The beach was bathed in the golden light of a perfect sunset, just as it had been the first time Xander proposed. White rose petals lined a path along the sand, leading to a simple arch of moonflowers and twinkling lights. The waves whispered gently against the shore, as if the ocean itself was holding its breath.
Claire stood barefoot in a flowing white sundress, her ginger hair catching the light like fire. Xander knelt before her in a crisp white shirt and dark trousers, his emerald eyes shining with love, hope, and a vulnerability he no longer tried to hide.
“Five years ago, I proposed to you on this very beach,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “We were young, in love, and ready to face the world together. Then life broke us apart — secrets, distance, pain, and mistakes that nearl
