Months had passed since Zane publicly admitted his relationship with Lyra. The world had finally started to see them not as a scandal but as a melody that somehow made sense — two artists whose lives had intertwined through pain, patience, and growth.
Still, things weren't entirely easy.
Lyra had faced subtle bullying from a few artists under the company — jealous whispers, backstage remarks about favoritism, and social media posts filled with veiled criticism. Some said her songs only topped charts because of Zane's influence. Others even accused her of using him for fame.
But Lyra endured it all. She worked harder, performed flawlessly, and smiled in front of cameras even when her heart ached. Behind the scenes, Zane noticed everything. The way she clenched her fists before going on stage. The way her usual teasing faded into silence when she thought no one was watching.
He admired her strength — but it also tore him apart.
---
One chilly evening, after another concert rehearsal, Zane asked Lyra to stay behind. The crew had already left; the stage lights dimmed except for one warm spotlight.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
Lyra chuckled weakly, brushing her hair back. "I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."
He stepped closer, tilting his head slightly. "You've been saying that for weeks."
She tried to keep her voice light. "You'd rather I complain every day?"
He smiled faintly — that small, knowing smile that always softened her defenses. "No… I'd rather you let me in."
There was a long pause. She looked down, her fingers tracing the mic stand. "I just don't want people to think I'm weak."
Zane took the mic from her hand, set it aside, and gently lifted her chin. "You're not weak. You're the strongest person I've ever known. But you don't have to fight everything alone, Lyra. Not anymore."
Her lips trembled — partly from exhaustion, partly from how sincere he sounded. He pulled her close, his voice barely a whisper.
"Let me show you something," he said.
---
The next evening, Lyra was told there would be a "company anniversary concert." Everyone would attend — all the artists, producers, and staff. Lyra was asked to perform a duet with Zane as part of the finale.
She didn't think much of it… until the night came.
The hall glittered with golden lights, filled with fans, industry figures, and flashing cameras. After several performances, Zane took the stage alone, holding his guitar.
"This company started with one dream," he said into the mic. "To create music that speaks truth — even when it hurts."
The LED screen behind him began playing short clips: moments of him and Lyra working together — laughing during recording sessions, goofing around backstage, exchanging glances during interviews.
Lyra froze. She hadn't seen these before.
Then, Zane began to sing. It was a new song — something no one had heard yet. His voice trembled with raw honesty:
"You walked in when the lights were dim,
and somehow, I could breathe again.
You turned my silence into sound,
and my world finally spun around."
Lyra's heart pounded.
As the final note faded, Zane set the guitar aside. He looked straight at her, the entire audience fading into a blur.
"You once said I was too serious," he said with a half-smile. "But you're the reason I laugh again. You made me remember how to live — not just perform."
Then, in front of thousands watching live, Zane took a small velvet box from his pocket and knelt on one knee.
The crowd gasped. Lyra's eyes widened as her hands flew to her mouth.
"Lyra," his voice wavered slightly, but his gaze never left hers, "I don't want to spend another day writing about love I never had. Because now… I do. Will you marry me?"
The audience erupted in cheers and tears. Even the most skeptical staff backstage stood frozen, watching the raw, unfiltered emotion unfold.
Lyra's tears fell freely. She covered her face, laughing through her sobs.
"Yes… yes, of course I will."
Zane stood, slipping the ring onto her trembling hand. Confetti rained from the ceiling as they embraced — the LED screen behind them lighting up with the words:
"SHE SAID YES."
---
The internet exploded that night.
Clips of the proposal trended worldwide. Old rumors were replaced with warm congratulations. Even those who once criticized Lyra now admired her sincerity.
But amidst the celebration, Lyra whispered to him backstage, teasing lightly,
"You just had to propose in front of everyone, didn't you?"
Zane chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"You're my greatest song, Lyra. The world deserved to hear it."
She laughed softly, leaning her head against his shoulder.
And for the first time, Zane felt that rare, quiet peace — not as a singer, not as a CEO — but simply as a man who had finally found home.
---
— A Melody Called Forever
The world had barely recovered from Zane's live proposal when the news of their engagement flooded every corner of the internet.
Fans replayed the video endlessly — the trembling in Zane's voice, the tears on Lyra's cheeks, the way the confetti fell like snow as the words "She Said Yes" flashed behind them.
It was real, raw, and unforgettable.
Still, fame had its double edge. Some praised the couple for their courage, while others accused Zane of favoritism or questioned Lyra's intentions all over again. But unlike before, neither of them hid.
Instead, they faced the noise — together.
---
A few weeks after the proposal, Zane and Lyra started filming their first variety show together, titled "Notes of Us."
It wasn't meant to be glamorous — just the two of them sharing glimpses of their life: cooking breakfast, going on quiet walks, laughing over forgotten lyrics, and traveling to places that inspired their songs.
The first episode aired with the caption:
"We're not perfect, but we're real."
The public fell in love with them all over again. Their laughter felt genuine; their chemistry, effortless. The show wasn't a production — it was a window into two souls who had been through storms and still chose to sing.
Soon, the teasing online changed tone:
"They're so cute together!"
"Zane looks genuinely happy for the first time in years."
"Lyra deserves him — she's gold."
Lyra smiled whenever she read those comments, though she rarely admitted it aloud.
Zane would tease her whenever she tried to hide her grin.
"Someone's checking comments again," he'd say, laughing.
"Just making sure no one's calling me tone-deaf," she'd shoot back.
Off-cam, their relationship deepened. They learned to balance work and love, fame and peace. Lyra's career flourished — her songs began charting on their own, her roles received critical praise, and even the jealous murmurs from before slowly faded.
Zane never stopped supporting her. Sometimes he'd visit her set, quietly handing her a cup of coffee before disappearing backstage, just to remind her he was there.
And every night, when the world quieted, he'd strum his guitar beside her, humming unfinished tunes that always ended with her name.
---
One Year Later
It was a crisp evening in early winter. The venue glowed under fairy lights and cascading white roses. Paparazzi stood behind velvet ropes, and fans gathered beyond the gates, holding banners that read:
"From Music to Marriage — Congratulations, Zane & Lyra!"
The ceremony was private but not secret. The media had been informed, and their fans had been invited to watch a live broadcast of the wedding — a gift from the couple who had shared so much of themselves already.
Lyra's dress shimmered like frost under candlelight — elegant yet simple, with silver accents that matched the ring she wore. Her hair flowed softly down her back, adorned with tiny white blossoms.
When Zane saw her walking down the aisle, time seemed to stop. The same girl who once nervously stood outside his office for her first audition… was now walking toward him with steady, tear-bright eyes.
The soft instrumental playing in the background wasn't just any song. It was the same one Zane wrote the night he proposed — rearranged with gentle piano and violin, now titled "A Melody Called Forever."
As she reached him, he whispered, "You're breathtaking."
Lyra smiled through happy tears. "You still look nervous," she teased lightly.
He chuckled, his voice low. "Maybe because I still can't believe you said yes."
Their vows were short, intimate, and unpolished — exactly like them.
"You've been my voice when I couldn't speak," Lyra said softly. "You taught me that love doesn't have to be loud to be true."
"And you," Zane replied, holding her trembling hands, "reminded me that music means nothing if it doesn't make you feel. You made me feel again, Lyra — and for that, I'll spend forever loving you."
When they kissed, the crowd erupted in applause. Petals rained down, and the choir softly sang a blend of their most beloved songs — the ones that once spoke of loneliness, now rewritten with hope.
---
Later that evening, during the reception, Zane took the stage once more — but this time, not as an idol, not as a CEO — but as a husband.
He strummed his guitar gently, looking at his wife among their friends and family.
"This one's not for the charts," he said with a grin. "It's for her — for the girl who turned noise into harmony."
Lyra blushed as he began to sing:
"We started as echoes in a crowded room,
Lost in the static, finding our tune.
But here we are, hearts in rhyme,
My forever, my once-upon-a-time."
Tears filled her eyes again, and the guests cheered as she joined him onstage, singing the final verse together.
Their voices blended perfectly — tender, familiar, unshakably in sync.
---
That night, as the stars glittered above the quiet city and the last guests left, Zane and Lyra stood hand in hand beneath the fairy lights.
"Remember when you said you just wanted to sing?" Lyra whispered.
"Yeah," he chuckled softly. "Didn't know I'd end up singing for you."
"Good thing I didn't stop trying to audition," she teased.
"Good thing I didn't stop believing in love," he replied, pressing his forehead gently against hers.
And under that golden glow — surrounded by the echo of laughter, the warmth of vows, and the soft hum of music — their story, which began with a comment under a song, finally found its perfect chorus.
A melody called forever.