Page 217 of Broken Destiny

And truthfully…

We had done far more than just kiss that night.

Butterflies erupted wildly in my stomach.

After thanking Elle, I gathered everything, placed it carefully back into the envelope, and headed to the car.

When I arrived at the hotel, I parked in the visitor’s lot and walked inside, my heart pounding harder with every step.

This had to be the end.

Caleb would be waiting.

I pressed the button for the floor of the Royal Suite and rode the elevator up, my heartbeat growing faster with each passing second.

The doors opened.

I hurried down the hallway and pushed open the suite door.

But instead of Caleb, I found?—

Another red envelope.

Laughing softly, I shook my head.

Of course.

I opened it quickly.

Head to the roof. Your ride awaits you!

My breath hitched.

Without another thought, I turned and ran back to the elevator.

Moments later, I stepped onto the rooftop.

And there, waiting for me beneath the autumn sky…

Was a helicopter.

CALEB

I heardthe distant hum of the chopper long before it appeared.

The steady thrum of its blades echoed across the lake, growing louder with each passing second while the sharp evening chill curled through the air around me.

I stood at the edge of the dock, my hands tucked into the pockets of my coat, trying unsuccessfully to calm the nervous energy pulsing through my body.

For two weeks, I had planned the entire day with precision, obsessively. Every clue, every stop, every timing had been checked and rechecked until I knew the entire thing by heart. I had waited eagerly—impatiently—for the moment when it would finally unfold.

And now… it was all coming together.

A photographer had quietly followed Jiya throughout the day, capturing her reactions as she solved each clue—her laughter, confusion, smiles, and all the little expressions I never wanted to forget. Another photographer waited nearby now, ready to capture the proposal itself.

This was not just a proposal.

This was the beginning of the rest of our lives.