Chapter 215
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CHAPTER 107
ANNA’S POV
“Will you marry me, Anna p>
“Ryan…” I gasped, my voice catching a little. I blinked at him, caught completely off guard. My heart stuttered in my chest, my eyes wide as they dropped to the little velvet box in his hand and the ring sparkling inside it. I hadn’t expected this. Not here. Especially not when we were standing in front of my parents‘ grave.
Ryan held the ring out with a soft smile, his eyes fixed on mine, steady and full of love.
I’d never been here before. Not even once. And it wasn’t because I didn’t care or didn’t love them–God, I did. I just couldn’t face it. I was scared… terrified, actually. Scared of seeing their names carved into stone. Scared of what it would stir up inside me. So for seventeen years, I stayed away, always telling myself I wasn’t ready.
But after everything that had happened, after Sophie’s death, after George’s downfall, after those endless letters from the European Council demanding answers and decisions, I don’t know… something in me finally knew it was time. To see my parents. I needed answers. I needed to hear from them, even if it was just silence carved into marble.
So when Ryan asked where I wanted to go to celebrate finishing my exams, the words slipped out before I even thought them through. “My parents‘ grave.” And he didn’t question it. He just gave me this quiet nod, like he already understood, and told me to get ready.
What I wasn’t expecting was what happened next, Ryan kneeling in front of me, right here, right in front of their grave… asking me to marry him.
“Mm?” Ryan prompted gently, still holding out the ring.
I laughed, a shaky, emotional laugh, and nodded as the tears started to fall. “Yes! Of course p>
He exhaled, like he’d been holding his breath the whole time, even if he hadn’t shown it. “Thank God,” he whispered, slipping the ring onto my finger. It was gorgeous. A 4.8–carat vivid pink diamond, surrounded by smaller white ones, glinting like something out of a dream.
He lifted my hand and kissed it gently before turning slightly to face their graves.
Then, still holding my hand, he spoke to them.
“I’d love your blessings to marry your daughter,” he said, his voice soft but full of conviction. “I love Anna, so, so much. I know I came here with my mom years ago and I told you I’d take care of her like she was my sister, and I’m sorry… I couldn’t keep that promise p>
He paused, and I looked at him, my chest tightening.
“Anna’s not my sister. She’s my mate. And I’m in love with her. Completely. I can’t even picture my life without her anymore. But I promise you this–I will protect her. Always. With everything I have. With my life p>
A breeze rolled through the trees just then, brushing over us like a gentle hand.
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I reached for his other hand, lacing my fingers through his. The wind felt… warm. Familiar.
I looked up at him, smiling through the tears. “I think they’re giving us their blessing p>
He smiled back. “I think so too p>
We stood there for a few minutes longer before a voice broke the quiet.
“Are you their daughter p>
We turned to see the grave keeper standing a few feet away, holding a small envelope in his hand. He looked old, older than I remembered, but his eyes were kind.
I nodded slowly, wiping my face. “Yes. I’m Anna p>
He stepped forward and held out the envelope. “There’s something for you. I was told to give it to you if you ever came back for them p>
I stared at it, frozen. My throat tightened instantly.
He handed it over and walked away quietly. I just stood there, holding the envelope in both hands, staring at it like it might disappear.
“Anna,” Ryan said gently, rubbing my back.
I broke. I turned into his chest and sobbed, my whole body shaking.
“Seventeen years, Ryan. I didn’t come back for seventeen years,” I choked out. “They waited. I left them here, and they still waited for me. I was such a selfish child. I ignored them like they didn’t exist p>
“Anna, baby,” he murmured, holding me tighter. “I’m sure they don’t see it that way p>
I sniffled and slowly pulled back, wiping my face with the back of my hand. My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper. Folded neatly.
I unfolded it and saw my father’s handwriting.
My dearest Anna,
If you’re reading this, then life has already taken me farther than I wished to go, and these words are all I can leave behind. I hope, wherever you are, you’re smiling, that you’ve grown into the woman your mother always believed you’d become.
There’s so much I wish I could have told you while I was still here. About our family. About who I really am. About the choices I made that shaped the life we lived. You’ve probably heard pieces of it by now, how your uncle became the Alpha King, and how I stepped away instead of fighting him for the throne. Many called me weak. Some said I ran. But that wasn’t the truth.
I didn’t walk away because I feared him. I walked away because I was tired, tired of bloodlines and politics, tired of watching power destroy everything it touched. I wanted peace, Anna. I wanted to build a home filled with
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laughter instead of arguments, warmth instead of war. And I did, for a while. Until life had other plans.
If the world ever turns to you and demands that you take what I left behind, remember what I’m telling you now, you don’t have to. You owe no one your peace. The throne will always find someone to sit on it, but you, my daughter, you were born to live freely.
Live simply. Love deeply. Travel, make memories that are yours and yours alone. Don’t let them chain you to a legacy that has already taken too much from our bloodline.
My greatest wish is to see you happy and living without fear or duty weighing down your spirit.
And when that time comes, when you are smiling, at peace, and surrounded by love, know this: my soul will find its rest, knowing my daughter chose life over power.
With all my love,
Your Father
I stared at the words until they blurred, until my eyes were too filled with tears to see clearly.
Ryan reached over and wiped them gently.
“I’m so at peace, Ryan,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’ve never wanted the throne, but I always thought maybe my dad did. Maybe I owed it to him. But now… now I know he didn’t want that for me either. He just wanted me to live p>
Ryan nodded slowly. “And that’s what we’re going to do p>
I hugged him tightly, burying my face in his shoulder.
“I knew I’d get an answer if I came here. I just knew,” I whispered. “And now… now I’m so, so, so at peace p>
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.