CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Five Years Later

The sun was golden, the sky clear, and soft music floated over the garden as Ethan adjusted the cuffs of his suit jacket for the fifth time.

"You look like you might throw up," Leo teased, nudging him.

"Thanks," Ethan muttered, grinning despite himself. "It's just... she's everything."

Standing nearby, Alina smoothed her lavender dress and smiled. "And you waited long enough. It's about time you married her."

"Yeah," Ethan said, glancing toward the end of the aisle where his bride—Sophie, Alina's closest college friend—waited with the kind of smile that said she'd waited her whole life for this moment too.

The ceremony was perfect.

Vows were whispered with tearful smiles, rings slipped on trembling fingers, and when Ethan kissed Sophie, the entire garden erupted in cheers.

Later, during the reception, laughter filled the air. The trio—Ethan, Alina, and Leo—danced, talked, and toasted to everything that had led them there.

Then came the bouquet toss.

"Ready, ladies?" Sophie called, bouquet held high.

Alina laughed, standing with the group, hands raised half-heartedly.

Sophie tossed it—and it sailed through the air, straight into Leo's hands.

The crowd roared with laughter.

Leo turned, stunned, holding the flowers like they were on fire. He caught Alina's eyes.

Then, without waiting, he crossed the dance floor, got down on one knee, and pulled a small velvet box from his jacket.

Gasps filled the garden.

"Alina," he said, voice shaking only a little, "I've loved you through every storm, every scar, and every sunrise. Will you marry me?"

Her hands flew to her mouth, tears already falling.

"Yes," she whispered, then louder, "Yes!"

The cheers were deafening.

The next afternoon, the four of them sat at a quiet rooftop café, sunlight spilling across the table as they shared lunch.

Ethan held Sophie's hand. Leo poured coffee. Alina rested her head on Leo's shoulder for a moment, smiling softly.

"Do you remember the balcony?" Alina asked.

"The noodles," Leo added. "The night I told you everything."

Ethan chuckled. "The first time I caught you two looking at each other like idiots."

They all laughed.

Sophie smiled gently. "You've all been through hell. But look where you are now."

Ethan raised his glass. "To the ones we lost, to the love we found, and to the family we chose."

They clinked glasses, and in that golden moment, nothing else mattered.

Love had won.

Healing had come.

And the future was theirs.