Epilogue
Simon
One Year Later
The grand opening of the new Neptune’s Kingdom was everything we’d hoped it would be, and more.
Hundreds of people crowded the entrance, their excited chatter filling the air as they waited for the ribbon cutting that would officially open the doors.
Children bounced on their heels, tugging at their parents’ hands.
Couples leaned into each other, pointing at the massive water slides visible beyond the glass walls.
The energy was electric, infectious, and I found myself smiling in a way that would have felt foreign a year ago.
Alexander stood beside me at the ceremonial ribbon, his weathered face creased with the kind of joy that came from seeing a dream realized.
I’d worked closely with him over the past eight months—late nights poring over blueprints, early mornings walking construction sites, countless meetings where we debated everything from tile colors to staffing ratios.
I knew how much this moment meant to him.
When he lifted the oversized scissors and made the cut, the crowd erupted in cheers. Confetti rained down, cameras flashed, and Alexander’s grin widened until I thought his face might split in two.
“Look at it, Simon.” His voice was thick with emotion as he surveyed the throng of people streaming through the gates. “They love it here.”
I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You built something great, Alexander. Quite a legacy.”
The word resonated between us. I’d learned over these months that legacy was the driving force behind everything Alexander did.
His careful selectivity about business partners, his meticulous attention to detail, his insistence on doing things right rather than fast, it all stemmed from his desire to build something his children and grandchildren could inherit with pride.
A year ago, I might not have understood that. Business had been about numbers and returns and staying three steps ahead of the competition. But I understood now. I understood the importance of building something that mattered. Of family. Of love.
As if summoned by my thoughts, Raina appeared at my side. She slipped under my arm with the ease of someone who belonged there, which she did.
“Congratulations, honey.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek, her eyes bright as she took in the bustling scene. “I think this might be even better than the original.”
She wasn’t wrong. We’d made several changes to the Neptune’s Kingdom concept while planning this new location.
An updated aesthetic that felt fresh without losing the whimsy that made the original special.
A childcare facility so parents could enjoy the adult amenities without worry.
An outdoor ropes course that had been my personal pet project, something to appeal to guests who wanted adventure beyond the waterpark.
Alexander had signed off on every proposal, trusting my judgment in a way that still humbled me. I had a feeling this was just the first of many resorts we’d open together.
“I think we need the full experience before we can be sure,” I said, pulling Raina closer. “So I booked us the presidential suite for the weekend.”
She tilted her head, giving me a look that attempted stern disapproval but was undermined by the smile tugging at her lips. “You know, it’s not really good for business to take the best room in the resort on opening weekend. That’s prime revenue.”
“Some things are more important than business.”
The words left my mouth easily, naturally now, and I meant every syllable.
A year ago, I never would have said that.
Business had been everything, the altar at which I worshipped, the metric by which I measured my worth.
But Raina had taught me that success meant nothing without someone to share it with.
That a weekend in a luxury suite with the woman I loved was worth more than any profit margin.
We said our goodbyes to Alexander, who was being swept away by a crowd of well-wishers and local press. He waved at us over his shoulder, still beaming, and I felt a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the summer heat.
A friend, I thought as we walked away. Alexander had become a genuine friend, something I’d sworn off after Chuck’s betrayal. I’d been so careful not to let business associates get too close, so certain that maintaining distance was the only way to protect myself.
But Raina had taught me something about that too. There were good people in the world, people worthy of trust. I just had to be willing to let them in.
The grand opening party was in full swing by the time we reached the botanical garden at the back of the property.
Fairy lights twinkled overhead, strung between the branches of carefully cultivated trees. The air smelled of flowers and the savory aroma of passed appetizers. A string quartet played something elegant but unobtrusive in the corner, and everywhere I looked, I saw familiar faces.
We’d invited practically everyone we knew to this opening—family, friends, business associates, anyone who’d played a part in getting us here. Raina and I made our way through the garden slowly, stopping to chat with each group we encountered.
My sister Shannon was there with her current boyfriend, a marketing executive who seemed genuinely smitten with her. She’d finally stopped chasing men who weren’t interested, and the result was someone who looked at her like she hung the moon. I was happy for her.
Noah and Fallon had brought their entire brood, including their newest addition, who spent the entire party sleeping peacefully in their mother’s arms. Fallon looked tired but radiant, and Noah couldn’t seem to stop touching her, his hand always finding its way her waist or the small of her back.
My parents were holding court near the champagne fountain with Liam and Morgan, my mother charming everyone within earshot while my father nodded along with an expression of fond tolerance. Raina’s mother was with them, and I watched the three of them laugh at something together.
It wasn’t until we reached the back of the garden that we found Raina’s brothers. Kurt and Miles stood near a trellis covered in climbing roses, drinks in hand. Miles had his arm around his now fiancée, Hazel. The three of them smiled as we approached.
Kurt shook my hand without trying to crush my fingers. Miles did the same.
It was progress.
After what I’d done to hurt Raina, it had taken both of her brothers far longer to forgive me than it had taken her.
For a while, I’d genuinely worried that my friendship with Kurt was over.
That would have been devastating, but I couldn’t deny I’d had it coming.
You didn’t hurt a man’s sister and expect him to simply forget about it.
But time had a way of healing things, especially when paired with consistent effort. I’d proven myself over these past months—shown up when I said I would, treated Raina with the care she deserved, demonstrated through actions rather than words that I could be trusted.
Kurt and I had started hanging out again. He’d even come over to watch hockey at my place, though Raina was always there too now. She’d moved in three months ago, and the apartment that had once felt sterile and impersonal now felt like home.
Miles had been a tougher nut to crack. Part of that was lingering guilt over the role his concussion had played in our almost-breakup.
It didn’t matter how many times Raina told him it wasn’t his fault; he still carried that weight.
But he was doing better. The concussion symptoms had fully resolved, he’d been cleared to play again, and he hadn’t suffered another head injury since.
“There you guys are!”
I turned to see Wren approaching with two champagne flutes in her hands. She handed one to Raina with a flourish, then turned to me with an expression of exaggerated apology.
“Sorry, Mr. Grumpy Boss. You’re going to have to get your own.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t muster any real annoyance. Wren had been calling me that ever since my fight with Raina, and despite my best efforts, the nickname had stuck. Fair enough. I’d earned that.
“Be nice, Wren,” Raina chided, but her eyes were dancing with amusement.
“I’m always nice.” Wren’s smile had an edge to it. “Well, assuming he doesn’t screw up again. I’ve got a baseball bat in my trunk, just in case.”
I blinked. “In your trunk?”
Raina tilted her head. “I thought you kept it by your bed?”
“That’s The Slugger.” Wren waved a dismissive hand. “The one in my trunk is Judgment Day. A single woman can never be too careful. Plus, it’s good to have options.”
Raina laughed, and I decided it was probably best not to ask follow-up questions. The message was clear: Wren was not to be underestimated. Noted.
We mingled for another hour, sampling the hors d’oeuvres that circulated on silver trays and drinking perhaps more champagne than was strictly advisable.
The sun began its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink and gold, and the party showed no signs of winding down.
But I was barely paying attention to any of it.
My palms were sweating. My heart was beating too fast. I’d closed billion-dollar deals with more composure than I was feeling right now, but this wasn’t business. This was personal. This was everything.
I wiped my hands discreetly on my shirt and hoped Raina hadn’t noticed my nerves. She was chatting with her mother, her face animated as she described something about the resort’s design, and I let myself simply look at her for a moment.
God, I love her.
The thought wasn’t new. I’d known it for months, had said it countless times, but it still hit me with the same force every time.
This woman had walked into my life with muffins and sunshine and a fake dating scheme, and she’d systematically dismantled every wall I’d ever built.
She’d made me better. Happier. More human.
I couldn’t imagine a life without her in it. Which was why I was about to do what I was about to do.
The first fireworks exploded overhead, a burst of brilliant red against the darkening sky.
Everyone tilted their heads back to watch, gasps of delight rippling through the crowd as more colors joined the display—blue and gold and green, cascading down like glittering rain.
The music faded, replaced by the boom and crackle of pyrotechnics.
But my eyes weren’t on the sky. They were on Raina.
I reached into my pants pocket and withdrew a small velvet box. My fingers trembled slightly as I sank to one knee, the grass soft beneath me, and I took her hand in mine.
It took her a moment to notice. She was still watching the fireworks, her face lit up with wonder. Then she felt the tug of my fingers and looked down.
Her mouth fell open. “Simon, what are you…”
“I love you, Raina.” My voice came out steady despite the thunder of my pulse.
“I think I have ever since you walked into my office that first day, with your muffins and your sunshine smile and your refusal to be intimidated by my bad mood. You were a light in a life I hadn’t realized was so dark, and I tried to resist you.
Tried to keep my walls up, to protect myself from the risk of letting someone in. ”
I opened the box, revealing the ring I’d spent weeks choosing. A brilliant-cut diamond flanked by smaller sapphires, because sapphires reminded me of her eyes.
“But I wised up. I stopped fighting this, stopped fighting you, and I discovered that loving you isn’t a risk at all.
It’s the safest thing I’ve ever done.” I swallowed hard, my heart in my throat.
“You make me want to be better, Raina. You make me be better. And I can’t imagine facing another day without you by my side. ”
Tears were streaming down her cheeks now, reflecting the fireworks still bursting overhead. Around us, I was vaguely aware of our families and friends turning to watch, of gasps and whispered exclamations, but all I could see was her.
“Raina Seager, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” The word burst out of her, half-laugh and half-sob, loud enough that everyone in the immediate vicinity heard it. “Yes, Simon, yes!”
I was on my feet in an instant, sliding the ring onto her finger before pulling her into my arms. She crashed against my chest, her arms winding around my neck, and I held her so tightly I thought I might never let go.
Cheers erupted around us—her brothers whooping, Wren shouting something that might have been “About time!”, our parents applauding with misty eyes. But I barely heard any of it over the rush of joy flooding through me.
Raina pulled back just enough to look at me, her face radiant, her eyes shining with happy tears. “I love you,” she whispered, the words almost lost beneath another burst of fireworks.
I cupped her face in my hands, brushing my thumbs across her cheeks to catch the tears. “I love you too, Sunshine. More than I ever thought possible.”
When I kissed her, it felt like a promise. A vow. The beginning of a forever I hadn’t known I wanted until she showed me what I’d been missing.
Raina was mine now. My partner. My future wife. My everything.
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