HERMIONE
Paris. The City of Love.
I never planned for anything quiet or small when it came to Hermione. She's always deserved the world—and tonight, I was going to give it to her.
The moment she stepped off the private jet, her eyes wide with wonder, I knew every second spent planning this was worth it.
I swept her off to a stunning villa overlooking the Seine, walls drenched in twinkling fairy lights and red rose petals scattered like a fragrant path to the grand ballroom.
She was stunned.
"Dylan… what is all this?" she whispered, breathless.
I smiled, took her hand, and led her inside where her closest friends—Lia, Claire, Seraphine, and Daniel—were waiting, each wearing that soft, proud smile that only true love can inspire.
Her grandparents and my parents stood nearby, emotion thick in the air. I had flown them all in, knowing this moment wasn't just about us—it was about the family we'd become.
Outside, photographers from the biggest fashion and lifestyle magazines waited quietly, tipped off by her friends who'd helped me orchestrate the surprise. Hermione's face when she spotted them was priceless—shock, laughter, and the tiniest blush all at once.
I guided her to the center of the room where a long table groaned under the weight of gifts—luxury bags from Paris' finest designers, shoes in every style and color she ever admired, sparkling jewelry boxes, and at the very center, a sleek, shiny brand-new car wrapped with a massive red bow, gleaming under the crystal chandeliers.
Her eyes glistened with tears.
"It's all for you," I said softly. "Because you are everything."
She squeezed my hand, overwhelmed, then pulled me close, her head resting on my chest as we both took in the moment.
Then, the music started—soft, romantic, the kind of song that made the world slow down.
I dropped to one knee, the weight of the ring heavy in my palm, but nothing compared to the weight of all the love and promises wrapped in it.
"Hermione Isabelle Vale," I began, voice thick with emotion. "From the moment I met you, I knew you were the one who'd rewrite every chapter of my life."
She gasped, hands flying to her mouth.
"You survived storms I could barely imagine. You trusted me when you had every reason not to. You became my anchor, my fire, my forever."
I opened the box.
The diamond sparkled like the stars outside the Parisian sky. Two sapphires flanked it—a symbol of pain and healing, and in the center, a promise of forever.
"Will you marry me?"
Tears slipped down her cheeks as she nodded, then whispered, "Yes. A thousand times yes."
Cheers erupted from the crowd—friends, family, even strangers capturing the moment.
I pulled her to her feet, held her close, and kissed her like the whole world was watching and we didn't care.
Later, her grandfather stepped forward and said quietly, "You've made her very happy. Thank you, Dylan."
Her grandmother nodded, eyes shining.
Her parents smiled through tears.
Hermione looked up at me and whispered, "I never imagined a love like this."
I kissed her again and said, "Neither did I. But here we are. Together. Always."
Paris glittered around us that night—just like the beginning of the rest of our lives.