Page 25 of Rose

Her favorite place. With her favorite person.

Today couldn’t have been more perfect.

“Will, where are you taking me?” Ahzii laughed, her voice playful as her heels sank into the warm, soft sand. “I know we’re on the beach.”

She was blindfolded, her hand firmly gripped in his, trusting him as he guided her.

The wind caught the hem of her red floral dress, brushing it gently against her ankles.

Her freshly straightened hair flowed down her back like silk, catching the light of the setting sun.

Each step forward sent her heart fluttering, her heels pressing deeper into the sand with every breathless laugh.

“Patience, Beautiful,” William murmured, his lips brushing her ear.

The sound of his voice, that deep rasp vibrating against her skin, sent a delicious shiver down her spine.

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect.

It was the kind of evening that only Miami could deliver—warm enough to feel like summer, but cool enough to bring a breeze that danced across her skin like a kiss.

The sky was starting to melt into hues of amber and soft lavender, painting the world in romance.

The entire day had felt like a dream.

From the moment she woke up, William made sure she felt loved—pampered, adored, spoiled.

Kyre had shown up early with an itinerary she hadn’t approved but didn’t dare question.

Hair. Nails. Makeup. Appointments scheduled back to back, all paid for.

She didn’t even wear makeup like that, but when Kyre mentioned William requested it. .. the curiosity kicked in.

Hours later, she returned home glowing—and found a surprise waiting.

Draped across her bed was the dress she now wore: a rich red fabric that hugged her curves in all the right places.

Gold jewelry sparkled beside it, along with strappy heels and a note in his handwriting that simply said, ‘Wear this. I’ll be waiting’.

They had just left her favorite restaurant, full from dinner and laughter, and Ahzii could have sworn the night was over.

It had already been perfect—no, magical—and all because she spent it with the man who made her heart feel like it finally had a home.

So when William said he had one more thing planned, she tilted her head in confusion, wondering what else he could possibly do.

Now here she was, blindfolded, heels sinking into soft sand with every careful step, heart beating a little faster with each one.

She tried to rely on her other senses. The breeze brushing her shoulders. The rhythmic crash of waves nearby. The faint scent of salt and ocean in the air. They were outside, by water. That much she knew. And from how her heels dipped into the ground beneath her, she knew exactly where they were .

The beach.

A wide smile crept across her face.

That was the one thing she loved most about Miami—the endless beaches and breathtaking views. Moving here from Houston had been hard at first, but the ocean always calmed her. Always brought her peace. And William knew that.

He guided her slowly forward, one hand gently in hers, the other resting on her lower back. “Almost there,” he murmured against her ear, and she swore her whole body blushed at the sound of his voice.

The closer they got, the more the air changed. She could hear the faint shifting of someone nearby. The soft shuffle of movement. And then—she stopped. She could feel the shift. Like something sacred stood in front of her.

“Alright,” William whispered, his tone now a mixture of nerves and excitement. “Wait right here for me, beautiful, okay?”

Ahzii nodded, still blindfolded. Her breath caught slightly. There was something in the air—anticipation maybe—but her body tensed with butterflies. “Okay,” she whispered back.

From a few steps away, she heard the light footsteps of someone approaching. A familiar energy, soft and feminine. Kyre. She didn’t say anything, but her presence brought a warmth with it. She handed William a mic, a smile in her voice even without a word.

And then it began.

The music.

A pianist’s melody drifted into the night, soon joined by the gentle cry of a violin. The romantic harmony wrapped around the wind, weaving itself through the air like it was written for this moment, for her.

William guided her just a few steps forward, then stopped again. “Alright, Beautiful... you ready?” he asked gently.

“I think so,” she laughed softly.

He reached behind her head and slowly slipped the blindfold off.

Ahzii’s eyes blinked open to the golden glow of a setting sun washing over a scene she would never forget.

Before her, a glass walkway stretched across the sand, framed by rose petals on either side.

Tall, elegant podiums lined the path, each holding a lush bouquet of red roses.

At the end of the path—lit beneath the burnished glow of dusk—was a heart made of roses, shining like it had been crafted by the sunset itself.

And in the center of that heart, huge glowing letters lit the beach like magic:

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide, tears already rising without warning. She didn’t even notice the pianist and violinist off to the side, or the empty beach that had become their private heaven. All she saw was him—the man who had made her entire day feel like a dream.

William stepped forward, his stride smooth, steady, and full of intention.

A’Mazi stood off to the side, dressed in a crisp white linen button-down, matching pants, and clean white loafers.

William dapped him up with a brotherly grip before continuing toward the heart of the setup, where the glowing lights behind him cast a golden hue across the beach .

He looked flawless—tailored red suit hugging his frame like it was made for this moment, a sharp white button-down underneath, black tie knotted tight, and his black dress shoes gleaming beneath the sun’s final rays. But nothing outshined the love in his eyes as they locked onto her.

She stood at the beginning of the glass walkway, still stunned, still breathless, a wide smile pulling across her face as if it were trying to contain all the joy in her body.

William gave the cue.

The pianist’s fingers touched the keys, delicate and precise. The violinist followed suit, drawing out the hauntingly beautiful opening chords of “Beauty” by Dru Hill.

Then William raised the mic to his lips.

His voice came out smooth—raw, yet controlled. “The woman that’s stolen my heart… and beauty is her name…”

Ahzii’s mouth fell open in pure disbelief. Her hands flew to her mouth, her body trembling as fresh tears flooded her eyes. She hadn’t expected this. Any of this. And now this man—her man—was serenading her with words that hit straight to the soul.

Kyre nudged her gently. “Go to your man, girl.”

That’s when her legs remembered how to move.

She stepped forward slowly, heels gliding across the glass path, petals rustling beneath her feet, heart beating so loud it echoed louder than the music.

She didn’t know what stunned her more: the setup, the glowing words in lights, her brother in a suit.

.. or the fact that William could sing like this.

She had heard him hum before—quiet, private moments—but this?

This was different. This was everything.

“ And once this beauty is mine… I swear we will never be apart,” he sang, his voice carrying on the ocean breeze.

By the time she reached him, he’d set the mic down and taken her hands in his. The music continued behind them like a soundtrack from a movie, but this moment felt more real than anything she’d ever lived.

“Hey, Beautiful,” he whispered, brushing away a tear that slid down her cheek.

She hadn’t even realized it fell.

William’s own eyes were glassy, blinking fast, but when one tear slipped down his face, she reached up and wiped it tenderly, her heart folding into his right there.

“Hey, baby,” she replied, her voice full of love, of awe, of yes without saying the word.

Kyre and A’Mazi stood back, watching with quiet smiles. There was no crowd. No noise. No need for anything or anyone else. William didn’t have much family nearby, no one but a distant brother miles away. But right now, none of that mattered.

Because everything he needed was standing in front of him.

The final note of the song faded into the breeze, replaced by soft background music that drifted gently on the wind.

William held both of Ahzii’s hands, steady and firm, eyes locked on hers like she was the only thing that existed.

Then, slowly, he dropped to one knee, his movements deliberate—reverent.

From the pocket of his tailored suit, he pulled out a velvet box and opened it, revealing a ring so stunning it stole her breath .

A six-carat radiant-cut diamond gleamed at its center—flawless, brilliant—set in platinum and surrounded by a halo of rare pink diamonds. The pavé accents along the band sparkled under the sunset like stars waking up to witness this moment.

Ahzii’s eyes widened, glistening with fresh tears. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.

But it wasn’t the diamond that undid her—it was his words.

“From the moment I walked into your shop and fixed those cameras…” he began, his voice low but clear, filled with emotion that gripped her chest and refused to let go.

“I knew I wanted to do more than just repair what was broken—I wanted to love you, protect you, and pour light into every part of you that’s ever felt dim. ”

Her lips parted, tears falling freely now.

“You were art before I ever touched you,” William continued, voice trembling with vulnerability. “But loving you… loving you has been the greatest masterpiece I’ve ever been a part of.”

He took a breath, eyes never leaving hers. “I vow to keep choosing you, to hold you through every storm, and be your calm when the world gets too loud. I don’t just want forever with you—I want to make forever feel like home.”