Chapter 20: Power Plays and Quiet Promises
Three Years Later – The Office Proposal
The walls of Laurier & Whitlock Enterprises gleamed with soft amber light as the golden hour sank over the skyline. Reese stood by the full-length window of the executive floor, her arms crossed, posture graceful but sharp—still the same intimidating elegance she carried since her intern days, but now elevated to co-CEO.
She hadn't noticed Raiden standing behind her until his reflection joined hers in the glass.
"You're quiet," he said, his voice lower now—deeper with age, calmer with clarity.
"I'm thinking," she replied, her tone curt. "The Shanghai merger's going to tank if Delacroix pulls out."
Raiden didn't answer right away. Instead, he walked closer, his presence steady. "We'll fix it. We always do."
She turned to face him. "I don't want us to always be in fix-it mode."
Raiden studied her for a long moment, his gray eyes catching the light. "Neither do I."
He reached into his coat pocket. Reese's eyes narrowed. "If this is about the pitch documents, they're on your desk—"
"It's not." His voice was quieter now.
From the inside pocket of his blazer, Raiden pulled out a slender velvet box. Reese's heart skipped, and for once, her sharp tongue failed her.
"I've known a lot of things in the past three years," he said. "Like how you take your espresso extra bitter when you're mad, and how you pretend not to care about the flowers I leave on your desk every Friday."
She blinked, lips parting.
"But the one thing I've never been uncertain about… is you."
He opened the box. A sleek, custom-designed ring sparkled against the velvet—classic, sharp, bold. Just like her.
"Reese Camila Laurier," he said, a rare softness in his voice, "Will you marry me?"
She stared for a long second, almost looking annoyed at how fast her heart was beating. Then she smirked, teasing and teary-eyed all at once.
"Took you long enough, Whitlock."
And as she slid the ring onto her finger, she whispered, "Yes."
The Night of the Ball
The chandeliers glittered like captured stars above us, and the hall buzzed with warm laughter, clinking glasses, and symphonic music. I should've felt perfectly composed. I had every reason to—Raiden by my side, our engagement ring glinting on my finger, and the air thick with congratulations. But my heart was still galloping.
This ball, orchestrated by Raiden's family, was supposed to be our quiet, elegant announcement. I spent weeks planning the reveal. I even practiced the lines in the mirror like a fool. But nothing—absolutely nothing—prepared me for the rush of emotions when I saw my sisters walk in one by one, dressed to kill, glowing like constellations. The Laurier girls in one place again.
And then I spotted Ophira.
She was radiant, of course. Always had been. Her confident stride, her no-nonsense expression, the way her eyes softened when she looked at Ozaire beside her—it was all too perfect. Too suspicious. Something was different.
I leaned into Raiden and whispered, "Do you think they're together?"
Raiden just gave me that noncommittal shrug of his. Of course he knew something. He always did.
We waited until the moment felt right.
"Mom, Dad, everyone," I said, waving, my pulse quickening. "I'm sure you noticed we were late…"
Raiden picked up from there, taking my hand as if we had rehearsed it a thousand times. "We've been keeping something special a secret."
I caught the gasp when the light hit the ring. I didn't look at my sisters—I couldn't. Not yet. My eyes were fixed on the warm curve of Raiden's smile, the steady pride in his voice.
"We're engaged," I said, barely able to contain the joy bubbling in my chest.
And just like that, the room erupted. Applause. Hugs. Cheers. I finally allowed myself to exhale.
But then I made my way toward our table. Ophira was waiting.
She pulled me in for a hug, and something flickered in her eyes—hesitation? Nervousness? My instincts flared.
Then she said it.
"I guess now's the time to tell you about this."
Her hand gestured down, dramatic as ever.
And that's when I saw it. The gentle swell of her belly.
My brain stalled. "Oh my God, Ophira," I breathed. "You're... pregnant?"
She nodded. Calm. Almost smug.
"Surprise." she waved her hands dramatically "Yes, I am. I've been meaning to tell you, but I didn't want to overshadow your big news."
I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. "You're pregnant, who—?"
Just then Raiden arrived at the same time Ozaire made his way back from the food's table. They both hugged each other and offered congratulations to each other.
"You're engage now, huh" Ozaire said as he put his arm around Ophira.
I look at the both of them in confusion and Ophira just offered a smiled.
"Yeah, but i heard that you're having a baby boy now" Raiden said as he had his arm around my waist.
I turned to him sharply.
"You knew?!"
He winced. "I thought it wasn't my place."
God. It wasn't even the pregnancy that rattled me—it was the fact that I didn't know. That she hadn't told me. That Raiden had.
I looked at her again, really looked at her. Strong. Soft. Glowing. Not just pregnant—but happy.
My lips parted. "Well... congratulations. Both of you."
I stepped forward and hugged her, my emotions tangled between joy, surprise, and guilt. She hugged me back just as tightly.
In that moment, I realized—this wasn't about who told who first, or who found out when.
It was about family. Change. Life.
And maybe... just maybe... letting go of being the one who always had to know everything.
Because tonight, we were all stepping into new chapters.
Together.
"There were things I didn't know, couldn't control—and maybe that was okay. Because the best parts of life were the ones we never saw coming."