The car pulled up at Grand Duke Hotel, its night lights dazzling, a scenery that lifted her heart.

A guard came over and pulled the door open for her, with a curt bow. Taking a deep breath she stepped down, her gaze swept the hotel's surrounding.

She walked through the lobby which was unexpectedly too quiet as though the hotel was out of guests.

"Welcome ma'am." The receptionist greeted, her gaze brimming with admiration and a touch of emotion Jessica couldn't place.

"Thank you," she muttered with a curt nod while she made her way towards the elevator.

Surprisingly, a guard stood by the elevator. Seeing her approach, he bowed respectfully pressing the elevator door.

Standing quietly in the elevator, Jessica's gaze trained on the number as the elevator ascended, her grip tightening slightly on the clutch in her hand, her heart raced with trepidation.

She had expected it was just a simple dinner date but as she drew near to the venue, she couldn't help the emotions swirling in her heart.

While her thoughts swirled, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open to the top floor of the Grand Duke Hotel, its hallway silent.

Jessica took a deep steadying breath and stepped into the hallway glimmering with neon lights seemingly to be intentionally arranged, flower vases arranged on both sides of the hallway as though it was a pathway through a garden.

A few feet away from the elevator, a guard stood waiting. Seeing her step out of the elevator, he came forward. "Welcome Ma'am." He greeted with a slight bow.

Jessica gave him a once-over look and nodded lightly, she could already guess his purpose.

"This way, Ma'am," he said and spurned on his heels, Jessica falling in step beside. Her heel clicked softly on the marbled floor as she walked through the path of flowers.

While they walked, her lips parted severally to ask a few questions bothering her heart but she schooled her mind to keep calm.

The guard stopped at a door, his hand tightened on the doorknob and he pushed it open with a slight bow.

Jessica stepped through the door and her gaze narrowed. She had expected a quiet evening at most, a private dinner but the sight before her took her breath away.

The entire hall had been transformed, the feeling elegant yet intimate. Soft dimmed lights from golden chandeliers illuminated the hall creating dark shadows of the other things in the hall.

A slow melodious music playing from a background filtered through the hall. Different flowers carefully arranged in sections.

Scattered rose petals traced a path from the entrance to the table then around the table, leading toward the open center of the hall where a single spotlight waited.

A single table for two, encircled by candles floating in glass bowls of water. Flowers arranged at both sides of the table.

A transparent floor-to-ceiling window with the city's skyline sparkling like scattered jewels against the night.

Beyond the windows, fairy lights framed the view, blurring the line between the world inside and the starlit sky outside, giving a view of the night stars.

Jessica stood frozen, her heart thumping hard and wild. Her lips parted but no word.

"Babe," Davis called as he stepped forward to meet her.

Jessica's lips parted. "Davis… this is…"

Davis shrugged, his gaze traveling back into the hall. "A date," he answered smoothly, offering his hand. "And you're the guest of honor."

He had been here all through the day making sure to keep things perfect. He had been the one to plan and finalize every little detail of the arrangement by himself…a feat he was proud to achieve.

Jessica's heart raced as he led her to their table. She hadn't seen this side of him before. She didn't expect he could still be romantic.

Davis pulled the chair out for her as she settled down, he leaned beside her plastering a feather kiss on her cheek. "You look beautiful tonight," he said.

With her life all about work, Davis had chosen this gown with sheer purpose to see her look seductive and enchanting.

He returned to his seat and settled down opposite her. Their gaze locked.

"When… did you…plan this?" she stuttered. She was already certain it had taken his time and fortune but when or how she wasn't sure.

"As long as you're happy, the time doesn't matter," he replied.

She smiled lightly. "I am happy," she muttered.

His lips curved faintly, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. "I'm glad you are."

"You booked the entire…" she asked, letting her question trail off.

Davis glanced at her and shrugged his shoulders.

As the waiters set out the tables. "Let's eat," he said.

The rest of the dinner unfolded like a dream. Each course was brought in by waiters in white gloves: exquisite dishes, fine wines, several main courses with varieties of flavors she couldn't name but adored.

When dessert was cleared, Davis rose slowly. Jessica frowned. "Anything?"

Instead of answering, he extended his hand toward her. "Dance with me."

Her cheeks flushed red, his words echoing in her mind. "Dance?" she muttered silently.

"I have always hoped to, even when I was sitting on that chair. Can you fulfill this wish?" His voice was soft and calm.

Jessica nodded, she stood up placing her hand in his as he led towards the spotlight. The music shifted to soft romantic beats.

His other arm slipped gently around her waist, and together they moved to the rhythm of the music. Their shadows, a tall silhouette swayed gently in synchrony with their steps.

The city skyline glittered beyond the glass walls of the hall.

Jessica felt her heart stumble and butterflies in her belly. The closeness, the softness in his eyes, it was all so unlike the Davis Allen the world knew.

Then suddenly, the music slowed almost to a stop, the lights dimmed and brightened revealing the ethereal beauty of the hall.

The LCD in the hall flickered to life, the shift in the atmosphere startling her, leaving her stumped and breathless.

Her gaze hurriedly traveled around the hall and narrowed as she noticed the red dots of cameras flickering to life.

Her gaze snapped to Davis. "What…what's going on with the cameras?"

A soft smile crossed Davis's lips, his hand gently taking hers. "Babe, I just hope the world could witness this moment," he said quietly.

Jessica's eyes widened. "What…what witness?" she stuttered, her gaze trained on Davis but the whirring sound at the end of the hall caught her attention.

Her gaze snapped towards the screen, as short clips of their life together right from the time Davis was in the wheelchair played out one after another.

Jessica's hand clenched tightly at her side, she had come for a date, only to be thrown into revealing memories they had together, her eyes stung, she never expected they could go this far.

Retracting her gaze from the screen to speak to Davis, she stiffened at the sight before her.

Davis was on one knee, an unopened box in his hand, she quickly retracted her gaze.

Her breath caught, her heart thumping so hard. Questions warring inside her mind. "It can't be what I am thinking of right?" she mused.

She glanced around the hall only to notice the large billboard outside broadcasting their live footage. "Not good. Not good," she screamed in her head.

But with the scene displayed in a live broadcast, she schooled herself to take calm steadying breaths.

"Babe," his voice boomed through hidden speakers, steady and powerful as he opened a velvet box, the diamond ring within catching the light like captured fire.

His gaze fixed on her despite the watching world. "I have no words to express this…through thick and thin you've been there…. Even when I was lost, rejected and abandoned, you were bold enough to step in, stayed…with me, fought my battles… became my doctor, my guard…my best friend. Together we pushed through the tide….You saw me when no one else dared. You are the only woman who makes me want to be more than I am."

Jessica's breath hitched, tears pricking her eyes. Her gaze resting on him was unwavering. The fear of live broadcast faded into the background.

Davis held the ring higher. "Jessica, will you marry me?...This time.. not forced by parents, not coerced by…uncles, not blackmailed by duties but just by choice?"

Her hands trembled as she covered her mouth not to cry, her emotions overwhelming.

She didn't care who was watching anymore. She only saw Davis, the man kneeling before her, the man who had succeeded in changing her fears, the man who had proved he could let go of all he had just for her, who had stripped away his armor in front of the entire world.

"Yes," she whispered at first, then louder, her voice breaking. "Yes, Davis. I'll marry you."

Davis carefully slipped the ring onto her finger before standing up to pull her into his arms.

Applause erupted instantly, the musicians, the staff, the small invited audience she hadn't realized when they came in.

A burst of colorful fireworks tore through the sky but she had her face buried in his chest, her tears falling freely.

Davis softly patted her back. "Thanks for choosing me again," he muttered.