52. Epilogue Lilian
Sebastian’s hand finds mine, and we make our way up the gravel drive, the crunch of stones beneath our feet the only sound in the early morning stillness.
The countryside mansion looms ahead, all stately brick and ivy-covered walls. John and Sloan decided to leave the city and get a mansion in the countryside. It’s become a tradition, these weekly brunches at his parents’ estate. At first, Marc didn’t join, but it only took three brunches and some convincing for him to join Levi and Landon. Now, we’re all together.
“Do you think Elijah and Gem will break the news today?” Sebastian nudges me.
“I don’t know. Should I hide the ring?”
“Don’t you dare, princess.” He takes my hand and places a kiss on the engagement ring.
We kept it a secret to make sure our families got together and put aside their differences for real so that we all could celebrate our wedding without bad blood.
“Think they’ll notice?” I ask .
His lips quirk. “Knowing my mother? She’ll spot it from a mile away.”
We round the corner of the house. The sprawling back lawn stretches out before us with one big white-clothed table with chairs in the middle. Sunlight glints off crystal glasses and decorations, the scent of freshly baked scones and coffee wafting on the breeze.
Anne, Gemma, and Elijah are bent close together as they talk to each other. Mary is perched on Connor’s lap, her laughter floating across the grass. Levi is deep in conversation with Landon, their expressions serious. Marc and John sit near the pool, drinks in hand.
It’s still surreal sometimes, seeing them all like this. Together.
We close the remaining distance, and Sloan is the first to spot us, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile. “There they are! My favorite couple!”
Gemma’s head whips around, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Excuse you, mother. I thought Eli and I held that title.”
Sloan waves a dismissive hand and rises to greet us, pulling me into a warm hug. “Oh hush, you know I adore you both. But today…” She pulls back, her gaze dropping to my hand. To the ring. “Today is special.”
I tense, glancing up at Sebastian. But he just grins, unrepentant. “Told you she’d notice.”
Sloan gasps, her hands flying to her mouth. “Is that… are you…?”
Sebastian’s arm tightens around me. “Surprise?”
And then it’s chaos. Shrieks of joy and exclamations, bodies crushing against us as we’re enveloped in a flurry of hugs and kisses. Sloan is crying, clutching me to her chest, and babbling about wedding plans and grandchildren. Gemma nearly tackles me in her excitement, already calling dibs on maid of honor duties .
It’s overwhelming in the best possible way. Even Levi, reserved and cautious as he is, pulls me into a gruff hug, muttering his congratulations. Though I don’t miss the warning, look, he shoots Sebastian over my shoulder.
“What’s got you so worked up, darling?” John approaches, followed by Marc.
She pulls back enough to gesture at the ring. “Look!”
John turns to Marc. “You agreed to this?”
“As if you could’ve stopped it,” Marc says.
Some things never change, I suppose.
Sloan smacks John’s arm. “Stop it, you two.”
John holds up his hands, walking over to Sebastian and clasping him on the back, his normally stoic face split in a rare grin.
“Okay, okay, let the girl breathe!” Mary elbows her way through the throng to loop her arm through mine. “I’m sure she’ll give us all the details later. For now…” She steers me towards the tables. “I want to hear all about the proposal. Did he get down on one knee? Was there a string quartet? Rose petals? Oh! Did he hide the ring in a cupcake?”
I snort. “None of the above.”
“Well, don’t leave me in suspense! Spill!” She practically bounces in her seat as she tugs me down beside her.
I spot Sebastian, catching his eye across the lawn. He’s having a conversation with Elijah and John, but he must feel my gaze because he looks up, his lips curving into that familiar smirk. The one that never fails to make my heart stutter and my blood heat.
He winks, and I feel it like a physical caress.
“It was perfect.” I tear my eyes away, trying to focus on Mary’s expectant face .
Gemma leans her arm on my shoulder. “Oh, come on, we need more than that! Paint us a word picture here. I want to feel like I was there.”
“Well, if you insist…” The sides of my mouth curve up. “He took me to this drive-in theater, right? But get this, we were the only ones there. I’m talking completely empty lot, just his car parked in front of this giant screen.”
“Shut up,” Mary says.
“My brother rented out an entire drive-in just for you two?”
“Yep.” I pop the ‘p’. “So we’re watching Pride and Prejudice, and I’m thinking it’s just another one of our date nights. But then the movie ends, and suddenly there’s this new one starting up.”
“What was it?”
“It was us. Like, literally us. All these little moments and memories over the years. Photos and videos playing out on this massive screen.”
Mary clutches at her chest. “I think my heart just melted.”
“Oh, it gets better. So I’m sitting there, crying, and then these words just appear on the screen. Big, bold letters, like something straight out of those old Hollywood romances.” I pause. “Will you marry me,” I say softly.
Mary squeals, her hands flying to her mouth. “Holy.”
“I know, right? And then he lifts me out of the car, gets down on one knee, and pulls out this little velvet box, and I swear, I fell in love with him all over again in that moment.”
I peek at Sebastian again.
“He made me feel like the only girl in the world,” I murmur, more to myself than to them. “Like nothing else mattered but us in that moment. ”
“Well, it’s about damn time,” Gemma says. “I was starting to think my idiot brother would never get his act together and put a ring on your finger.”
“Oh, please,” Mary says. “Like you and Elijah didn’t take forever and a day.”
“Totally different situation.” She sniffs, tossing her hair. “We had excusing circumstances.”
“Uh-huh. Sure,” Mary says.
“Alright, lovebirds!” Sloan claps her hands. “Enough canoodling! It’s time for brunch!”
A cheer goes up, and everyone scrambles for their seats, reaching for plates and platters.
Sebastian slides into the seat beside me, his thigh pressing against mine beneath the table. “Miss me?”
I tilt my head, pretending to consider. “Hmmm. Maybe a little.”
He grins, pecking my cheek. “Just a little? Ouch, princess. You wound me.”
The orange fleck in his green eyes dances like a sunset behind a forest. Or maybe it’s a sunrise. A new beginning, a fresh start for us after all.
“Your ego can take it.” I bump my shoulder against his. “But maybe I missed you more than a little.”
“Yeah?” His voice drops, his eyes darkening. “Show me how much.”
My breath hitches, heat unfurling in my belly. “Sebastian.”
“Ugh, get a room, you two!” Gemma groans, lobbing a biscuit at Sebastian’s head. He catches it easily, taking a huge bite and grinning around the mouthful.
I take a moment to breathe. To soak in the warmth of the sun on my face, the laughter and chatter of my family in my ears .
This is happiness. This is peace. This is everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
And as I look around at the faces of the people I hold most dear, I know...
I’m finally home. And the man I love is right by my side.