The morning sun bathed the Winters estate''s living room in a warm golden hue, casting soft glimmers across the ss coffee table and ivory walls. It was one of those slow Wednesdays where time moved at a gentler pace, and the air carried an undercurrent of anticipation.

    Stefan sat on the couch with a subtle smile ying on his lips. His fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest, betraying his calm demeanor.

    Last night had been unnned but had been quite eventful and satisfying but he wasn''t going to stay stuck on it. He had other things—important things—to think about.

    Across from him, Ethan lounged with one leg crossed over the other, sipping from a tall ss of juice while Rayna leaned against the arm of the couch, curled up in a soft cashmere throw with a mug of coffee in hand.

    "So," Rayna said, breaking thefortable silence. "Let''s go over this again. Dress delivered. Proposal song confirmed. Lights, stage, flower arrangements—done. Are you sure you want to don''t want to do this during apany''s anniversary dinner or some event?"

    Stefan shook his head, his tone resolute. "No. I don''t want that and even if I do, I can''t wait that long. I just want not to see thising at all and since it''s a private dinner date, she definitely wouldn''t expect it."

    Ethan gave a shortugh. "You''re a bold man, I''ll give you that. Public proposals are either a hit or aplete disaster. Good thing you''re not thinking of that. I don''t think I''ll want that either."

    Rayna grinned. "Well, you might not want one but I do. I just love public proposals. They excite me," she said and Ethan raised a brow.

    "Really? I didn''t think you''d do—"

    "Can you both not make it about yourself, please? We''re nning my proposal," Stefan cut in, and Ethan chuckled.

    "Yeah. So, what else?" he asked.

    Stefan smiled fondly as he leaned back in his chair.

    "So I''m not just giving her a ring on Sunday. I''m also giving her the key to her new workspace, too. I want her to feel like everything in her life is finally falling into ce. The key to her work. And hopefully, the key to my heart too."

    Rayna blinked, her heart aching a little from the sincerity in his voice. "Stefan…"

    "I want her to feel chosen," he continued, his tone soft but sure. "After everything she''s gone through, she deserves something real. I want that memory to be hers forever. Something she didn''t have to fake."

    Rayna leaned forward slightly, her hand covering her heart. "You''re going to make her cry. And me too."

    Ethan grinned, nudging her gently. "You''re lucky I''m not the jealous type. But damn, man. That''s beautiful."

    Stefan gave a modest shrug, but the weight behind his words lingered in the air. "I had the ring custom-made. Simple, elegant, like her. I just can''t wait for Sunday when I''ll walk her into the workspace, hand her the key, then take her to the restaurant and propose. That''s where you both would be waiting for us. The four of us and the moment."

    Rayna smiled warmly. "She won''t hesitate to say yes with everything you want to do. Even without making it so special, she still woukd say yes."

    A flicker of uncertainty crossed Stefan''s face, but he nodded slowly. "I hope so. I really do."

    Though he knew Ruby loved him but with everything going on, would she agree to marry him just yet?

    They fell into a peaceful silence for a moment, sipping drinks and letting thefort of shared excitement settle between them.

    Stefan leaned his head back slightly, a rare ease visible on his features. He could already picture it—her smile, the way her eyes would widen, the tremble in her voice when she would say yes. He''d held on to this hope, this secret, for weeks and soon he''d be a few steps closer to making her his wife for real now.

    Then Stefan''s phone buzzed on the table.

    The sound was sharp, cutting through the calm. Stefan nced at the screen, expecting a text from his assistant or Oliver updating him about Ruby''s workspace. But his expression shifted when he saw the caller ID.

    Why would Elizabeth''s guard be calling so early in the morning?

    He picked up immediately. "Hello?"

    The voice on the other end was fast, urgent. "Mr. Winters. It''s about your mother. She''s been hurt. Badly."

    Stefan''s heart dropped. "What? What happened? Where''s she?"

    "She''s in the hospital now and she''s stable so you don''t have to be so scared. I called to let you know the situation of things," he said but Stefan wasn''t hearing that.

    "What hospital? What happened?!" Stefan''s voice cracked, paning every word.

    "Zeden General, sir. She was… attacked. Or at least pushed while trying to protect Eliana. She hit her head but she''s ——"

    "I''m on my way!" Stefan barked, the line going dead almost immediately.

    Rayna and Ethan seeing the tension on Stefan''s face, stood immediately. "What is it?"

    Stefan''s expression was grim, his knuckles white around his phone. "It''s my mother. She was attacked at the hospital. She''s unconscious."

    Ethan was already on his feet. "What?! Is she—?"

    "I don''t know," Stefan cut in. "She was protecting Eliana. Someone tried to get to her, and my mother—she stepped in."

    Rayna gasped. "Oh my God…"

    Stefan was already halfway across the room when he turned back. "Don''t tell Ruby anything yet. I don''t want her panicking. Not until we know what''s going on and my mother''s condition."

    "Of course," Rayna nodded quickly, her eyes ssy with worry. "Stefan, be careful."

    He gave a single nod and bolted through the front door, Ethan grabbing his car keys and following right behind.

    "Be careful, babe," Rayna called after Ethan and he gave her a single nod.

    The living room fell into silence after they left.

    Rayna sat back down, her cup of coffee forgotten and cold. Her mind was spinning. One moment, they had been talking about proposals, keys, and happy endings. The next… everything was uncertain.

    Her eyes drifted to the neatly wrapped box on the side table—the one holding the dress Stefan had picked for Ruby. The one she was supposed to wear in four days, on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.

    A lump formed in Rayna''s throat.

    Why now? Why today of all days? Would everything be okay? Who had tried to kill Eliana? Ivy? How had Elizabeth known to be there in time? It was barely seven so how had Elizabeth managed to be at the hospital that early?

    She wiped at her cheek, not even realizing a tear had slipped free.

    "I hope she''s okay," she whispered, her hands trembling slightly.

    Meanwhile in the car, Stefan gripped the wheel so tightly that his knuckles had gone white. Ethan sat in the passenger seat, silent, asionally ncing at him with concern but knowing better than to speak.

    Stefan''s mind raced. His mother. His mother who had orchestrated the impossible—had protected him from heartbreak, from shame, from the scandal Ivy had left in her wake. The same woman who''d insisted Ruby take Ivy''s ce to preserve his dignity, even when he himself hadn''t known anything.

    She didn''t deserve this.

    And Eliana—was she okay? Was this attacker after her specifically? Why now? It has to be Ivy.

    "Stefan," Ethan said quietly. "Do you think this has anything to do with Ivy?"

    "It has to," Stefan replied tightly. "My mom had mentioned something about Ivy being responsible for Eliana''s condition. After what happenedst night,  I thought things had calmed down for a while but… clearly, they haven''t."

    They both went quiet again, the road stretching endlessly ahead as the hospital neared.

    Stefan and Ethan stormed through the hospital entrance, hearts pounding and adrenaline firing through their veins. The sliding doors hissed shut behind them as they crossed into the sterile hallway, searching for any familiar face.

    A nurse behind the counter stood up immediately, clearly startled by the sudden burst of energy.

    "Where''s Elizabeth Winters?" Stefan asked, his voice firm butced with urgency. "She was admitted here. Head trauma or something."

    Before the nurse could answer, a voice cut through the air.

    "Stefan?"

    He turned sharply, blinking in shock as a woman in a white coat approached him.

    She hadn''t changed much—poised, graceful, the same piercing eyes just as he remembered. Noreen.

    "Noreen?" he said, momentarily thrown. "What are you…?"

    "Funny how your mom asked me the same question. I work here now," she said softly. "Transferred back justst week."

    The air thickened with emotion. Six years had passed since hest saw her. His aunt Noreen, histe father''s secretary''s wife.

    She had vanished after her husband and his father''s death, mourning in private. Seeing her now, wearing a doctor''s coat, was surreal.

    "I operated Elizabeth," Noreen said, stepping closer. "She''s stable—for now. She hit her head hard when she fell. We''re keeping her under close observation."

    Stefan exhaled shakily, his shoulders slumping just a little. "Thank God."

    "And Eliana?" Ethan asked.

    Noreen''s eyes widened faintly, a small smile breaking through. "She woke up, Stefan. Minutes before the incident. She''s weak, but she''s conscious."

    Emotion gripped Stefan''s throat. "She''s awake?"

    "Yes. Still paralyzed, but she''s responding. She saw everything—what Daniel tried to do."

    Stefan''s jaw tensed. "I need to go see the officers. I want answers."

    Noreen touched his arm gently. "She''s going to need you. Both of them will."

    He nodded. "I''ll go check on my mom and then head to the station. I need to make sure no one tries this again."