Chapter 9 - THE ENGAGEMENT
Exactly one year to the day after the infamous "garden hose incident," Ethan invited me out to the back lawn of the Belle Meade mansion.
The estate looked entirely different. The arrogant, cold atmosphere was completely gone, replaced by an aura of warmth, peace, and genuine joy. The ground was no longer a stage for cruelty; instead, blooming red roses lined the stone pathways, soft string lights hung from the ancient oak branches, and a beautiful stone fountain trickled quietly in the background.
There were no thirty fake socialites holding champagne glasses to gossip. There were only thirty truly cherished friends, neighbors, community workers, and family members.
In the center of the lawn, beneath the golden glow of the afternoon sun, Ethan dropped down smoothly onto one knee.
He didn't hold a high-maintenance, camera-obsessed spectacle. He simply looked up at Sarah with deep, absolute devotion in his eyes and opened a small, simple velvet box containing a delicate, timeless diamond ring that had belonged to my own grandmother.
May you like
Sarah burst into tears of pure joy, covering her mouth with her hands before nodding vigorously and whispering a breathless "Yes."
I watched from the shaded stone balcony above, holding a warm cup of tea in my hands, feeling a deep, profound peace settle into my soul that I hadn't experienced in decades. My son had found a woman who loved him for his heart, not his portfolio.
