Storm Moretti didn't even look at me when he said those words. He stood holding a glass of bourbon while his attorney slid a contract across the desk toward me.

The sunset over the Manhattan skyline painted the sky in breathtaking shades of amber, violet, and gold.

Inside the penthouse at One Dalton, the chaos of the boardroom felt like a lifetime away. Leo had finally worn himself out after a long day of exploring the city and eating his weight in artisanal ice cream, and was now fast asleep in his new bedroom down the hall, clutching his silver toy car tightly in his small hand.

I stood out on the sprawling private balcony, the cool evening breeze catching the ends of my hair. Below us, the endless river of car taillights pulsed like the glowing veins of a sleeping giant.

A pair of warm, familiar arms slid gently around my waist from behind, pulling me back against a solid, comforting chest.

“You were magnificent today, Juliet,” Storm murmured, resting his chin softly on my shoulder. “You completely paralyzed the board without firing a single shot.”

I leaned back into his embrace, a peaceful smile touching my lips. I reached up and placed my hands over his arms.

“I learned from the best,” I replied softly. “Though I have to admit, watching Vance get hauled away in handcuffs was a pretty nice touch.”

Storm chuckled, a warm, rich sound that vibrated against my back. He turned me around slowly in his arms so I was facing him. The harsh, ruthless billionaire who terrorized Wall Street was completely gone; in his place was simply the man who loved me, looking down at me with absolute devotion in his dark eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Storm said suddenly, his voice dropping into a quiet, vulnerable register.

I blinked in surprise. “For what?”

“For letting you walk away six years ago,” he whispered, his fingers gently tracing the line of my jaw. “For being too arrogant to realize that the only real power I ever had wasn't in my empire, my money, or my control... it was right here, in my arms.”

My heart swelled, a sudden rush of emotion bringing warm tears to my eyes. I reached up, cupping his face with my hands, feeling the rough stubble along his jawline.

“We made mistakes, Storm,” I said softly. “Both of us. But we found our way back.”

“Not just back,” Storm corrected gently. “Forward.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, elegant velvet box. My breath hitched.

Slowly, deliberately, Storm dropped down onto one knee right there on the balcony under the glowing city lights.

“Juliet Carmichael,” he said, his voice steady, clear, and filled with a lifetime of promise. “Six years ago, I gave you a contract and told you to disappear. That was the biggest mistake of my life. Today, I’m giving you my heart, my soul, and everything I’ll ever build. Will you marry me, and let us finally be a real family?”

Tears spilled freely over my lashes, but this time, they were tears of pure, unadulterated joy.

“Yes, Storm,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “Yes, a million times yes.”

Storm stood up swiftly, sliding a breathtaking diamond ring onto my finger before pulling me against him in a fierce, passionate embrace. His lips found mine in a kiss that erased every year of pain, every doubt, and every shadow of our past.