Page 16

Bree

The arena's event hall glitters with victory champagne and designer dresses. Heroes Night banners hang alongside Carmichael Cares logos, and the space buzzes with an energy that has nothing to do with hockey.

Clara appears at my elbow, champagne in hand. "Ready for this?"

"Almost." I smooth my dress, grateful we had time for quick touch-ups after the locker room. My fingers brush the small box in my clutch, and my heart races. "Where is he?"

"Making his grand entrance with the team." She nods toward the double doors where players in tuxedos file in. "Look at Matthews kissing your dad's ass."

Sure enough, Matthews hovers behind my father, clutching a folder and nodding too enthusiastically.

He wasn't just demoted, but exiled . His new title —'Special Board Liaison'— might sound important, but everyone knows it's code for fetching coffee and getting ignored in emails. He’s been stripped of all real authority—not fired, just publicly neutered.

The kind of punishment where no one even bothers to hate you anymore.

Karma wears a name tag and carries a briefing binder, apparently.

Ken enters with Ashton, and my breath catches. The tux fits him perfectly, and those glasses... God. He catches my eye across the room and winks.

"Earth to Bree." Clara waves her hand in front of my face. "You're drooling."

"I am not." But I can't stop staring as he works the room, charming veterans and board members alike. He high-fives Charlie, the cancer patient from the VIP box, then engages seriously with one of the veterans from my water treatment advisory board.

"Ms. Carmichael?" The event coordinator appears. "We're ready for your speech whenever you'd like."

My hand shakes slightly as I reach for the microphone. This is it. No turning back.

"Ladies and gentlemen." The room quiets. "Welcome to Heroes Night Post-Game Gala."

"Tonight we celebrate many kinds of heroes," I continue. "Our veterans, who sacrificed everything. Our young warriors fighting cancer. And yes, our Dayton Devils, who showed us what teamwork really means."

Ken stands near the front, those green eyes locked on mine. He has no idea what's coming.

"But tonight, I want to talk about a different kind of heroism.

The courage to choose love when it terrifies you.

The bravery to admit when you're wrong." My voice shakes slightly.

"Three years ago, I met a man who challenged everything I thought I knew about worth and value.

I walked away because I was scared. Because I'd learned to measure everything—and everyone—in dollars and cents. "

The room is dead silent now. Even Matthews has stopped preening.

"I used to think love meant power. Then I met a man who made me feel safe being powerless—just for a minute.

And that changed every thing." I step down from the podium, walking toward Ken.

"He taught me that real strength isn't about control.

It's about trust. About choosing someone who makes you better, who fights for your dreams as hard as you do. "

Ken's expression shifts from confusion to something deeper as I reach him.

"I chose you once," I say, my voice carrying in the quiet room. "I want to do it again, every day, for the rest of my life."

I pull out the ring box, and gasps ripple through the crowd. Ken's eyes widen as I open it, revealing the platinum band engraved with '$500 well spent.'

"Kenneth Branch," my voice steady now, "will you marry me?"

Ken takes the box from my hand, holding it up for the crowd to see. His smile is blinding.

"She's tried to give me expensive gifts before," he says, grinning at me. "Didn't always end well." A ripple of laughter rolls through the room. "But this one?" He opens the box again. "This one I'll accept. Because this time, I know it's about love."

Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out another box—smaller, sleeker. My heart stops.

"As usual, she beat me to it. Except on the ice." He winks. "But I had this ready. Brianna Carmichael..." He drops to one knee, and I cover my mouth to hold back a sob. "Will you wear this ring and let the whole damn world know you're mine?"

"Yes," I whisper, then louder: "Yes. A thousand times yes."

He slides the diamond onto my finger, then stands and pulls me into a kiss that makes the room erupt in cheers. I barely hear them, lost in the feel of his lips on mine, his arms around me.

"I love you," I murmur against his mouth.

"I love you more." He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, his voice low and just for me. "You tried to buy my body once, and my heart once. But this ring? This means I'm giving you everything—-no price tag needed, Princess."