Page 219 of Broken Destiny

My heart was beating wildly.

The scavenger hunt had taken me through pieces of our history all day long—from old memories and laughter to moments I had nearly forgotten. And now, somehow, it had led me all the way to Whistler in a helicopter.

Even stepping out into the crisp mountain air felt surreal.

A woman guided me gently toward the dock where Caleb was waiting.

The moment I saw it, my breath caught.

The scenery was breathtaking.

Against the backdrop of the still water and towering pine trees stood the wooden dock, glowing softly beneath the fading light of early evening. Candles and lanterns lined the path ahead of me, their warm flames flickering against the hazy grey sky as mist curled lazily around the lake.

Photographs hung from the lanterns beside the walkway. Pictures of Caleb and me. Pieces of our life together frozen in time.

Flowers and autumn leaves had been scattered carefully across the dock, creating a path that felt intimate, romantic, unmistakably Caleb.

Then my eyes landed on the wooden frame standing near the centre.

No measure of time with you will be enough,

but let’s start with forever!

A soft gasp escaped my lips.

I had always loved that quote fromTwilight, and seeing it there, in Caleb’s handwriting, made emotion swell inside my chest.

Then I saw him.

Standing at the center of the dock.

Caleb.

The soft glow of the lanterns cast warm light across his face, catching against the faint stubble along his jaw while the evening wind stirred his hair gently. He looked gorgeous in beige trousers, tan shoes, and a tailored jacket, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of love, anticipation, and nerves that made my heart ache with tenderness.

All of it was written openly on his face.

A slow smile spread across my face as understanding bloomed inside me.

I knew what was about to happen.

My boots echoed softly against the wood on the dock as I walked toward him.

The second I reached him, Caleb immediately reached for my hands, warming my cold fingers between his own.

The heat of his touch spread instantly through my body, steadying my racing heart.

“Jiya,” he said softly, emotion thick in his voice. “Today was about remembering where we started… every clue brought you back to a moment that mattered to us. Because every road I followed somehow led back to you.”

Emotion lodged painfully in my throat.

“There are still so many places we haven’t seen yet,” he continued quietly, his eyes never leaving mine. “And I want to experience every single one of them with you.”

Tears burned behind my eyes immediately.

“I know what life feels like without you,” he said, his voice roughening slightly. “And I never want to live like that again.”

Emotion swelled painfully inside my chest because I knew exactly what he meant. The pain of those years—the distance, the loss, the silence—was still etched into both of us.