106 – Zander POV
I hug him.
Tight. Too tight.
I can't help it—relief floods through my entire body, like my bones are finally breathing after holding everything in for so long. I bury my face in his neck, clutching him close. I feel him hugging me back, just as tightly.
For months—months—I've been terrified. What if he said no? What if I ruined this? What if I pushed too soon? What if he wasn't ready?
And now... he said yes.
He said yes.
I pull back just enough to kiss him—firm, quick, almost frantic. Then I pull away again and hug him all over, like I still can't believe he's real.
I love him so much. Too much. It almost hurts.
I pull away and cup his face between my hands, staring into those eyes that undo me every time.
"Thank you," I breathe.
He sniffs, blinking fast.
I can't stay still. I grab his hand and drag him out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. I make him sit on the bed. "Stay."
I rush back to the bathroom—nearly trip over my own feet—grab the little velvet box and sprint back like a madman.
Heart pounding in my chest, I drop to one knee in front of him. No hesitation this time. No chickening out.
I look up into his face—his flushed cheeks, damp lashes—and I let it all pour out:
"Ivan Orlov... I love you."
Deep breath.
"Since you came into my life... a life that was dull and cold... it's been full of color. Full of light. Full of you. Before I met you, I didn't believe in fate, or destiny, or any of that nonsense. But now—I do. Because I believe you are my fate."
I swallow. My hands tremble a little as I hold the box.
"I want to wake up every day of my life next to you. I want to call you my husband. I want the whole world to know you're mine—that I'm yours. I want to see the way your eyes sparkle in the sun for the rest of my life. And—" I smile faintly, heart twisting, "—those eyes of yours... you've made me a terrible actor, you know. I can't hide anything from you. You see right through me."
Ivan lets out a small, wet laugh.
I press on, voice shaking but sure.
"I don't deserve you. But I'm selfish enough to say—I'm never letting you go."
He sniffles again, knuckling at his eyes. I feel my own eyes sting, but I keep going.
"I love everything about you. The way you sing off-key in the shower—" another soft laugh from him "—and yes, I want us to duet those pop songs I secretly like for the rest of our lives.
I can't imagine living without you anymore. I think... the day you left my tie, you must've taken my heart with you."
He presses a hand over his mouth, eyes glistening.
"I swear," I say, voice rough now, "to make you happy. Every single day. For the rest of our lives."
He lets out a shaky breath.
"This is why I wanted a private proposal," he croaks, voice wobbly. "I'm such an ugly crier."
I can barely hold it together. I reach out, trembling, and take his right hand gently in mine.
"Not ugly," I whisper. "Never."
I blink away my own tears as I slide the ring onto his finger—careful, reverent, my whole body shaking.
Then I rise to my feet.
I cup his face again, wiping away the tears running down his cheeks with my thumbs.
"No, my beautiful Prince," I murmur, voice low and raw. "Even like this... you're so beautiful."
His breath hitches, and he pulls me down into his arms.
And I know—I will spend the rest of my life keeping this promise.