The palace that had one day glittered with prosperity now felt empty. Sophia was alone in her bedroom, her makeup ruined, her pride bruised. The echo of Ethan's rejection stuck in her mind, and for the first time, she realized that money could not buy the one thing that she truly longed for, love.
Her scandals exhausted her parents, and what once was a favourite heiress was now the shadow of what she used to be. Each night, she recalled Ethan's eyes, not with anger anymore, but with regret. She lost him not because of Christiana, but because of the monster that jealousy had turned her into.
And all the while, Ethan and Christiana's life slowly bloomed in the small town. Months passed, and though their hands showed the work they performed, their hearts were filled with joy.
One night, after a day's toil, Ethan brought Christiana up to the top of the hill that lay just beyond town. The stars twinkled, the wind was gentle. He took her hands, his voice trembling but resolute.
"Christiana," he began, "I've had nothing but trouble to offer you, and yet you've stuck it out. You've loved me more than I ever thought possible. I have no idea what tomorrow brings, but I want to face it with you, always. Will you marry me?"
Christiana's eyes widened, her tears flowing freely. She laughed and cried, nodding time and time again. "Yes, Ethan. A thousand times, yes.".
They embraced beneath the endless sky, two broken souls made whole by one another.
Within the mansion, Sophia was at her window, looking up at those same stars. She cried out Ethan's name in the darkness, and the wind took it away, never to come back.
Ethan and Christiana walked hand in hand down the hillside, hearts aglow with hope. Their love had endured fire, jealousy, temptation and heartache, and still it survived.
Not in riches. Not in palaces. But in the simple promise of forever.