Chapter 8 - The Real Proposal
Two months later, the scandal had completely died down.
Life at the penthouse had become a beautiful, chaotic normal.
It was a Saturday morning.
I was in the kitchen making pancakes, listening to Mia giggle from the living room.
Adrian was supposed to be reading the financial times.
Instead, he was on the floor, wearing a custom Brioni suit, letting Mia put butterfly hair clips in his dark hair.
"You look very pretty, Daddy," Mia announced proudly.
My heart skipped a beat.
She had started calling him Daddy a few weeks ago.
The first time she said it, Adrian had actually cried. Just one tear, quickly wiped away, but I saw it.
"Thank you, princess," Adrian said seriously. "I feel very pretty."
He caught me watching them from the kitchen.
He gently untangled himself from Mia's hair salon and walked over to me.
He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"Pancakes smell good," he murmured, kissing my neck.
"You have a pink butterfly in your hair, Mr. CEO," I laughed.
"It's a power move. Asserts dominance."
He turned me around in his arms.
His eyes were serious, filled with a warmth I never thought I'd see from him.
"Lily."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a different velvet box.
Not the massive, flashy heirloom ring from the fake engagement.
This one was simple, elegant, and perfectly me. A beautiful oval diamond on a thin gold band.
He got down on one knee right there in the kitchen.
Mia gasped and ran over, clutching her stuffed elephant.
"Lily, two months ago, we made a deal to save each other."
"But you didn't just save my company. You saved my life."
"You brought light into a world that was completely dark."
"You gave me a family."
He looked at Mia, then back at me.
"I don't want contracts. I don't want pretend."
"I want you. Forever."
"Will you marry me? For real this time?"
Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't even speak.
I just nodded furiously, throwing my arms around his neck.
"Yes," I sobbed into his shoulder. "Yes, of course."
Adrian stood up, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around.
He kissed me, a promise of forever sealed in the morning light.
"Group hug!" Mia yelled, throwing her arms around our legs.
Adrian laughed—that real, deep, helpless laugh that had started this whole crazy journey.
He scooped Mia up in one arm, holding me tightly with the other.
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My six-year-old had proposed to my billionaire boss.
And thank God, he said yes.
