Chapter 4

The moment the plane touched down, Sarah immediately unlocked her phone to notify Felicia.

Notifications popped up one after another in rapid succession.

"Make sure you don't use the VIP lane. Come out through Exit 2. Ryan and I are both here. Remember to pretend you don't suspect a thing so the surprise stays perfect."

The very last text had been sent three minutes ago. "My dear sister-in-law, we're waiting for you."

That title made Sarah's cheeks flush crimson in an instant.

She pressed her phone against her chest, smiling like a child who'd just been given a piece of candy. "She's already calling me her sister-in-law."

Standing behind her, I stared at those three words.

Seven years ago, when Felicia called me sister-in-law for the first time, Ryan had handed her a thick money envelope.

She had clung to me back then, refusing to let go and asking me to be her sister-in-law for the rest of her life.

Now, after just five years into our marriage, she had already scouted out a replacement to take my place.

The luggage carousel slowly began to turn.

Two identical white suitcases emerged one right after the other.

Smiling, Sarah slapped a little bear sticker onto hers. "There, we won't mix them up now. Once I'm married, I'll make him buy me a brand-new one."

I looked down at my own suitcase.

Inside were snacks and souvenirs I'd brought back from Saintford, along with a pair of palm-sized baby shoes.

I had bought those shoes right after leaving the hospital.

My original plan was to head home, set the shoes and the ultrasound report down right in front of Ryan, and tell him we were finally having a baby.

Now, that suitcase felt like it was carrying a joke meant for no one but me.

The walk from the arrival hall to Exit 2 was only a few hundred yards. Yet Sarah was growing noticeably more nervous with every step.

She smoothed her hair over and over, repeatedly asking me if her lipstick had smudged. "Ella, should I start crying right away or wait until he finishes proposing? I probably should hear him out first, right?"

I looked at her. "Yeah, hear him out first."

Because I wanted to hear it too; I wanted to hear what kind of forever Ryan was about to promise to another woman.

The closer we got to the exit, the thicker the scent of roses hung in the air.

Plenty of travelers slowed their pace, craning their necks toward the arrival gates.

Through the glass doors, I caught sight of a massive sea of red blossoms. Warm yellow lights hung right over the flower wall.

A few crew members were making final adjustments to their cameras.

Sarah suddenly grabbed my hand. "That's it over there!"

Her palm was burning hot.

My own hand, however, was as cold as ice.

As the automatic doors slid apart, a woman in a white knit dress immediately rushed over to greet us.

"Sarah!" Felicia spread her arms with a wide smile.

Sarah threw herself into the embrace. "I followed your instructions and came out through Exit 2. Hope I didn't mess up your plans?"

Felicia smiled as she tidied Sarah's hair. "Not at all. When you see Ryan in a minute, just remember to act like you don't know a thing."

Sarah nodded, beaming. "Don't worry. I've practiced it a dozen times."

Just as Felicia was about to reply, her gaze drifted over Sarah's shoulder and landed squarely on me.

The smile on her face froze instantly.

The hand that had just been resting on Sarah's shoulder slowly slid down.

"E-Ella?" Her voice was so faint it was barely audible.

Sarah turned around in surprise. "Wait, you two actually know each other?"

Felicia's lips twitched. She glanced at the flower wall behind her, then turned to me in a panic, her face growing paler by the second.

"We do," I said calmly. "We've known each other for many years."

Failing to pick up on the tension between us, Sarah only brightened up further. "What a small world! I met Ella on the plane, and she's been so sweet. I even asked her to help film the proposal video!"

Felicia lunged forward and grabbed my arm. "Ella, you must be exhausted after your flight. Let me get the driver to take you home first."

Her fingers clamped down hard around my skin, and her eyes were filled with pure desperation as she said, "Ryan really can't see you today. Whatever it is, let's talk about it tomorrow."

I looked down at her hand on my arm. "Didn't you say you were still at the office helping him handle the emergency?"

The last trace of color vanished from Felicia's face. "I… Ella, I can explain."

Sarah finally sensed that something was off. "Felicia, what's wrong? The proposal is about to start. You should go get ready."

Forcing a strained smile, Felicia pulled Sarah's arm, trying to usher her toward the side. "There are too many people here. Let's head around through the side entrance."

"But the flower wall is right over there." Sarah pulled her arm free. "Besides, Ella isn't feeling well. Don't make her take the long way around."

She linked her arm through mine once more, guiding me directly toward the display of flowers.

Felicia stepped up to block our path.

"Sarah, wait a second!" Her voice suddenly pitched higher, drawing curious glances from the crowd around us.

Right then, music began to swell from behind the flower wall. The crew members quickly backed away to clear the area.

Nervous, Sarah clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears.

Felicia, however, stood rooted to the spot as she stared behind the wall in sheer horror.

A familiar figure slowly stepped out from the sea of red roses.

Ryan was wearing his black suit. In his hand, he held a deep blue ring box.

He lowered his head to adjust his cuffs with a gentle smile at the corners of his mouth.

Applause and cheers erupted from the crowd around them.

Overcome with excitement, Sarah took a step toward him.

And at that exact moment, Ryan looked up.

Across the roses, the shimmering lights, and the bustling crowd, his eyes met mine.