It sat on a platinum band: a flawless, sky-blue diamond, cut perfectly and surrounded by tiny stones like stars around a moon. It caught the light and made the whole room glow.
"Igor?" Her voice shook.
My breath caught. I went down on one knee and gripped her hand. I'd stood in front of gun muzzles and run operations, but right now I felt like a kid.
Stella watched us with wide eyes.
"Elena." I held her hand and looked into her blue eyes. "Five years ago at Christmas, I hurt you with lies."
Her eyes filled.
"I made the stupidest, cruellest choices. I almost lost you, almost lost our daughter — lost everything." My voice came out rough. "Every day since I've lived with pain and regret. I went mad trying to find you, using every way I had. I should have been there for you — through your pregnancy, at Stella's birth, watching her grow. I missed everything because I was a coward."
"Igor," she said, shaking her head, voice breaking. "You'vedone well now."
"That should have been my responsibility," I said. "And I left you to carry it alone. When I finally found you and saw how strong and beautiful you'd become, I felt proud — and I felt broken that you had to bear it alone."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I know I hurt you. I know I was a bastard. But Elena, you were my only. My salvation. My whole world. Without you, I was nothing. With you, I'm alive."
My hands trembled as I opened the box and took out the ring.
"Tonight, five years later, in front of our daughter, I want to tell you I love you, Elena Jensen. I love your kindness, your strength, your stubbornness — everything. I love you to my bones, to my soul. I would rather die than lose you."
Her tears fell like beads.
"Marry me. Let me spend the rest of my life loving you, making up for what I took. Let me be your husband. Let us be a real family. Elena, will you marry me?"
She looked at me — tearful, tender, moved — and didn't speak. My heart thudded against my throat.
"Mom!" Stella burst out. "Say yes! Say yes!"
She clapped, eyes shining.
Elena looked at our daughter, then back at me. Her tears kept falling, but the corner of her mouth curved into the gentlest smile.
She held out her left hand and, voice choked but steady, said, "Yes. I will."
My world stopped. Then everything flowed in — joy, relief, gratitude, love. My hands shook as I slid the ring onto her finger. It fit like it belonged there.
"Fuck, Elena." My voice came out raw. "You don't know what this means to me."
"I do." She cupped my face. "It matters to me too."
I stood and pulled her into a fierce hug. She hugged me back; I felt our heartbeats sync.
"I love you," I whispered in her ear. "I will always love you, Elena."
"I love you too," she said. "Always."
"I want a hug too!" Stella shoved between us.
We broke apart and looked at her. She opened her arms, face alight.
"Come here." I knelt down.
She dove into my arms and I wrapped one arm around her, the other around Elena. My whole world was in my arms.
