“Yes.”
Lila lets out a startled laugh and presses both hands against her forehead as if trying to process the timing. “That man has the worst sense of scheduling I have ever witnessed.”
My shoulders lift in a quiet shrug. “He seemed confident in the decision.”
Lila leans closer, grabbing my hand and turning it to inspect the ring more carefully. “Confident is one word for it,” she murmurs, shaking her head while the diamond flashes in the sunlight.
“It’s beautiful,” she adds, her voice softening.
A warmth spreads quietly through my chest. “Thank you.”
Her expression softens then, the teasing fading as something more emotional takes its place. She squeezes my fingers gently. “You deserve this,” she says softly.
My throat tightens unexpectedly.
Lila clears her throat quickly, stepping back before either of us can get too sentimental.
“Alright,” she announces, clapping her hands together once. “No more emotional moments until after the gifts are opened.” She gestures toward the garden. “Your guests are waiting.”
I follow her down the terrace steps together, the soft gravel crunching beneath our shoes as we move toward the center lawn.
The gathering is larger than I expected. A long table sits near the fountain, covered in pale linens and small floral arrangements. Wrapped gifts fill the center, stacked in colorful towers beneath ribbons and bows.
Mom stands near the table speaking animatedly with Ethan and Elyana, her hands moving expressively as she describes something that clearly involves at least three dramatic plot twists. When she sees me, her face lights up immediately.
“There she is!”
Before I can react, she crosses the garden quickly and wraps her arms around me in a careful hug.
“You look radiant,” she declares warmly.
Ethan steps forward beside her with a gentle smile.
“Congratulations,” he adds, nodding toward the ring.
I follow his gaze and laugh softly. “I suppose the ring gave it away.”
Mom smiles, her eyes lingering on the diamond. “That would do it.”
Elyana leans closer, her gaze bright with excitement as she takes my hand for a better look. “It’s beautiful, Rowan.”
“Apparently subtlety was never part of the plan,” I reply.
The conversation flows naturally from there.
Guests move through the garden, carrying trays of food and glasses of sparkling lemonade, as the warm afternoon sun filters through the leaves of the trees overhead. For the first time in months, the estate feels less like a fortress and more like a home.
Lila steers me toward one of the chairs near the gift table. “Sit,” she orders.
“I’m pregnant, not fragile.”
“Yes,” she replies immediately. “But you are the guest of honor, which means you follow the rules.”
I lower myself into the chair with a quiet laugh. From this angle, I can see nearly the entire garden.
Children from Kiren’s family and the families of the men who stand closest to him run along the far edge of the lawn, chasing one another near the stone path. Guests mingle beneath the trees, their voices blending into a steady hum of conversation.
Then I notice them standing along the far side of the garden near the edge of the terrace. Mikel, Polina, Karp, and Leo. They remain slightly removed from the celebration, positioned where they can observe the entire property without drawing attention to themselves.
