“I want her in my arms for the rest of my life,” Archer said, his voice low but unwavering. “I want her with me for every birthday, every holiday—every minute and every second I’m alive. I want her standing behind me, under my protection, never again hurt, never again made to suffer.”“That girl’s name is Aria Jackson.”He paused, his dark eyes locking on hers. “Aria… will you marry me?”Aria’s throat tightened until she couldn’t speak. She had never known—never even imagined—that he had loved her for this long.What kind of man loves a woman so deeply, for so many years, without ever wavering? What kind of man works quietly, patiently, doing everything in his power just for the chance to be with her one day?It was as if he had been weaving a net, thread by fine thread, expanding it wider and wider until it was big enough to draw her back to him.If it had been anyone else, the thought might have frightened her. But because it was Archer, she only felt an overwhelming sense of i
“What is—?” Aria began, startled, but before she could finish, Archer was already leading her inside the church.It was empty, the long rows of pews stretching out beneath the solemn gaze of the Virgin Mary. The space felt vast, still, and almost sacred.He didn’t stop until they reached the very front. When he turned to face her, his expression was so serious that the already sharp lines of his face seemed even more commanding.“I insisted on bringing you out tonight because I thought maybe you’d forgotten today was my birthday,” he said. “But the truth is, I already prepared my own birthday gift.”Aria’s breath caught. Somewhere deep down, she already sensed what he was about to do—what he wanted to say.Yes.They might already have a marriage certificate, but they’d skipped so many steps. The dating. The proposal.She froze as he reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a small, elegant box. Her heart pounded, but then she noticed—he actually looked more nervous than sh
Right now, all Archer wanted was to spend his birthday with Aria. Without her beside him, that deep, unfamiliar loneliness he’d never felt before would creep in and wrap around him.That was why, no matter what, he had insisted on bringing her along. Even if she had truly forgotten the date, he wouldn’t have reminded her. Just having her there was enough.And besides, he already knew exactly what he wanted for his own birthday.He laced his fingers through hers, his fingertips resting on the back of her hand, and tightened his grip. “Come closer.”She thought he had something to tell her, so she leaned forward. The table between them was narrow; just a slight movement brought her to the middle, close enough that she could almost cross into his side.Archer gave her hand a gentle tug. His other hand came up to cradle the back of her head, and with the slightest lean forward, he pressed his lips to hers.Aria trembled. Her fingers, which had been resting lightly on the back of his
The soft notes of the violin wove seamlessly with her voice, the two sounds drifting together in a slow, lilting harmony.The two tables of guests who had been sipping wine and speaking in low tones fell silent, turning to watch Aria. More customers came in, but some, afraid to interrupt, stopped at the doorway and stayed there. Others slowed their steps, their eyes fixed on her as they quietly made their way to their seats.A waiter guiding new guests even raised a hand in a subtle gesture, urging them not to disturb her.Aria’s gaze never left Archer. Still singing, she walked toward him until she was standing at his table.Archer rose slowly to his feet, his heartbeat quickening with every step she took. In front of so many strangers, she was singing a love song just for him. Her cheeks were flushed a deep pink, her shyness clear, but she kept going—her voice soft, warm, and meant only for him.She looked up at him, her eyes gentle and full of light.When the last note left he
Archer thought about calling Aria to ask what she was up to, but after picking up his phone, he set it back down.He remembered how strange she’d been the day before. While he was at the office, he’d called the hotel room to check on her, but no one answered. When he finally got her on her cell, she admitted she’d gone out alone again. When he asked where she was, she brushed him off with some vague excuse. Even Christina had no idea what she was really doing.Mysterious. Too mysterious. And he had no clue what she was hiding.It took nearly an hour for the car to reach the restaurant.When Archer stepped out, he saw Aria standing at the entrance in a knee-length dress with a light jacket draped over her shoulders. Her silky hair fell down her back, and the moment she spotted him, her dark, clear eyes lit up. She gave him a soft, almost shy smile—one filled with nothing but affection.For a second, Archer froze. That pure focus in her gaze… the way it held only him… it made it imp
“It’s fine. While I was out earlier, I saw plenty of little restaurants along the street. They had so much charm—tiny round tables set up outside, a few people gathered around each one, just sitting and chatting so leisurely. It made me really want to try one.”They strolled aimlessly until they picked a restaurant at random. The weather in France was warm that evening, with no wind, and most people chose to dine outdoors. The street view, paired with the city’s artistic architecture, made the whole place feel like a scene from a painting.Aria also opted for a table outside. She ordered two steaks, and while they waited, she watched the locals. Some had a few beers, others clinked champagne glasses, their conversations low and unhurried. Even though every table was full, there was no loud chatter—just a calm, pleasant hum in the air.Unlike the quick service back home, the pace here was glacial. It was nearly an hour before their food arrived. The presentation was beautiful: steak