Chapter Eighteen: Second Proposal

The apartment was eerily quiet.

Lia stood at the window, arms folded, the city lights casting soft reflections against the glass. Her thoughts swirled like a storm, unpredictable and loud. Damien hadn't come home the night before. Not that he owed her anything anymore. Not after everything. And yet, her heart ached with the same dull throb she'd fought to silence since the day she walked away.

But now, after the scandal, after the betrayal from her uncle, after Damien had stood by her like no one else ever had, things were different. Everything was different.

A soft knock at the door broke her thoughts.

She turned, wary. Gloria wouldn't knock. Neither would her mother. She stepped toward it slowly, her heart inexplicably speeding up.

When she opened the door, Damien stood there. Not in his usual polished suit, but in a soft sweater and dark jeans. His hair looked slightly tousled by the wind, and he was holding something behind his back.

"You left the door locked," he said quietly, his voice rougher than usual. "You never lock it."

"Maybe I wanted to keep you out," she said, folding her arms again.

He gave a wry smile. "Maybe you did. But I came anyway."

She didn't move, didn't speak, just stared at him. Damien shifted, revealing what he'd been hiding, a small velvet box.

Lia's breath caught.

"You already proposed once," she whispered, her throat tight.

"That wasn't a proposal," he said, stepping closer. "That was business. This is me, no contracts, no stakes, no corporate leverage. Just me... asking you."

Her eyes dropped to the box. He opened it slowly, revealing a delicate diamond ring that shimmered under the warm hallway lights.

"Lia Morgan, I love you. I think I've loved you for a while, but I was too stubborn to admit it. Too scared to see that what we had became something real. You walked into my life and shattered every wall I built. You challenged me. You made me better. I want to spend the rest of my life proving I deserve you."

Lia blinked back tears. Her chest rose and fell as emotion welled up, thick and overwhelming.

"Why now?" she asked, her voice breaking. "Why after everything?"

Damien stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Because I almost lost you. And it took everything crumbling for me to see what truly mattered. The scandal, your family's betrayal, everything... none of it matters more than you."

She looked down at the ring again. It was simple but elegant, nothing like the extravagant one from their first 'engagement.' This wasn't about status. This was him. Raw. Honest.

"And if I say no?" she asked.

"Then I'll wait," he said simply. "I'll wait until you believe I mean this. Until you trust me again. Because, Lia, there is no version of my future without you in it."

Silence settled between them. The kind of silence that wasn't empty but full of emotion.

Finally, she took a shaky breath. "I'm scared."

"So am I."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"Then we figure it out together."

Lia reached for the ring, her fingers brushing against the velvet. She didn't take it yet. Instead, she looked at him. Deeply. Searching his eyes for any trace of hesitation. There was none.

"I never imagined falling in love with someone like you," she said.

"Good," he murmured, stepping closer. "Because you didn't fall. You fought it. You clawed and kicked and cursed me to hell and back before you even let me see a sliver of the real you. And I fell for that woman."

Her eyes welled with more tears. "You're a jerk."

"A jerk who loves you."

She laughed through her tears. "God, Damien."

"Say yes. Or maybe just say you'll try. Say something."

She nodded slowly. "I... I'll try."

His smile was soft and slow, a rare thing that made her stomach twist.

He took the ring and slid it onto her finger. It fit perfectly. She stared at it, then at him.

"It's not just a symbol," he said. "It's a promise. No contracts. No games. Just us."

Lia stepped into his arms and buried her face in his chest. Damien wrapped his arms around her tightly, like he was never letting go.

And she didn't want him to.

Later that evening, as they sat curled together on the couch, Gloria brought in mugs of tea. Her eyes twinkled as she placed them on the table.

"So... will I be planning another wedding?" she asked casually.

Damien looked at Lia. "It'll be real this time. No press. No deals. Just us."

Lia smiled. "And maybe just cake. Lots of cake."

Gloria chuckled. "I can arrange that."

The next morning, Ethan arrived.

He looked between the two of them, noting the ring on Lia's finger with a raised brow.

"So this is happening again?"

"No," Damien corrected. "This time, it's starting."

Ethan smirked. "Then I'll hold off on drawing up any contracts."

"Good," Lia said. "Because if I ever see one again, I might scream."

Damien laughed, pulling her closer. "She means it."

That evening, Vanessa Hart showed up at Damien's office.

"I saw the news," she said without greeting. "You proposed again."

"Yes," Damien replied coolly. "This time, it's not a performance."

"And you really love her?"

"I do."

Vanessa swallowed, her pride clearly wounded. "Then I suppose I should stop waiting."

Damien nodded. "You should."

She looked away for a moment. "Then I wish you the best, Damien."

He didn't respond. She didn't wait. And that chapter finally, mercifully, closed.

As Damien returned home that night, he found Lia on the balcony, sipping wine and staring at the skyline.

"Didn't think I'd find you here," he said.

She turned. "And miss this view? Never."

He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Ready to face whatever comes next?"

"Only if you're beside me."

He kissed the side of her neck, then whispered, "Always."

And for the first time, Lia believed him completely.