Chapter 13 - Proposals in the Light Z
By late autumn, the leaves across the Whitaker estate had turned brilliant shades of crimson, gold, and orange. The mansion, once cold and austere, was now filled with life. The art room upstairs was covered in the girls' colorful paintings, the kitchen was constantly filled with the scent of fresh baking, and my work schedule was strictly bounded by family dinners and weekend outings.
I had spent two months planning this night.
Mateo had helped me secure a private reservation at the roof garden of the city's most iconic conservatory—the very place where Madeline and I had once attended charity galas years ago. But tonight wasn't about memory or grief. It was about honor, closure, and building a new future.
The conservatory was illuminated by thousands of fairy lights woven through exotic tropical plants. The skyline of Chicago stretched out beneath us in a sea of sparkling lights.
Clara wore an elegant emerald green evening dress that complemented her eyes perfectly. She looked breathtaking.
"Ethan, this place is unbelievable," Clara said, walking over to the glass balcony railing and looking out at the city below. "What are we celebrating? The closing of the Whitaker-Apex restructuring deal?"
"No," I said, walking up behind her and wrapping my arms gently around her waist. "We aren't celebrating business tonight."
She leaned back against my chest, smiling up at me. "Then what are we celebrating?"
I turned her around gently so she was facing me. I took both of her hands in mine.
"Two years ago, I thought my life was effectively over," I began, my voice soft but filled with deep emotion. "I was surviving, but I wasn't living. I was raising two daughters I didn't know how to reach, hiding behind work and money because I was terrified of facing my own failure as a father."
Clara’s eyes softened, her thumb lightly stroking the back of my hand.
"And then you walked through my front door," I continued. "You didn't bow to my authority, you didn't care about my money, and you didn't let me hide. You sat on the floor with my daughters when they were sad. You listened to their nightmares when everyone else gave them medication and invoices. You saw them. And... you saw me."
Tears began to pool in Clara’s eyes. "Ethan..."
"You fought for my family when monsters tried to break into our home," I said, pulling a small, velvet box from my jacket pocket. "You gave us our lives back. And there isn't a single day that goes by where I don't thank God that you stayed when you could have walked away."
I dropped down onto one knee on the marble terrace floor. Clara gasped, covering her mouth with both hands as tears spilled over her cheeks.
I opened the velvet box, revealing a custom-designed ring featuring a flawless brilliant-cut diamond set in a band of braided rose gold—symbolizing strength, protection, and eternal devotion.
"Clara Bennett," I said, looking up into the eyes of the woman I loved with all my heart. "Will you do me the absolute honor of becoming my wife? Will you make this family complete?"
Clara didn't hesitate for a single second. She dropped to her knees right beside me on the terrace floor, threw her arms around my neck, and kissed me deeply.
May you like
"Yes!" she sobbed happily against my lips. "Yes, Ethan! A thousand times yes!"
I slipped the ring onto her finger, pulling her close into an embrace as the city lights sparkled beneath us. For the first time in my life, I felt completely whole.
