Ethan’s arms circled her from behind. “You said you were disappointed about missing the premiere, so I brought the movie to you.” He pressed a kiss against her temple. “Truth is, not having you at TIFF hit me hard. I kept thinking back to when I invited you, and it made me sad that we were in the same city, but so far apart.” A soft smile played on his lips as his gaze met hers. “So, this is our do-over.”
Priya turned in his arms, eyes wide with wonder. “It’s beautiful. Like we’ve stepped into another world.”
As they settled onto the floor pillows, Ethan placed a bowl of popcorn on his lap and fed her a few pieces.
“All set?” he asked, his hand on the remote.
“Couldn’t be more excited.”
The projector hummed to life, casting a glow on the makeshift screen. But instead of the opening credits, bold white text appeared: “For Priya.”
Priya’s head snapped toward Ethan. “What’s this?”
On the screen, Ethan appeared, standing in the very spot they were now. He looked into the camera and began to speak.
“Pri, tonight isn’t about the movie. It’s about us,” he said. “Out of all the roles I’ve played, the only one that really matters is the one I get to share with you. Not for a fleeting scene or a single act, but for the full-length feature of our lives. I want you as my costar, my partner, my love—through every take, every plot twist, and every sequel life throws our way.”
Priya’s fingers curled into the blanket beneath her as her heart threatened to take flight. It fluttered in her chest, wings unfurling—ready to soar straight into the unknown.
On-screen, Ethan let out a breathy chuckle. “I know what you’re thinking—this is insane, right? But Pri, this story?Ourstory? It’s been in production for years. I felt drawn to you the moment I laid eyes on you. Right here in this field—kneeling over me, your hair catching the wind like something out of a dream. And something shifted in me. Even before I understood what that meant, before I had the words for it—I knew you were special. If I kept my distance, it wasn’t because you didn’t matter. It was because you did.”
Ethan’s voice was steady, but there was something raw beneath it that made Priya’s chest tighten.
“I always knew you had a crush on me,” he said. “I saw it in the way you looked at me when you thought I wasn’t paying attention. And even though you never said a word, your silencewas the loudest thing I heard. But you weren’t just another girl. You were untouchable, Pri. I couldn’t think of youthatway. You were too important to be part of some reckless phase of mine.
“Then I came back.” Ethan exhaled. “And there you were, impossible to ignore. And this time, I wasn’t some stupid kid with no direction. I knew exactly what I wanted. And it was you. In any way, in any form, on any terms, you’d have me.
“But when the fire happened and I saw you lying there, I thought…I thought I’d lost you for good. That was when everything changed. That deal we made—to walk away from each other? It shattered in a heartbeat.
“Because the truth is, Pri, I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. I don’t need any rehearsals. I don’t need another take. I know exactly how this ends—with you.”
Priya’s pulse thundered in her ears, her vision blurring with unshed tears as the Ethan on-screen dropped to one knee. At the same time, the real Ethan reached into the popcorn for a small box and held it open for her.
“Will you marry me?” both Ethans asked in perfect unison.
For a heartbeat, Priya was split into two people. The one who had spent years aching for him in silence. And the one here now, standing on the brink of something extraordinary.
Her breath hitched. This wasn’t a dream. It was really happening. On-screen Ethan remained frozen, waiting and hopeful. The one beside her held out more than an engagement ring—he held a future, the promise of forever.
A breathless, giddy laugh escaped her. “Priya1.0 and Priya2.0 have only one answer for both Ethans. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”
Ethan let out an incredulous laugh as the ring settled perfectlyonto her finger. Priya couldn’t take her eyes off the design—simple, timeless, and impossibly lovely.
“It was my mother’s,” he said quietly, watching her reaction.
Her breath caught. “How did you even get it?”
“I told Brooke about the proposal when she picked up Sir Puffington. She came back with the ring not long after.”
“But…Harry?” Priya’s mind flashed to the man who couldn’t even bring himself to shift a single photo or trophy his wife had left behind—let alone part with something as precious as her ring.
“Apparently, it was his idea,” Ethan murmured, cupping her face in his hands. When he kissed her, it was as if the world had stopped spinning for a beat.
Priya melted into him, her hands tangling in his shirt. They fell back on the pillows, their embrace deepening until a sound pricked the edge of Priya’s awareness. She frowned, her body going still. Something…or someone…was moving nearby. Glancing over Ethan’s shoulder, she saw a figure creeping away in the dim light.
“Mumma?” she called, sitting up.
The figure froze mid-step. Just ahead, another guilty shape emerged.
