Chapter 53 IF YOU LIKE IT AND YOU WANT IT…

Chapter 53 IF YOU LIKE IT AND YOU WANT IT…
The address Rowan gave me was for this hidden garden that looked like it was pulled straight off a Pinterest board. It was exactly 6:00 PM—peak golden hour—and my heart was doing a full-on cardio workout.

I pushed open the heavy gates, and honestly, my jaw dropped.

The vibe was immaculate.

There was a trail of white rose petals leading to this massive willow tree covered in fairy lights.

Hundreds of candles were flickering in glass lanterns, making the whole place look like a dream.

In the center of it all was Rowan. He wasn't wearing his usual stiff CEO suit; he looked relaxed, soft, and so handsome it was actually kind of rude.

As I walked toward him, I was already starting to cry. My eyes were blurry, and my legs felt like Jello. He reached out and took my hands, and I could feel his fingers shaking just a little bit. That was when I knew.

"Althea," he said, his voice sounding thick with emotion. "When I was waiting outside that ICU door, I realized that a life without you isn't a life I want to live.

I don’t want to just 'try' again. I want to build everything with you. I want the morning coffee, the late-night talks, and every single moment in between."

Before I could even process what was happening, he dropped to one knee. He pulled out a velvet box, and inside was a diamond so big it probably had its own zip code. It was sparkling so hard it was almost blinding.

"Will you marry me? For real this time?"
I couldn't even breathe. I was full-on sobbing—the happy, messy kind where you don't even care if your mascara is running. "Yes! Yes, oh my god, yes! I’ll marry you!"

Rowan stood up, slid the ring onto my finger, and pulled me into a hug that felt like finally coming home. But then, the bushes behind us basically exploded.

"SHE SAID YES!" Rose screamed, jumping out with her phone camera pointed right at us.
My mom and Rosa followed right behind her, cheering and crying.

They had been hiding there the whole time! I was shocked, but honestly, I should have known they’d be lurking. Mom hugged me so hard I could smell her expensive perfume, her face soaked with tears.

"My baby is finally getting her happy ending," she sobbed. She told me that she and Dad had already given Rowan their full blessing. Even though Dad couldn't fly in physically, he was apparently on standby by the phone, waiting for the "mission accomplished" text.

By the time we got back to the house, the "proposal glow" was still there, but my mom was already shifting gears.

If you know my mom, you know she has two modes: "Sweet Mother" and "CEO of Everything."
"Okay, listen up," she said, wiping her eyes and pulling out her iPad.

"We have the wedding of the century to plan. I’m not playing around. I live for this stuff! I love weddings, and yours is going to be a literal cultural moment. People will be talking about this for years."

She was already scrolling through a list of names that looked like the VIP guest list for the Met Gala. "I know the absolute best wedding planner in the game.

She’s exclusive, she’s expensive, and she’s a genius. I’m going to make sure she handles everything."

Two days later, my phone buzzed with a group FaceTime. It was Mom, and she looked way too hyped for a Tuesday morning.

"Darlings, I have the best news!" she chirped, her screen filled with fabric swatches. "I finally got in touch with that elite wedding planner I told you about—JC.

She’s officially on board! It cost a literal fortune to book her on such short notice, but who cares? My baby girl is getting married! You both need to come over tomorrow so you can meet her and start the vision boards."

She blew a kiss to the camera before I could even say a word. "Also, Althea baby, I’m having the cook make that double-layered chocolate cake you’re obsessed with. See you tomorrow, love you, bye!"

The next morning, the sun was barely up when I heard a knock on my door.

I opened it to find Rowan looking way too awake and handsome for 8:00 AM. He was leaning against the doorframe with a coffee in each hand and a huge smirk on his face.

"Good morning, future Mrs. Pierce," he teased, handing me my latte.
I scoffed, grabbing my bag and my shoes.

"Actually, I think I’m keeping my last name. 'Mrs. Pierce' sounds like the name of a mean principal in a movie. It’s way too wicked for me."

Rowan let out a dramatic gasp. "Wow, wow, wow. The ring hasn't even been on your finger for 48 hours and you’re already rejecting the brand? I’m hurt, Althea. Truly."

We joked around the whole way to my parents' estate. It felt good to just laugh. For a long time, everything had felt so heavy and serious, but now, it felt like we were finally allowed to be happy.

When we walked into the house, it was already a hive of activity. My mom was sitting at the head of the dining table, surrounded by flower catalogs and Pinterest printouts.

The smell of the chocolate cake was heavenly, sitting right there in the middle of the table like a prize.

"Finally!" Mom said, beaming at us. "Sit down, eat some cake. JC will be joining us any second. She’s very punctual, which is why she’s the best."

I cut myself a slice of cake, but I was feeling a bit restless. I had emails to answer and my own career stuff to handle. "Mom, I have so much on my plate today. How long is she going to keep us waiting? I thought you said she was a pro."

Mom reached over and playfully tapped my forehead. "This girl! Still zero patience. Look at that big head of yours—just eat your cake and relax for five minutes. This is your wedding we’re talking about!"

Just as I was about to take another bite of the cake, the doorbell rang. One of the maids hurried to answer it.

A woman walked into the dining room, and the vibe shifted instantly. She was the definition of "quiet luxury." She wore a perfectly tailored cream blazer, her hair was slicked back into a flawless bun, and she carried a leather portfolio like it was a weapon. She looked like she handled million-dollar problems for breakfast.

"I am JC," she said, her voice cool and totally professional.

She didn't look up at first. She was busy opening her portfolio and laying out some sketches. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isabella. I’ve already started some preliminary concepts for the wedding. I think we should go for something timeless but edgy."
She finally looked up, flashing a practiced, professional smile as she stretched out her hand to greet Rowan and me.

But the second our eyes met, the smile didn't just fade—it died.

Her face went from "expensive glow" to "ghostly white" in three seconds flat. Her hand stayed frozen in mid-air, trembling. She tried to take a step forward, but her feet seemed to lose their grip on the floor. She literally stumbled back, almost knocking over a chair.

She wasn't looking at us like we were her new clients. She was looking at us like we were a ghost from a past she had tried to delete. It wasn't just a "surprised to see you" look; it was a "my worst nightmare just walked into the room" look.

The room went dead silent. My fork clattered against my plate, and I felt Rowan’s grip on my hand tighten until it almost hurt.

I stared at her, my heart dropping into my stomach. I knew that face. I knew those eyes. This wasn't just some random wedding planner. This was the one person who could ruin everything we had just started to fix.