The evening sun poured golden light through the curtains, spilling across the marble floor of their bedroom. Mina stood by the mirror, still wearing the wedding gown she couldn't bring herself to take off just yet. Every movement sent ripples of light dancing across the walls — ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine diamonds catching the sunset like liquid fire.
Aaron leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching her with that faint, private smile that was just for her.
"You're staring," she said softly, meeting his gaze in the mirror.
He shrugged. "Can you blame me?"
Mina smiled, eyes lowering to the glittering dress. "It's beautiful."
"It's you," he corrected gently. "Everything about it reminds me of you."
She turned then, facing him fully. "There's something I've been meaning to ask."
"Anything."
Her voice was quiet, curious. "Why ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine diamonds? Why not ten thousand?" She tilted her head, the softest hint of mischief in her smile. "You're not the type to stop one short of perfect."
Aaron's lips twitched, like he'd been waiting for that question. He pushed off the doorway and crossed the room until he stood close enough to touch her. His hand came up, brushing over her waist where the diamonds shimmered under his fingers.
"Because the last one," he said, his voice low, reverent, "doesn't belong on the dress."
Mina blinked. "Then where does it belong?"
He leaned down, his forehead resting gently against hers. "You'll see it on our wedding day."
She smiled softly, half-teasing, half-overwhelmed. "You're being mysterious again."
Aaron laughed quietly, a rare, honest sound that warmed the room. "I know. But I wanted the last one to mean something only you'd understand. The dress is a promise — but the last diamond…" He paused, eyes tracing her face like a memory. "That's forever. It's for you to wear, not for the world to see."
Mina swallowed hard, her fingers finding his collar. "You planned even this?"
"I planned everything," he admitted. "Every sparkle. Every stitch. I wanted you to feel what you've made me feel every day since you walked back into my life — like I can finally breathe."
She laughed through a tear, soft and shaky. "You know, you're going to ruin me."
He smiled, brushing her tear away with his thumb. "That's the plan, princesa."
She leaned in and kissed him, the diamonds catching fire in the fading light — and somewhere in the quiet, she realised: he hadn't just built her a dress.
He'd built her a promise.
And the final piece of it waited for her at the altar.