Exactly a weekter, the hospital doors opened wide, and Ruby stepped out into the sunlight for the first time since the fire.

    The breeze carried the scent of fresh air, but it did little to ease the heaviness in her chest. She clutched Stefan''s arm, leaning into his steady strength as though he were the only thing keeping her upright.

    Her body was healing, but her heart… that was another matter. The loss of their child was a shadow that followed her everywhere.

    There were moments when she caught herself touching her stomach, expecting to feel the flutter of happiness she always felt within — only for the pain of the truth she knew to crush her all over again.

    Still, she was learning. Learning to breathe through the ache, to take each hour as it came. It was all she could do.

    Stefan, Elizabeth, Rayna, and Ethan nked her protectively as they made their way home. Their presence was a constantfort, but it was Stefan''s hand holding hers—warm, firm, and unyielding—that anchored her most.

    When they reached Stefan''s house, Ruby hesitated at the door. Something about the air felt… different. She knew it wasn''t going to be the same again, but she''d try to live past the pain.

    Sighing deeply, she followed Stefan''s lead and stepped inside.

    What she saw made her stop, her breath catching in her throat.

    The living room in front of her wasn''t the one she used to know. It was different.

    The entire living room had been transformed. Candles lined the tables, their mes flickering softly. Rose petals were scattered across the floor like a carpet leading her deeper into the room. Strands of fairy lights twinkled overhead, and in the center, a small arch had been set up, draped with white fabric and flowers.

    It wasn''t just rearranged. It was decorated. Her heart skipped when she saw that rose petals had been arranged to form three words—MARRY ME, RUBY.

    Ruby''s hand flew to her mouth. She turned, her wide eyesnding on Stefan. "Stefan… what is this?" she asked, even though it was obvious.

    It was a proposal. One she never would''ve expected at a time like this.

    He had been skeptical about the whole proposal, especially since she was still hurt about their losing their child, but Rayna and the rest had told him it was the best decision. At least, the wedding ns would keep her mind off it.

    Stefan looked at her and his lips curved into the faintest, nervous smile. And then, right there in front of her, he dropped down onto one knee.

    Ruby''s breath hitched, her heart thundering as tears welled instantly in her eyes.

    Stefan''s voice trembled at first, but quickly steadied with the raw sincerity pouring out of him.

    "When you came into my life, Ruby, I was blind. I didn''t know who you really were. I didn''t know that the woman standing beside me wasn''t the one I had thought I loved and married. Even when I regained my sight, I hadn''t recognized you with my eyes. But when you left…" His voice broke slightly, his eyes glistening. "When you left, I felt like a huge part of me had left, too. I had wondered what it was and why my heart ached watching you cry that day at the hospital until I finally understood. It was then that I realized I had never truly known what love was until you.

    "Those six months with you — they changed me. You showered me with so much love and care I was never used to. I felt love like I never thought possible. I spent weeks searching for you, desperate to find you. And when I finally did, I found not just you, but another little one on the way. A child we both loved before we even met her." His voice faltered, and he pressed a trembling hand over his chest. "But fate took her from us. And it made me realize something else: I don''t want to waste another second not being your husband. I had wanted to propose to you earlier so we could get married in two weeks while you were still pregnant. But now, now, I have another reason. I don''t just want to marry you because you became pregnant. I want to marry you because I can''t live without you and I want to stand by your side as your husband.

    "Please, Ruby. Let me be by your side — not just as the man you love, but as your husband. Let me mourn our child with you, as one. Let me face every storm, every sunrise, and every moment with you, as your husband."

    His voice dropped into a raw whisper, full of devotion and love. "Please, Ruby… marry me."

    Tears streamed down Ruby''s cheeks, her hand trembling as she covered her mouth. Her heart ached with grief, but it also soared with love. Stefan''s voice has been filled with so much love that if an onlooker had heard him, they would''ve known that Stefan''s love—the love he shared with Ruby—was real and true. They were each other''s soulmates.

    Her lips parted, her voice shaking. "I thought you were already one with me. No one would jump into the fire for someone they didn''t consider their other half."

    He smiled through his tears, shaking his head. "I know. But I want to make it legal and be sure it''s not one-sided. And if it''s not as I already know, I want the whole world to know you''re mine, and I''m yours. Always."

    Rubyughed softly through her tears, her chest tight with love.

    "So?" Stefan asked with a smile, waiting to hear her answer.

    "Yes," she whispered, her voice breaking with the raw emotion she was feeling. "Yes, I''ll marry you."

    A sob escaped Stefan''s throat as he slipped the diamond ring onto her finger. Then, with a grin that broke through his tears, he pulled out a small box from behind him.

    "Congrattions to you, soon to be Mrs Winters," he said, his voice warm with excitement. "You now officially own your own ce. And everything you''d ever need to finally start the event nning business you''ve always wanted. Workers included."

    Ruby blinked, thenughed through her tears. "Are you sure you hadn''t wasted money and effort?" she asked in a teasing tone and thenughed when Stefan looked at her in confusion. "I guess you forgot that I''m an heiress now. Even if it''s to a dyingpany."

    The room burst intoughter — Ethan pping Stefan on the back, Rayna wiping her eyes while shaking her head in disbelief, and Elizabeth smiling so wide her cheeks glistened with tears.

    "True," Stefan chuckled, his gaze locked adoringly on Ruby. "I almost forgot. But that doesn''t change the fact that I want you to do something you love. And this way, you don''t have to wait for anyone''s permission to shine. You can always run both or better still, we can do a merger between the twopanies," he added with a wink.

    Ruby pressed the keys to her chest, overwhelmed with joy and love. Her eyes sparkled through her tears as she whispered, "Thank you."

    Everyone pped and cheered softly, their hearts full as they watched the couple embrace.

    Elizabeth sniffled, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "Well," she said, her voice thick but happy, "it looks like we have a wedding to n."

    The room filled withughter again, warm and bright, cutting through the shadows of sorrow that once covered them.

    And for the first time since the fire, Ruby felt something she thought she had lost forever.

    Hope.

    Stefan watched her, and he couldn''t be happier that he''d taken their advice.