Weeks passed after Viper's burial, the storm finally giving way to a fragile kind of peace. For the first time in what felt like forever, life wasn't about survival, loss, or betrayal—it was about new beginnings.
Leon had planned it carefully, wanting the moment to be pure, honest, and unforgettable. He chose an open garden terrace overlooking the city, the evening sky painted in streaks of orange and pink. Ayla thought it was just a quiet dinner, an escape from the whirlwind of emotions that had surrounded them for weeks. But when Leon suddenly knelt on one knee, pulling out a velvet box, her heart stopped.
The media had followed—the cameras flashed, catching every detail—but in that moment, Ayla didn't see them. She only saw Leon, his usually composed face softened with emotion.
"Ayla," his voice was steady but his eyes betrayed the depth of his nerves, "I've waited a lifetime to love you openly. No more shadows, no more guilt—just us. Will you marry me?"
Tears welled in her eyes as her hand flew to her mouth. The pain of the past seemed to vanish under the weight of his sincerity. She nodded before words even found her. "Yes, Leon. A thousand times yes!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, the cameras captured the embrace, and the media flooded with the news of their engagement. Messages of congratulations poured in from everywhere, some genuine, some opportunistic, but Leon didn't care—what mattered was that Ayla had chosen him, this time freely, wholeheartedly.
That night, after the cheers had faded and the cameras had gone, Leon and Ayla found themselves alone on the balcony of their suite. The city lights stretched beneath them, quiet and endless, like a universe finally at rest.
Ayla leaned into him, her head resting on his chest. "It feels unreal," she whispered, staring at the diamond glinting softly on her finger. "After everything we went through… we're really here."
Leon tightened his hold on her, his lips brushing her hair. "I told you I'd wait, Ayla. I'd wait until you saw me—not out of guilt, not out of fear, but out of love. And tonight… you chose me."
Her eyes shimmered as she tilted her face up to him. "I've always loved you, Leon. I just needed to be brave enough to admit it."
For a long moment, neither spoke. The wind was cool, wrapping around them like a gentle secret. Leon finally lowered his forehead to hers, his voice low, steady, and unshakable.
"No more running, no more doubts. From now on, it's you and me—always."
Ayla's smile trembled with tears as she pressed her lips to his, this time with no hesitation, no ghosts from the past—only love. And when he kissed her back, it was the promise of forever.
The world had tried to tear them apart, but together, they had chosen love. And for the first time, Ayla knew peace was hers.
In the following days, Elise and Jean made their own quiet but powerful move. They had grown attached to Ayla, not just as the woman who stood by Leon but as the daughter they never had. Sitting her down in their study, Elise reached for Ayla's hand.
"We know we can never replace the family you lost," Elise said gently, "but we want you to know you're no longer alone in this world. We'd like to legally adopt you, Ayla. If you'll let us."
Ayla's eyes brimmed with tears again. She didn't need to think twice. For the first time since she could remember, she felt like she truly belonged somewhere. She threw her arms around both Elise and Jean, whispering a shaky but heartfelt, "Thank you."
Meanwhile, Kalen—resilient and recovering—began preparing for his own new chapter. He was accepted into a prestigious university abroad, a chance to build a life outside the chaos that had defined him for so long. He joked about leaving Leon and Ayla alone to "finally stop being awkward lovers," but beneath his teasing, Ayla could see the sadness of parting mixed with the excitement of freedom.
Life wasn't perfect, and the scars of the past still lingered, but for once, the horizon looked bright. They had survived hell, and now—finally—they were building a future.