The day had faded into a violet dusk, and Liyana stood on the balcony of her private suite at the Celeste penthouse, watching the city skyline glitter like stars spilled across a black canvas. The late autumn breeze tugged at her silk robe, and for once, she wasn't rushing to review a contract or return a call. For once, she allowed the quiet to seep into her bones.
It had been a relentless few weeks. Media backlash, public pressure, Qin Xieren's carefully orchestrated scandal—all of it had tested her resilience. But Damien had stood beside her like an immovable wall, silencing headlines with a glare, protecting her name like it was his own. And that… that had meant something far deeper than she could articulate.
A soft knock on her door broke the stillness.
Before she could respond, the door opened—and Damien walked in.
He was in a dark, open-collar shirt, sleeves rolled up, the top button undone. Casual, and yet devastatingly elegant. The faint scent of his cologne reached her, familiar and grounding. His eyes met hers, and something unspoken passed between them.
"You're early," she said, arching a brow.
Damien smiled. "You're always expecting me to be late when it matters most. Tonight, I couldn't risk it."
He walked forward and handed her a small note.
Liyana unfolded it. Her name was handwritten in his script—precise, intense. Inside were four simple words:"Come with me. Now."
She looked up. "Damien—"
"No questions," he murmured, taking her hand. "Just trust me tonight."
They drove in silence, Damien's fingers loosely intertwined with hers the entire way. The city gave way to a quieter stretch of coastal roads, the moonlight reflected on the dark waves like liquid silver.
When they stopped, Liyana recognized the location—it was a private cliffside estate. One Damien had purchased years ago but never showed to anyone. Rumor had it he bought it on a whim, but she'd always sensed there was more behind it.
"Come," Damien said again, leading her through the illuminated garden path.
Hundreds of lanterns lined the stone walkway, glowing softly. Orchids bloomed under the moonlight, and there was a faint hum of string music in the distance. As they reached the cliff's edge, Liyana halted—her breath caught in her throat.
The area was transformed into a private haven. A table set for two overlooked the ocean, and a canopy of string lights twinkled above. Scattered petals formed a trail to the center. And there, beneath the lights, was a velvet box sitting on a marble pedestal.
She turned to Damien. Her heart raced.
"This…?" she whispered.
Damien took a deep breath, stepped closer, and slowly dropped to one knee.
"I once believed power was the only thing worth chasing," he said, voice low. "Until I met the one woman who showed me what it truly meant to want someone—not to control, not to win, but to keep. Every version of you, from the stubborn rival to the wounded girl behind the armor... I love all of it."
Liyana's eyes widened, breath shuddering. Her fingers curled at her sides.
"You were never meant to be mine through conquest," he continued. "But through choice. Your choice."
He opened the box.
Inside was a breathtaking ring—platinum woven with two interlocking bands, one studded with diamonds, the other a black sapphire in the shape of a crescent. Dark and light. Power and grace.
He held it out to her.
"Liyana Xu," he said. "Will you marry me?"
The silence was absolute. Only the crash of waves in the distance dared interrupt.
Liyana stepped forward slowly. Her voice trembled. "I told myself I'd never let love make me weak."
Damien's eyes stayed fixed on hers.
"But with you," she continued, her voice softening, "I don't feel weak. I feel seen. And maybe… maybe that's the scariest thing of all."
She dropped to her knees in front of him.
"I choose you, Damien Lu. Not because you fought for me. But because you waited until I could fight for you, too."
His exhale was almost a laugh of disbelief. He slid the ring onto her finger, and Liyana threw her arms around him, the world narrowing into just this moment. Just them.
Above them, fireworks exploded—choreographed bursts of crimson and gold against the night sky. The sound was thunderous, but neither of them flinched. They stood there, wrapped in each other, as if the world had finally stopped spinning.
Later, as they sat beneath the stars, sharing wine and laughter, Damien brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
"You know," he murmured, "I had this entire speech prepared. Rehearsed it for weeks."
Liyana smirked. "That was rehearsed?"
"No," he admitted. "You made me forget every word the moment you said yes."
She leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
For the first time in a long time, the future didn't feel like a battlefield.
It felt like home.