Chapter 19 - Reclaiming the Foyer
Six months after Lily’s birth, the mansion was buzzing with life. The snow had melted, giving way to a bright, vibrant spring.
One afternoon, Daniel asked Elara to meet him in the grand foyer. When she arrived, holding a babbling Lily on her hip, she found the massive space completely empty of staff. The afternoon sun poured through the skylights, illuminating the white marble floor.
Daniel stood at the bottom of the grand double staircase, wearing a sharply tailored suit, looking just as breathtaking as he had the first day she noticed him.
"Daniel? Is everything alright?" Elara asked, stepping carefully onto the marble.
He walked toward her, his dark eyes incredibly soft. He gently took Lily from her arms, kissing the baby's cheek before settling her in the crook of his left arm. Then, slowly, he lowered himself to one knee right in the center of the foyer—the exact spot where Elara had once been forced to kneel in humiliation.
Elara gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
May you like
"The last time you were on this floor, you were shown cruelty that you never deserved," Daniel said softly, looking up at her. He pulled a velvet box from his pocket and flipped it open, revealing a breathtaking, elegant diamond ring. "I wanted to rewrite the history of this room. I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you only know love, respect, and safety. Elara, will you marry me?"
Tears spilled down Elara’s cheeks, but this time, they were tears of absolute joy. "Yes," she whispered, pulling him up into a fierce embrace. "Yes, Daniel."
