Chapter 13 - The Garden Upstate
In early spring, Julian took Bennett to the Vance family estate in the Hudson Valley. It was a historic stone house surrounded by rolling green hills, blooming apple orchards, and a sprawling conservatory filled with rare flora.
They walked together along a gravel path lined with newly budding lavender and white hydrangeas. The air smelled of damp earth, fresh rain, and renewal.
"My mother planted these when I was seven," Julian said, running his fingers over the green leaves of a rosebush. "After she passed, my father wanted to bulldoze the garden and install a tennis court. I locked myself in the greenhouse for two days until he agreed to leave it alone."
Bennett smiled softly, imagining the determined little boy Julian once was. "You were already protecting things back then."
"I was trying to hold onto beauty in a house that only valued utility," he replied, turning to face her under the stone archway. He took both her hands in his. "For a long time, Bennett, I thought that was the best I could do—preserve the past, defend against ruin. But you taught me that life isn't about guarding a fortress. It's about opening the gates."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. Bennett’s breath caught in her throat.
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"I didn't buy this at an auction or design it to impress a boardroom," Julian said, his voice trembling with a vulnerability she had never witnessed before. He opened the box to reveal a simple, exquisitely cut emerald ring, set in modest yellow gold—a ring that belonged to his mother. "I want to build a life with you, Bennett. An honest one. Will you marry me?"
Tears of pure happiness welled in Bennett’s eyes. "Yes," she whispered, stepping into his embrace. "A thousand times, yes."
