"I have something for you," he said.
He pulled out a small velvet box. Advika's breath caught.
"This isn't—I mean, we're already married—"
"Open it," he encouraged.
Inside was a ring. Not the massive diamond from their wedding—that one had been chosen by jewelers, meant to impress, a symbol of a transaction. This one was different. A sapphire, deep blue like the ocean, surrounded by smaller diamonds. Beautiful but not ostentatious. Personal.
"I wanted you to have a ring that actually means something," he said softly. "One that symbolizes what we really are, not what we were forced to be." He took it from the box. "This is me choosing you. Asking you to be my wife, my partner, my everything. Not because of treaties or alliances, but because I love you. Because I can't imagine my life without you in it."
"Sidharth," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"Will you marry me?" He smiled. "I know we're already married. But will you choose this? Choose me? Choose us?"
"Yes," she said, laughing and crying at the same time. "Yes, a thousand times yes."
He slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, catching the light, the sapphire glowing deep blue.
"It's beautiful," she said.
"It's us," he corrected. "Strong, beautiful, real."
She kissed him, pouring everything into it. A year ago, they'd been strangers bound by contract. Now they were partners, lovers, best friends. They'd built something real from the ashes of an arranged marriage.
And it was only the beginning.
Epilogue
Three Years Later
Advika stood in the main kitchen of Sinfully Sweet' flagship location, putting the finishing touches on an elaborate three-tier cake. Her hands moved with practiced precision, piping delicate roses onto the pale pink fondant, even as her very pregnant belly made it difficult to get close to the counter.
"Boss, you shouldn't be on your feet this long," Meera scolded from across the kitchen. "You're seven months pregnant. You should be resting."
"I'm fine," Advika replied, not looking up from her work. "Besides, this is for my own baby shower. I'm not letting anyone else make the cake."
"Your husband is going to kill us for letting you work."
"My husband," Advika said with a smile, "can deal with it."
As if summoned by the mention of him, Sidharth appeared in the kitchen doorway. He'd grown even more handsome over the past three years—a few gray hairs at his temples, laugh lines around his eyes from actually smiling regularly, the hard edges softened by happiness and love.
"Advika Singhania," he said, his voice carrying that particular tone that meant she was in trouble. "What did Dr. Kapoor say about you being on your feet for hours at a time?"
"That it's fine as long as I take breaks?" She looked up innocently.
"That was two hours ago. You haven't moved."
"How do you know? Are you spying on me?"
"I have the security feeds on my phone. I've been watching you for the past hour." He moved into the kitchen, his presence immediately commanding everyone's attention. "You need to sit down. Rest. Let someone else finish the cake."
"It's my baby's shower cake. I'm finishing it."
"Stubborn woman," he muttered, but there was fondness in his voice. He moved behind her, his hands coming to rest on her swollen belly. "At least let me support you."
She leaned back against him, grateful for the solid warmth. Their child kicked as they always do when their father was close. Sidharth's face lit up like it always did when he felt their baby move.
