Page 257 of Before Dawn

“You’re not ridiculous,” I said firmly, my voice steady. “You’re the strongest, most incredible woman I know. And if you want me all to yourself, you’ve got me.Siempre.217”

“Okay,” she murmured, her fingers intertwining with mine. “Let’s get ready. I want tonight to be special.”

“It will be,” I promised, pressing a soft kiss to her hand.

“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” she asked, playful despite her exhaustion.

I squeezed her hand, lips curving into a knowing smile. “You’ll see.”

City lights blurred past as we drove toward the East River. At the pier, I parked and helped her out, leading her down a private dock. She stopped short, eyes widening at the yacht waiting for us.

“We’re going on that?” she breathed.

I grinned. “We are. Dr. Sang said it’s safe.”

She hesitated, taking in its grandeur. Then her gaze landed on the name scrawled across the side:Red.

“What’s this?” Surprise laced her voice.

I slid an arm around her shoulders. “It’s yours. A pre-push present.”

Her fingers drifted to her belly, tracing slow circles. “A pre-push present?” She glanced between me and the yacht, disbelief flickering in her eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Completely.” I watched her, taking in every reaction. “You’ve been through so much. You deserve something special. Something that’s yours. And when the baby’s born, we’ll bring her here too.”

She blinked rapidly, struggling to speak. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Come here.” I led her onto the deck, settling onto a cushioned bench and gently pulling her onto my lap.

She hesitated. “I’m heavy.”

I wrapped my arms around her. “You’re pregnant. You’re beautiful. And you’re perfect just the way you are.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. I brushed it away with my thumb. “This is yours,” I murmured. “A reminder of how much I love you, how amazing you are. You couldn’t go to the beach or the river, so I thought this would be the next best thing.”

She nodded, her voice barely a whisper. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

I kissed her temple. “I’m glad you like it.”

After a moment, she shifted. “I want to look at the water.”

I steadied her as she walked to the railing, watching her shoulders relax as she gazed at the moonlit waves. Exactly what I wanted—a moment for her to breathe.

I moved behind her, resting a hand on her shoulder. She turned, eyes filled with curiosity.

Taking a slow, steady breath, I lowered myself to one knee.

“No,” she breathed, her voice trembling. “Mikkel, what-”

I looked up at her, my heart pounding. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since our first date, actually.” Emotion thickened my voice. “I knew I wanted to marry you from the very start. I knew we were forever.”

A slow breath filled my lungs as I steadied myself. “For so long, I’ve wanted to show you just how much you mean to me. You’ve been through so much, yet you’ve never stopped loving, never stopped being the incredible woman you are. You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more.”

I swallowed, my heart hammering as I continued. “It was as if the universe itself whispered that you were meant for me. Every beat of my heart, every breath I take, has led me here—to you.” I searched her face, watching every flicker of emotion in her wide, tear-brightened eyes. “With you, I’ve found the kind of love poets write about, the kind artists try to capture in their masterpieces. You’ve completed me in ways I didn’t even realize I was incomplete.”

My grip on the velvet box tightened as I carefully pulled it open, revealing the ring—a masterpiece I’d flown to Switzerland to have made. The flawless diamond caught the moonlight, its ethereal glow accentuating the double-band design. Delicate primroses framed the center stone, and inside the band, our initials, A+M, were engraved.

Her fingers trembled as she stared at the ring, her lips parting in a silent gasp. Tears welled in her eyes, catching the diamond’s brilliance, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

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