Everyone laughs.
“And Ella—“ he pauses, gaze flicking to me for half a second too long, too intimate ”—would sit closest to the administrative buildings. Still private, but connected to her work.”
Heat rushes up my cheeks. The last slide appears—a wide overhead rendering of the entire family circle.
“This,” Cole says quietly, voice rough with something real, “is a place that grows as the family grows. A place where you stay together. A place that lasts.”
The silence that follows is thick. It’s emotional, like a rope tied around my chest pulling tight.
Dad stands slowly, eyes bright. Jace looks impressed. Zane nods once, sharply. Ava has tears in her eyes. Beck is… begrudgingly stunned, and even Quinn looks thoughtful.
And me? I’m in awe. So much pride I could burst rises in my chest. He did it. He really, really did it. I helped him out, like I said I would, but even I didn’t expect him to come up with all this. I’m in love.
Cole swallows hard, looking at the family like he’s terrified he’s messed it all up. “Thank you for your time,” he concludes with a polite bow, eyes locked on mine, and I feel the words to my core.
He steps back, and then it’s over.
We retreat to the smaller room at the back of the barn—all Morgans, no contractors. The second the door shuts, Beck drops into a chair.
“I’m not gonna lie,” he says. “The first company had some cool ideas.”
Quinn raises a brow. “Cool ideas that don’t fit the ranch.”
Jace leans forward. “Cole’s layout is the most strategic. Strongest infrastructure. Makes sense long-term.”
Zane nods. “Functional and beautiful.”
Ava wipes her eyes. “I love it.”
Dad stays quiet.
As for me…
My heart is pounding so loud I barely hear anything. I want to shout his name and fight for him. I want to choose him so badly it aches, but this isn’t just my decision.
Dad finally leans back, folding his arms. “Well, the proposals were all strong. But we need to choose the one that fits our future best.”
All eyes turn to him. Then to each other, and my breath catches. This is it. This is the moment.
Dad clears his throat. “We are going to choose—“
The door creaks open, and a ranch hand pokes his head in. “Sorry, sir. The contractors are getting antsy outside.”
Dad nods. “Give us a moment, son.”
The hand leaves, and the room turns silent again, so still you could hear a heartbeat through the walls.
Dad looks at us. “Alright. As I was saying, we are going to choose—“
10
COLE
I stand outside the barn with my hands in my pockets and my heart trying to pound its way up my throat. The sun is high, breeze is light, and every contractor who bid today is gathered in a loose, nervous circle near the porch. The whole ranch feels like it’s holding its breath.
Inside the barn, Ella and her family are deciding my fate—future, company’s survival, and father’s legacy.
I’ve never hated waiting this much.
