Chapter 73 Epilogue 1: Down On One Knee

Chapter 73 Epilogue 1: Down On One Knee
The garden bloomed with late spring light, roses climbing the stone walls. They were back at Northwood for the Easter Holidays, staying at Hallie’s parents’ house. 
Hallie had no idea why Seth had insisted on dressing up for a simple afternoon gathering with friends. He had been mysterious all week—distracted, fidgety, disappearing for hours without explanation.
"You're plotting something," she had accused that morning, watching him adjust his tie for the third time.
"Plotting? Me?" His innocence was so unconvincing that Hallie had laughed.
Now she stood at the edge of the garden, surrounded by the people she loved most, and began to understand.
Margot winked at her from across the lawn, Raphaël's arm around her shoulders. They had flown in from Paris, to attend this special moment. Jasmine was already crying—they hadn't even started whatever this was, and she was already crying. 
Her parents stood a little behind, like they felt shy being among youngsters of another generation.
Ramirez stood with Maria, his grin so wide it looked painful. Leah had flown in from London, claiming she needed a vacation but her knowing smile suggested otherwise.
Even Chloe—the bride from the bridal shop, the one whose fitting had brought Seth back into Hallie's life—was there, her toddler daughter tugging at her skirt.
"Seth." Hallie's voice was barely a whisper. "What is this?"
Seth took her hands. His palms were warm, steady—but she could feel the slight tremor beneath his calm exterior.
"This is everyone who matters," he said. "Everyone who watched us find our way back to each other. Everyone who believed in us when we didn't believe in ourselves."
Hallie's throat tightened. "Seth—"
"Let me finish." He took a breath, and she saw the boy she had fallen in love with in that high school library, the teenager who had promised her always in the back of his truck, the man who had crossed worlds to stand beside her.
"I fell in love with you when I was seventeen years old," he said. "I didn't know what love was then. I thought it was electricity and chemistry and the way my heart raced when you looked at me. And it was—it was all those things." He squeezed her hands. "But it was also more. It was the way you saw me when no one else did. The way you believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. The way you made me want to be better—not because anyone expected it, but because you deserved it."
Hallie's eyes burned. Around her, Jasmine was openly sobbing. Margot had pulled out her phone and was recording. Ramirez was pretending to check his watch but his eyes were suspiciously bright.
"I lost you," Seth continued. "Twice. Once because I was young and stupid and didn't know how to fight for what I wanted. Once because the world tried to tear us apart." He shook his head slowly. "But you kept finding me. You kept forgiving me. You kept loving me, even when I didn't deserve it."
"Seth—"
"Let me finish." His smile was soft, trembling. "I spent years running from the shadows—my father's expectations, my own fears, the darkness that sometimes felt like it would swallow me whole. And then you came back into my life, and I realized—the shadows don't have to be something to fear. They can be something to embrace. Because you taught me that light and darkness can exist together. That love isn't about choosing one or the other. It's about finding someone who sees all of you—the light and the dark—and chooses you anyway."
He reached into his pocket and dropped to one knee.
Hallie's hand flew to her mouth. The garden seemed to hold its breath.
"Hallie Grey," Seth said, his voice steady despite his nervousness. "You're the queen of shadows. You're the designer of dreams. You're the woman who saved two worlds without losing herself in the process." He opened the small box in his hand, revealing a ring—simple and elegant, a band of twisted silver and obsidian, exactly like the one he had sketched for her years ago. "And I'm just a guy who fell in love with you in a high school library and never stopped."
"Seth—"
"Will you marry me?"
The words hung in the air, shimmering like sunlight on water. Hallie looked at the ring—the ring he had designed for her, the ring that represented everything they had survived, everything they had built, everything they would become.
She looked at the people surrounding them—her chosen family, her witnesses, her proof that love could overcome anything.
Then she looked at Seth—at his warm brown eyes, his hopeful smile. At the man who meant everything to her, from the very beginning.
"Yes," she said.
Seth blinked. "Yes?"
"Yes. Did you expect me to say no?” She smiled incredulously. “Yes, I'll marry you."

The garden erupted.
Jasmine's scream of joy pierced the air as she lunged forward, wrapping both Hallie and Seth in a hug. Margot was crying and filming simultaneously, her phone shaking in her hand. Ramirez lifted Maria off her feet and spun her around. Leah clapped her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Hallie’s parent were hugging each other, both with tears in their eyes.
Chloe's toddler, confused by all the excitement, burst into tears. Chloe scooped her up, laughing and crying at the same time.
Seth slid the ring onto Hallie's finger—it fit perfectly, of course it did, because he had been carrying it for months, waiting for the right moment, consulting with Margot and Jasmine and everyone who knew her ring size.
"It's beautiful," Hallie whispered, looking at the silver and obsidian band.
"You're beautiful."
"Stop."
"Never."
He kissed her—soft and sweet and full of promises—and Hallie felt the shadows beneath her skin dance with joy.

Later, after the champagne had been poured and the toast had been made and Ramirez had told the story of Seth's café stalking adventures to accidentally meet Hallie when she refueled for coffee, found herself alone with Seth at the edge of the garden.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of gold and rose. The Seine glittered below, catching the last light of day.
"You planned this," Hallie said.
"I did."
"The garden. The friends. Even Chloe."
"Especially Chloe. She never would have forgiven me if I hadn't invited her." Seth grinned. "She still talks about that wedding dress. Says it's her favorite thing she's ever worn."
Hallie laughed. "You're ridiculous."
"You love it."
"I love you."
Seth pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. They stood together as the stars began to emerge, one by one, scattered across the darkening sky like promises.
"I meant what I said, you know," Seth said quietly. "About the shadows. About light and darkness existing together. You taught me that."
Hallie pressed her face to his chest. "You taught me that love wasn't something to be afraid of."
"Guess we're even."
"Guess we are."

The party continued long into the night.
Ramirez gave a speech that was equal parts embarrassing and heartfelt, recounting Seth's pining during their training days ("He talked about her constantly. 'Hallie would love this. Hallie would know what to do. Hallie has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.' It was exhausting."). Leah shared stories from high school that Hallie had never heard—Seth defending her honor when other students whispered about her, Seth refusing to give up hope that they would find their way back to each other.
Margot announced that she and Raphaël were moving their wedding date to align with Hallie and Seth's, so they could plan together. Jasmine declared herself maid of honor before Hallie could even ask. Maria offered to design the invitations, and Leah volunteered to handle security ("I know people," she said mysteriously).
Chloe's toddler fell asleep in Hallie's lap, and Hallie held her as the evening wore on, feeling the warmth of the small body against her chest. Someday, maybe, she would have a child of her own. A child with Seth's eyes and her stubbornness, a child who would grow up knowing both worlds—the light and the dark—and choose love anyway.
But that was a story for another day.

While they were walking home, hand in hand, Seth ask her,
"Happy?" 
Hallie looked at the ring on her finger—silver and obsidian, darkness and light. She thought about everything they had survived, everything they had built, everything they would become.
"I'm happy," she said.
"Good." Seth kissed her forehead. "That's all I want."
They stopped outside her house, gazing at the gleaming stars etched on the dark night sky. 
"So, is it still a yes?" Seth asked.
Hallie smiled.
"Always."
He kissed her one last time, soft and sweet and full of promises, then they entered the house together with their heart full to burst.
Hallie stopped to gaze fleetingly again at the shining starts. A reminder that even in the darkest nights, there was always light.
For her, light had a shape and a name.
His name was Seth Sanders.
Her always.