Chapter 314 Chapter 314

Chapter 314 Chapter 314
 Chapter 314

At 6:00 PM on the dot, Ethan pulled up to the front of the boutique. He was sharply dressed in a sleek black suit, tailored to perfection, and he had taken one of the most expensive luxury sedans from the garage for the evening. Back at the estate, everything was fully set up. Maria, Ariana, a few close colleagues from the company, and the main house staff were already waiting at the cliffside view, eagerly anticipating the big moment.

Ethan stepped out of the sedan, smoothed his jacket, and pushed open the glass doors of the high-end boutique.

The moment he walked inside, quiet hushed whispers broke out among the female staff working near the front counters. They nudged each other, leaning in close as they stole glances at him.

"Is that Ethan Castellan?" one of the stylists whispered under her breath, fanning herself with a fashion magazine. "He looks even better in person than he does on the news."

"Isabelle must be the luckiest woman on earth to pull off a man that handsome and rich," another employee murmured back, smiling as she watched Ethan walk straight toward the private dressing area. "And the way he looks at her? You can tell he’s completely head over heels."

Ethan paid the whispering staff no mind. His eyes went straight to Isabelle as she stepped out from behind the fitting room curtain.

She looked breathtaking. She wore a fitted silver bodycon dress that hugged her frame perfectly. Her hair was styled in soft, elegant waves falling over her shoulders, and her makeup was kept clean, natural, and simple.

When their eyes met, Ethan stopped in his tracks, a slow, genuine smile spreading across his face. He walked up to her, reaching out to gently catch her hand in his.

"You look stunning, Isabelle," Ethan said quietly, his thumb lightly brushing the back of her hand.

Isabelle blushed slightly, looking down at her dress before looking back up into his dark eyes. "You don't look too bad yourself, Mr. Castellan."

"Are you ready, Mrs. Castellan?" he asked smoothly, his voice laced with clear affection.

The nearby stylists exchanged happy, knowing glances with each other, covering their mouths to hide their smiles as Ethan took Isabelle's arm and guided her out of the boutique. He held the passenger door open for her, helping her into the sleek sedan before walking around to the driver's side.

As Ethan pulled out onto the main road, the evening sky was beginning to fade into shades of deep orange and soft pink. Isabelle leaned back against the leather seat, looking out the window at the passing city lights. After a few minutes of quiet driving, she glanced over at the dashboard navigation screen and raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Ethan, I thought the meeting was over at the corporate offices downtown," she said, turning her head toward him. "Why are we taking the highway back toward the estate?"

Ethan kept his hands steady on the wheel, not missing a beat as he lied smoothly. "Uh, yes, baby, but I forgot something very important back at the house. I just want to drop by and grab it real quick before we go."

"Oh, I see," Isabelle replied, completely unsuspectingly. She turned her attention back to the ocean view along the coastal road. "Take your time. We're early anyway."

Ethan smiled quietly to himself, resting his right hand over hers on the center console as he stepped on the gas pedal.

Ten minutes later, the sedan rolled through the open gates of the main Castellan estate and stopped near the side entrance near the cliffside path. Ethan killed the engine and hurried around to open her door.

He took her hand, leading her up the stone steps toward the private terrace area. As they reached the top of the walkway, Isabelle slowed down, looking into the pitch-black darkness ahead of them. The usual patio lanterns were off, and the entire back yard seemed completely quiet.

"Why is everywhere so dark, Ethan?" she asked, stepping closer to his side and holding onto his suit jacket. "Did the power go out?"

Ethan didn't answer. He simply reached out and took her hand tightly in his.

All of a sudden, warm string lights flooded the entire terrace, glowing across the open stone patio. Delicate white flowers lined the balustrade, and small candle lanterns lit up a pathway leading straight toward the cliffside edge.

Isabelle gasped, dropping her hand from his jacket as she looked around in complete shock.

The soft, rich notes of a grand piano began to play a beautiful melody nearby. Standing near the side archway were Maria, Ariana, and several familiar faces from the estate, all smiling brightly with tears in their eyes, clapping softly as Isabelle took in the scene.

Isabelle turned back around to look at Ethan, her breath catching in her throat.

Ethan had already dropped down on one knee right in front of her. He held a small velvet box open in his palm, revealing a custom diamond ring that sparkled under the warm light.

"Ethan..." she whispered, her hands flying up to cover her mouth.

“Isabelle,” Ethan began, his voice steady, deep, and filled with emotion as he looked straight into her eyes. For a moment, he simply stared at her, his eyes glistening as though he was trying to gather every ounce of courage he had. His chest rose slowly with a trembling breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was softer, almost vulnerable. “When you came back into my life, everything changed for me. You taught me how to forgive myself, how to feel again, and how to build something good out of a broken past. 

Your love healed parts of me I thought were gone forever. Parts of me I had already accepted would stay broken.” He swallowed hard, his gaze never leaving hers. “You made me believe that maybe I wasn’t too damaged to be loved. You made me believe that I could have something beautiful again.”

His voice faltered for a second, and he gave a small, emotional laugh, blinking away the tears gathering in his eyes.

“I don’t want to spend another day, another morning, or another sunset without you by my side.” He took another shaky breath, his expression filled with nothing but love. “I don’t want a life where I have to wonder what it would have been like to wake up beside you, to come home to you, to grow old with you. I want all of it. The good days, the difficult days, the ordinary mornings, the late-night conversations, the laughter, the tears… everything. I want it with you.”

Ethan took a quiet breath, lifting the open box slightly higher toward her. His hands trembled faintly, betraying just how overwhelmed he truly was.

“I want to build a real home with you, Isabelle. Not just a house, but a place where you always feel safe, loved, and wanted. I want to protect you, cherish you, and love you for the rest of my life. I want to be the man you can always come home to, the person who holds your hand through every season of life. I want to wake up beside you years from now and still look at you the exact same way I do right now.”

A tear finally slipped down his cheek, and he smiled through it, his voice breaking slightly as he whispered, “You’re my home, Isabelle. You’ve become the most beautiful part of my life, and I don’t ever want to take another moment with you for granted.”

He lowered himself onto one knee, his eyes shining with tears as he held the ring out toward her.

“So…” Ethan whispered, his voice trembling with hope, love, and nervous anticipation. “Will you marry me?”

Tears spilled over Isabelle's cheeks as she smiled through her weeping. She couldn't even speak at first; she simply nodded her head repeatedly, stretching her right hand out toward him.

Ethan lifted the ring from the box and slid it smoothly onto her finger. It fit perfectly.

He stood up, and Isabelle threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his chest as she sobbed tears of pure relief and happiness. Ethan wrapped his arms tight around her waist, lifting her off her feet slightly as he pulled her flush against him.

When he pulled back just enough to look at her, he cupped her face in his hands and brought his lips down onto hers. They shared a deep, passionate kiss under the twilight sky, sealing their commitment to each other while the open sea breeze rustled around them.

The moment their lips parted, the entire terrace broke into loud cheering and applause. Ariana wiped her tears and clapped excitedly alongside Maria, while the rest of the gathered guests shouted their congratulations.

Ethan kept his arm wrapped securely around Isabelle's waist as everyone crowded around them to offer hugs, warm wishes, and admiring looks at the new ring.

"We're not just staying here to celebrate tonight," Ethan announced loudly to the gathered crowd, raising his glass as a waiter brought out champagne. "We have an actual wedding to plan, and we're taking it all the way to Greece!"

The whole crowd erupted in cheers again, clinking their glasses together as lively music replaced the piano, turning the peaceful sunset into a full celebration.

Later that night, long after the guests had gone inside to enjoy the food and drinks, the newly renovated Castellan estate stood bright, warm, and filled with real laughter.

Ethan and Isabelle walked out to the edge of the seaside terrace together, leaving the music behind for a quiet moment alone. The night ocean was calm, reflecting the bright stars above.

Ethan wrapped his arms around Isabelle from behind, pulling her back against his chest. Isabelle rested her hands over his, leaning her head back against his shoulder as they looked out over the ocean waves together.

"Greece sounds amazing," Isabelle murmured softly, turning her face to kiss his jawline.

"Anything for my wife," Ethan replied with a low laugh, tightening his hold around her as the cool sea wind blew past them.

They stood there together on the edge of the water, completely healed, completely whole, and ready to walk into their future together.

THE END 

A Note to My Readers ❤️

To everyone who made it all the way here, thank you. Truly. ❤️

Thank you for reading my words, for falling in love with these characters, for laughing with them, crying with them, getting angry with them, and staying with them through every twist, turn, heartbreak, and beautiful moment.

This story has been more than just a story to me. It has been a part of my journey, and knowing that you chose to take that journey with me means more than I could ever put into words.

Every read, every comment, every message, every reaction, and every person who quietly turned the pages has meant something to me. You gave these characters a life beyond the pages, and you gave me a reason to keep writing even on the days when I doubted myself.

As I close this chapter, I hope you carry a little piece of this story with you, just as I’ll carry the memories of writing it with me.

Thank you for believing in my story. Thank you for believing in me. And most importantly, thank you for being a part of my journey. ❤️

Until we meet again in another story…