Chapter 50

Mira’s POV

Before today began, I didn’t think it would end in a proposal, a proposal from the man I loved. Once I stared at that diamond ring, the color drained from my face.

Without a response, my mind drifted back to earlier.

I had been home all day thinking of ways to come clean to Alejandro.

I exhaled slowly, dropping onto the couch and staring at my phone for the third time in five minutes like it was going to suddenly confess secrets to me.

And yet, my chest still felt tight. I hated that.

I hated that one conversation, one moment, one look from a stranger could get this far into my head. It was annoying. And inconvenient. And very much not the energy I wanted on my birthday.

So I did what any sane person would do. I ignored it completely.

“Not today,” I muttered to myself, tossing my phone aside and pushing to my feet. “We’re not doing this today.”

Today was supposed to be good.

No overthinking. No weird tension. No mysterious girls popping up with cryptic questions like they were auditioning for a thriller movie.

Just me and whatever Dro had planned.

The thought alone softened something in me.

Before I could spiral again, the doorbell rang.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I walked toward the door, already knowing it had to be him. Or at least something from him.

When I opened it, a delivery man stood there holding a large box.

“Yes?” I asked, already reaching for it.

“Delivery for Mira Martinez,” he said, glancing down at the label before handing it over.

I didn’t even bother hiding my smile as I took it.

“Thank you.”

I shut the door quickly, carrying the box inside like it contained something fragile. Which, knowing Alejandro, it probably did.

Or something expensive.

I placed it on the table and opened it carefully, my curiosity winning over any attempt to act calm.

The moment I pulled the lid off, I froze.

“Oh wow.”

The dress inside was gorgeous.

It was elegant without trying too hard, soft but structured in a way that made it look like it was designed specifically for me. The kind of dress that didn’t scream for attention but still managed to steal it anyway.

My fingers brushed over the fabric slowly, almost like I needed to confirm it was real.

“Okay” I whispered, a small laugh slipping out. “He’s insane.”

But in a good way. A very good way.

I lifted the dress out, holding it up in front of me as I turned slightly toward the mirror across the room.

Yeah.

This was dangerous.

There was a small card tucked inside the box. I picked it up, flipping it open.

Be dressed for your surprise tonight.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the smile that followed.

“Of course,” I murmured. “This wasn’t the first time of you serenading me with dresses.”

Still, my chest warmed.

He remembered. Not just my birthday. Me.

The little things I said. The things I liked. The things I didn’t even realize I wanted until he handed them to me like it was nothing.

I hugged the dress to my chest for a second before pulling back, spinning lightly in place with it.

“Okay, so what are we doing?” I asked the empty room, already picturing different possibilities. “Dinner? Something dramatic? Something illegal?”

Knowing him probably all three.

I laughed softly to myself, the earlier tension fading just enough for me to breathe properly again.

The doorbell rang again.

I paused mid-step.

“Wow,” I muttered. “Another gift I guess.”

I walked back toward the door, still smiling as I opened it.

This time, the delivery man held a massive bouquet of roses.

Like unnecessarily massive.

I blinked.

“Oh.”

“Delivery for Mira Martinez,” he repeated, holding out a small device. “Please sign. It’s anonymous.”

Anonymous?

That made my smile falter slightly.

“Anonymous?” I echoed, taking the pen anyway.

He nodded like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I signed quickly, taking the bouquet from him with a soft thank you before closing the door again.

The moment I turned around, I couldn’t help it.

I smiled.

“Okay, you’re doing too much now,” I said under my breath, bringing the roses closer to my face. “But I’ll allow it.”

Because obviously, it was him.

Who else would send something like this?

I walked over to the table, setting the bouquet down carefully before spotting the card tucked between the flowers.

My fingers slid it out slowly and I opened it.

Happy birthday, Mira the card read.

My smile widened.

See?

I knew it.

But then my eyes moved to the next line.

I hope you realize soon enough that I’m the better man for you.

My smile disappeared fast.

“What did he mean?”

I read it again. Like the words were going to rearrange themselves into something that made sense.

A strange feeling settled in my chest. Before I could process it properly, my phone rang.

The sound made me jump slightly, my heart picking up for no reason at all.

I glanced at the screen.

Ace?

A lot of strange things had been happening lately and him calling just iced the cake.

I stared at it for a second before answering.

“Hello?”

“Mira.” His voice was the same. Slightly too confident.

It made my grip on the phone tighten.

“You’re alive,” I said flatly, leaning against the table. “That’s nice. People were starting to think you disappeared.”

A quiet exhale came from his end. “I know. I should’ve called.”

“You think?” I muttered.

There was a brief pause.

“I’m sorry,” he said, more serious now. “For leaving like that. For everything that happened.”

My jaw tightened slightly.

“Yeah,” I said. “About that. The whole kissing me thing? Not exactly your best moment.”

“I know.”

“At all.”

“I said I know, Mira.”

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me.

“But I get it,” I added after a second. “Whatever. Just don’t do that again. Because Dro will not forgive you. I’m not sure he’s over it.”

A faint scoff came through the line. “Dro.”

There was something in the way he said his name that made my stomach twist.

I ignored it.

“How are you?” I asked instead. “And where are you? No one knows where you went.”

“I’m around,” he said vaguely.

“Wow. Very helpful.”

There was a slight pause before he spoke again.

“Do you like your roses?”

I stilled.

My eyes moved slowly to the bouquet sitting on the table.

“You sent these?”

“Yes.”

I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

“That’s not the point, Ace.”

“It kind of is.”

I pushed myself off the table, starting to pace slightly.

“Where are you?” I asked again, more serious this time. “And don’t say ‘around’ like you’re some mysterious villain in a movie.”

A small chuckle came from him. “I’m putting things in place.”

My steps slowed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” he said carefully, “that when everything is ready, I’ll tell you the truth.”

“About what?”

“Alejandro.”

My stomach dropped. “What about him?”

There was a pause. A long one.

“The truth about the kind of man he really is.”

I stopped moving completely.

“That doesn’t even make sense,” I said, my voice tightening. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ll understand soon,” he replied calmly. “Just don’t make any hasty decisions when it comes to him.”

My grip on the phone tightened.

“And don’t tell him I called you,” he added.

I let out a dry laugh. “Oh, that doesn’t sound suspicious at all.”

“I’m serious, Mira.”

“So am I. You’re being vague and dramatic for no reason.”

“Not for no reason.”

Silence stretched between us.

“Be careful,” he said finally. “I’ll be in touch.”

And just like that, the line went dead.

I stared at my phone, then at the roses, then back at my phone again.

“Great,” I muttered. “Perfect timing. Love this for me.”

The wind felt colder up here. Or maybe it was just me.

I couldn’t tell anymore.

Everything had blurred together since that call. The excitement. The happiness. The simple, easy feeling I had just hours ago all gone.

“Mira.”

I blinked, forcing my focus back to him.

To Alejandro.

To the man sitting in front of me with a ring in his hand and the entire city glowing beneath us like something out of a dream.

“I don’t care about anything else,” he was saying, his voice steady. “Not the past. Not whatever you think you need to hide from me.”

My chest tightened.

“I love you, Mira Martinez.”

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

“Marry me.”

I stayed silent and said nothing else as my heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

Ace’s voice echoed in my head.

Don’t make any hasty decisions and I looked at Alejandro.

At the way he was watching me, clearly waiting for my answer.

My lips parted slightly.

I should say yes.

That was the easy choice.

The obvious one.

The one that made sense.

So why couldn’t I?

Why did something feel wrong?

Why did it feel like I was standing in the middle of something I didn’t fully understand?

Another tear fell.

I inhaled slowly, my voice coming out quieter than I expected.

“No.”