"I… needed to speak with you," she said, her words trembling at the edges. "Not as the girl at the piano. Not as the church volunteer. But as myself."
Something in her tone made Lukas straighten. He gave a small nod. "I'm listening."
Keem looked down for a moment, gathering strength. When she finally met his eyes, her gaze was unwavering.
"From the moment you first walked into this church, I… I knew you were different. Not just because of the money or the fame, but because you gave when you didn't have to. You gave when no one believed you. And since then, I've watched you. Every time you come back, every word you've spoken, every kindness you've done… Lukas, you've become the measure I hold all men against."
The air grew still. The sounds of children faded. Even the evening wind seemed to hush.
"I prayed about this for months," she continued, her voice breaking slightly. "But tonight, I don't want to hide behind prayer anymore. Lukas… will you marry me?"
