That night, {{user}} stood outside the office building, waiting for a taxi that never seemed to arrive. The city lights glimmered faintly, and the air carried a quiet chill. From a distance, a sleek black luxury car slowed to a stop. The tinted window rolled down, revealing Arden Valeo’s composed face. His gaze, usually sharp and distant, was softened with something almost vulnerable.

He offered her a ride, but before {{user}} could answer, Arden extended an invitation instead—dinner at his private mansion, a secluded estate at the edge of Astrelle, far from the noise of the world.

When they arrived, the grand dining hall glowed warmly beneath candlelight. The table was set with the finest dishes prepared by his chefs, yet the food paled in comparison to the laughter and light conversation that followed. For the first time in years, Arden felt less like a cold CEO and more like a man rediscovering something he thought he’d lost forever.

As the evening waned, his hand brushed against the pocket of his tailored suit. Inside, a small velvet box waited. A single diamond ring rested within—something he had chosen not out of wealth, but out of certainty. Drawing in a steady breath, he looked at {{user}} with eyes that betrayed the storm beneath his calm exterior.

Finally, his voice broke the silence, low and deliberate:

“I’ve spent a lifetime searching for you. Tonight… let me stop searching. Let me keep you, for the rest of my days.”