispered softly. "I am Ronan Brown, someone who was born and raised as an orphan. For the longest time, I never knew what it felt like to be truly loved. Because of that, I didn't even understand what love was... until I met you. My entire life, I was searching for an angel. And finally, I found her. Now, that very same angel is standing right in front of me, crying like a helpless baby."
A tearful chuckle escaped Liora's lips through her heavy sobs.
"The very first day I met you, the second my eyes landed on you, I felt something shift inside me," Ronan remembered, his voice brimming with deep emotion. "It took me a while to realize what that feeling was... but it was love. I fell completely in love with you the moment I saw you, even if my foolish self realized it a little too late. Do you remember that beautiful day? The day you officially became my girlfriend? It was the absolute happiest day of my entire existence. And tonight... tonight is going to become another day just like that."
Ronan let out a quiet, playful laugh, shifting slightly on the floor. "My knee is starting to hurt really bad now, so I better ask you quickly before I collapse."
Liora couldn't help but laugh through her tears, wiping her wet cheeks.
"So... Liora Miller," Ronan said, his voice dropping into an earnest, soul-stirring whisper as he looked up into his lover's eyes. "My love, my angel, my Bunny Angel... will you grant me the honor of taking care of you for the rest of my life? Will you stay by my side forever? Will you allow me to change your name to Liora Brown? Doesn't that sound absolutely beautiful? So, my angel... will you marry me?"
The moment the proposal left Ronan's lips, Liora couldn't hold back any longer. She dropped to her knees and threw herself into Ronan's arms, hugging him so tightly they both tumbled gently onto the carpet. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes as she buried her face into Ronan's neck.
"I-I can't marry you..." Liora sobbed out frantically into his skin.
Ronan froze instantly, his eyes widening in pure shock as panic surged through his chest. "What?! Why?!" he blurted out, his voice cracking as his heart shattered into a million pieces.
"I-I don't know if I can be a good wife to you, Ron!" Liora cried out, clinging to his shirt. "What if I'm not right for you? What if I just-"
"Shh... look at me, love." Ronan interrupted gently, cupping Liora's face in his large hands to force the girl to look at him. "You overthink everything, my sweet angel. Do you love me?"
Liora nodded furiously through her tears. "More than life itself!"
Ronan let out a breathless, relieved laugh, his thumb gently wiping away the tears streaming down Liora's cheeks. "Then just say yes, my love. All I will ever ask from you as my wife is your love, baby. I don't need anything else in this universe. Just give me your heart. So please, say yes... I didn't spend a whole week planning all of this just to hear a no." he teased, playfully pinching Liora's tear-stained cheek.
"So... will you marry me?" Ronan asked once more, his heart in his hands.
A breathtaking, radiant smile broke through Liora's tears as she nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course... yes! Yes, Rony~" Liora cried out softly, wrapping her arms around Ronan's neck again. "I already give you my entire heart and soul!"
Tears of pure happiness welled in Ronan's eyes as he pulled back slightly. With trembling, careful fingers, he slid the sparkling engagement ring onto Liora's finger. Smiling through her tears, Liora took the second matching ring from the velvet box and slid it seamlessly onto Ronan's finger.
For a long, lingering moment, the two of them simply sat together on the floor, gazes locked, lost in the depth of each other's eyes as tears of joy pooled on their cheeks.
Leaning in, Ronan captured Liora's lips in a slow, passionate kiss, a kiss filled with nothing but pure, unadulterated devotion, marking the beginning of their forever.
When they finally pulled back, resting their foreheads together, they stared into each other's shining eyes.
"I will never stop loving you, my angel." Ronan whispered softly.
"Me too, Rony," Liora smiled radiantly. "I love you forever."