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Gabrielle couldn’t stop staring at her hand.

The ring sparkled under the dim lights of the car as Matthew drove them back home, his fingers lazily intertwined with hers. Every now and then, she would twist her wrist just to see how the diamond caught the light.

Matthew smirked as he caught her doing it again. “Still in shock?”

Gabrielle let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head. “I just… I still can’t believe it. You actually proposed.”

Matthew chuckled. “Did you think I never would?”

“Well, considering you spent the last week acting like a suspicious liar, I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

Matthew shot her a sideways glance. “Liar is a strong word.”

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. “You dodged every single question I asked you. That’s basically lying.”

Matthew simply brought her hand to his lips, pressing a slow kiss to her fingers. “All for a good reason, love.”

She sighed dramatically, though she couldn’t hide her smile. “Fine. I’ll admit—it was worth the secrecy.”

Julian, who had been dramatically sighing in his seat the entire ride, finally groaned. “Oh, thank God. Do you two have any idea how exhausting it was to keep this secret?”

Gabrielle turned in her seat, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, I’m sure it was so difficult for you, Julian.”

Julian scoffed. “You have no idea. Matthew made me rehearse every possible scenario where you might figure it out. It was actual torture.”

Matthew smirked. “And yet, we pulled it off.”

Julian slumped back in his seat. “Barely.”

Gabrielle just shook her head, laughing.

Tonight had been perfect.

By the time they arrived home, Julian had bid them farewell (“Enjoy your gross, engaged bliss, lovebirds”) before disappearing into the night.

Now, as Gabrielle stepped into their apartment, reality was finally settling in.

She was engaged.

To Matthew.

The same Matthew who, over a year ago, had been nothing more than her infuriating, arrogant, painfully attractive boss.

Now? He was hers.

Forever.

The thought sent a rush of warmth through her.

She turned to find Matthew watching her, leaning against the doorway with a lazy smirk. “So,” he murmured, “are you happy?”

Gabrielle’s heart swelled.

Without answering, she closed the distance between them and kissed him.

Matthew didn’t hesitate—his hands sliding around her waist, pulling her flush against him. The kiss was slow but deep, filled with the quiet promise of everything to come.

When they finally broke apart, Gabrielle rested her forehead against his.

“I love you,” she whispered.

Matthew’s gaze softened. “I love you more.”

She smiled. “Impossible.”

Matthew chuckled, wrapping his arms tighter around her. “We’ll see about that.”

And as they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Gabrielle knew—

This was a dream come true