The way she spoke passionately about her cafés and the restaurant, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about building something meaningful for the community. I admired how fiercely devoted she was to being a mother, how she balanced work, home, and the children with a strength that constantly amazed me.
And I loved our children.
Lucas and Emma had become a vital part of my life. The idea of calling Jiya my wife filled me with happiness that felt whole and undeniable. I could see our future clearly in my mind, a home filled with laughter, shared breakfasts, chaotic weekends, and maybe even another couple of children running through the halls.
Earlier that week, when Jiya had gone out running errands, I had sat down with Lucas and Emma to ask them something important.
“I’m thinking of asking your mom to marry me,” I told them, pausing as I licked my lips. “What do you guys think?”
Lucas looked at me for a second before a slow grin crept across his face. Then he exploded with excitement.
“Yes! Yes! Yes, Dad!” he shouted, practically shrieking with joy.
The sound of it carried me back to the day I had brought Milo home. That was the day he had looked at me and called meDadfor the first time. My chest had tightened with emotion, deeply moved by how much that single word meant to me. I had never forgotten how proud I felt in that moment.
Emma’s squeal snapped me back to the present.She immediately joined in, jumping up and down beside him and squealing with laughter. She had no idea what was going on, but her happiness was contagious.
Watching them had made my heart swell. Their approval meant the world to me. It felt like the final piece I needed before moving forward with my plan.
Now, as Jiya and I stepped down from the private plane I had chartered for the weekend, I looked out at the breathtaking property spread out before us.
The Sierra Resort was stunning.
Tall trees surrounded the grounds like silent guardians, and beyond them the landscape opened into a sweeping view of mountains and water that shimmered beneath the winter sun.
I had chosen this place carefully.
It felt perfect.
The resort’s romantic getaway package offered everything I had hoped for, including a private villa tucked away in the forest. I had also spoken personally with the general manager andmade a special request to ensure everything would be exactly the way I envisioned it.
After checking in, we placed our belongings in the villa before heading out for a sunset walk.
“Where do you think we should go for our first vacation?” I asked casually.
The light danced through the forest, illuminating plump tussocks of moss beneath the trees while the scent of cedarwood and pine drifted through the cool evening air.
Jiya tilted her head thoughtfully.“Hmm… how about Bali or Phuket?”
“I haven’t been there. I think Bali would be a nice place to visit.”
“I heard it has the most temples,” she said. “A part of the movieEat, Pray, Lovewas filmed there. Have you watched it?”
I shook my head.
“I guess we know what we’re doing tonight then,” she said with a giggle.
We continued walking, talking about travel and movies, but my mind had begun to race.
This was the first woman I had gone away with since Eva.
I was happy.
Truly happy.
I knew I had found the one—the woman I wanted to marry.
But what if she did not want me to be her husband?The thought slid in and refused to leave.What if she said no?How would we move forward from that moment?What would happen to everything we had built together?And what about the children?
