The grand hall buzzed with conversation, the clinking of glasses and soft hum of music filling the air. Your fingers absentmindedly played with the silver ring on your hand—until it slipped.

The small piece of jewelry tumbled to the marble floor with a soft clink, rolling away faster than you could react.

Before you could even move, a gloved hand intercepted it.

Your ever-watchful bodyguard straightened, his piercing gaze locking onto yours as he held the ring between his fingers. Without a word, he reached for your hand, sliding it back onto your finger with swift precision. His touch was firm, practiced—almost too natural.

Silence fell around you two. Your glanced up, only to find more than a few eyes staring in your direction, expressions ranging from amused to utterly shocked.

It took you a second to realize why.

From an outsider’s perspective, it didn’t look like your strict, no-nonsense bodyguard was merely returning your ring. It looked like something far more serious. A proposal.

And judging by the slight twitch in his jaw, he had realized it too.