Her Rebirth.

The moment the word yes left her lips, Kai didn’t move right away. He just looked up at her, eyes locked with hers, as if committing this moment, her tears, her smile, her trembling lips, every single thing, to memory.

Then, he rose to his feet and cupped her face between his hands. His thumbs brushed away the tears slipping down her cheeks, and for a heartbeat, they just stood there in silence.

Then he kissed her.

It was full of everything he felt for her, the possessive desperation of knowing she was his, and his alone.

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against him as her hands fisted in the lapels of his suit. Amelia melted into him, her heart racing, her body clinging to the certainty in his hold. The world tilted slightly, fairy lights blurring behind her closed eyelids, the scent of roses and cinnamon surrounding them.

When he finally pulled away, breath shallow and lips still brushing hers, he murmured, "Say it again."

Amelia smiled, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glassy with tears. "Yes."

Kai’s grin turned crooked. "I need to hear that for the rest of my life."

She laughed softly, leaning her forehead against his chest as he held her close.

---

Back at the house, the atmosphere was softer and quieter. Kai unlocked the door and stepped aside to let Amelia in first. The moment she crossed the threshold, Poppy came over, wagging his tail slowly as it purred.

Amelia crouched down, smiling as she scooped him up. "Did you miss us, Poppy?"

Kai loosened his tie and leaned against the doorway, watching her with a smile that hadn’t left his face since she’d said yes. "Aren’t you going to tell Poppy the good news?"

Amelia looked up, chuckling as she shook her head. "Is that really necessary?"

"Yes, it is," he said, walking over and pulling her into his arms, Poppy squished harmlessly between them. "I need the whole world to know you are now my fiancée. Not one borne out of a mere contract but one which you said yes to, willingly. You are my fiancée."

Amelia rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a smile. "You’re going to keep saying that for a while, aren’t you?"

"Fiancée," Kai said smugly, whispering the word against her neck. "Fiancée. Fiancée. Fiancée."

She giggled, squirming away. "Okay, okay! I get it!"

He caught her hand and spun her into him, dipping her slightly in a sudden movement that made her squeal. "You’re mine now. Officially."

She poked his chest. "I’ve been yours." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Kai’s grin widened as he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. "That’s true. But now the whole world will know it."

Amelia’s gaze softened as she reached up and gently touched the collar of his shirt. "Tonight was perfect," she said quietly. "I didn’t even think I wanted something like that... but you made it feel like a dream. Thank you."

Kai leaned in, his voice low. "Good. Because you deserve the best and only the best, Amelia."

She kissed him again. It was soft and tender, and when they broke apart, he took her hand and led her toward the bedroom.

"No more surprises tonight?" she teased.

"Just one," he said, opening the door with a wink. "But this one doesn’t require a speech or a ring."

Amelia flushed, laughing as she swatted his arm. "You’re impossible."

"Yet somehow, I still managed to convince you to say yes."

---

When they entered the bedroom, Amelia went toward the dresser, slowly removing her earrings.

Kai watched her from the doorway, leaning against the frame. There was something reverent in his gaze, like he was memorizing the way the light kissed her skin, how her hair fell in soft waves down her back, how serene she looked even when she thought no one was watching.

"I should probably change," Amelia said, turning to him with a faint smile.

Kai stepped forward.

"Don’t."

She gave him a puzzled look. "Why?" she asked.

"You look too beautiful," he murmured, reaching for her hand. "Indulge me a bit, Butterfly. Let me enjoy you like this."

Amelia felt her cheeks get warm and a faint pink settled on her face.

She let him guide her to the bed, her pulse fluttering as he sat down beside her and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered on her cheek, tracing lightly down to her jaw, then her collarbone.

"You’re shaking," he whispered.

"Am I?" she asked, though her voice trembled slightly too.

She wasn’t inexperienced, but with Kai... With Kai, everything felt different. Everything felt more. Like she was being unraveled and rebuilt at once.

Kai leaned in, his lips grazing her shoulder as he spoke. "I’m not going to rush you. We have all the time in the world now."

Amelia turned to him then, cupping his face between her hands. "But I want you to kiss me like I’m yours."

His eyes darkened as he felt heat pool in his abdomen. His eyes were filled with love, hunger, and worship.

He kissed her deeply, his hand cradling the back of her head as if she might slip away. There was no urgency, no roughness. Just an aching sort of tenderness that built between them slowly, like rising waves that threatened to pull them under.

Kai gently laid her down, his fingers working with care to slide off the delicate straps of her gown, every movement reverent and careful as though she were made of something precious, something that had been entrusted to him alone. He took in her body, which was so beautiful one couldn’t deny it had been carved by the gods, and his pupils dilated.

"You’re everything," he said, his voice low and almost broken. "Everything I never knew I needed."

Amelia pulled him down to her, threading her fingers through his hair, their foreheads touching as the rest of the world faded away. Then she whispered very softly,

"Kai... I want you."

---

In the Song Estate, the old clock chimed softly in the quiet study, where Grandfather Song Yue sat with a cup of warm tea in his hand, his eyes half-lidded as he gazed out the tall window into the moonlit garden. The night was still, peaceful, just the way he preferred it after a long day.

His phone buzzed on the lacquered side table. He glanced at the screen and raised an eyebrow at the name.

"Secretary Wen," he answered calmly.

"Good evening, Master Song," came the formal, robotic voice on the other end. "Forgive me for the late hour, but I thought this news would be best delivered promptly."

Song Yue adjusted his glasses. "Go on."

"The Young Master formally proposed to the Cosgrove First Miss tonight. She accepted."

A beat of silence.

Then the old man exhaled softly through his nose and leaned back in his chair.

"I thought there was a contract involved? Or peradventure did my grandson truly fall in love with her?"

"None, sir. While the previous contract is still in place, this was a personal proposal. It was done privately. With minimal witnesses."

Satisfaction and curiosity passed through Song Yue’s eyes.

"I see." He placed the teacup at his side with a soft clink. "And the girl?"

"She appears genuine," Secretary Wen replied. "Level-headed. From my observations, she neither despised, feared, nor chased him. That balance seems to be what drew him in."

"A rarity," Song Yue murmured. "For someone like my grandson."

He picked up the teacup, taking a small sip. "And you’re certain this was not a show for leverage?"

"I am, sir," Wen said without hesitation. "It was not performative. There was no ulterior move to trace. If anything, he appeared... sincere and utterly obsessed with the young miss."

That drew a faint, quiet chuckle from Song Yue. "Sincerity and obsession. From that boy. I wonder what sort of woman it takes to draw that out."

There was no reply. Secretary Wen knew better than to answer a rhetorical question.

After a long pause, Song Yue said, "Keep your position. I want continued updates. No interference. Not unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes, Master Song."

Another pause. Then, his voice lowered, just a touch more thoughtful.

"It seems," he said, "the storm I once unleashed has found something to anchor it. Perhaps... it is nearly time to consider the mantle."

Wen’s voice was steady. "Shall I begin preparing the necessary groundwork, sir?"

"Yes," Song Yue said. "Please do. I am getting old, and I am about to die anyways. I can finally pay back what I owed my daughter."

Silence, then—

"One more thing, Wen."

"Yes, sir?"

His tone shifted; it was very serious and authoritative.

"If she is what steadies him... then she must be protected. Discreetly."

"Understood. Have a great night, Master Song."

The call ended.

Song Yue sat in silence for a long time, his eyes distant as the tea cooled between his fingers.

Then he smiled, but it was a sorrowful one.

"Song An, your son has finally found the one he loves."

A/N

Sike! were you all expecting smut? Well, sorry, but no smut until their wedding night. For one, I’m not really good at writing smut, so instead of it being repetitive and all, I just want to save the best for their wedding night. Two, for personal reasons. Thank you all for 100 thousand views, I love you all!

P.S. I did the author note this way because I realized my readers on Chereads can’t really see my comments when placed in the section provided for it by Webnovel.