Olivia could barely contain her excitement as she nudged Emma awake. "Come on, sleepyhead, time to get up!" she urged, grinning ear to ear. Emma blinked her eyes open, rubbing the sleep away and frowning at the sight of Olivia's overly eager face.
"Liv… what's going on?" Emma mumbled, still groggy.
Olivia, trying her best to play it cool, shrugged casually. "Oh, nothing much. I thought we could have some fun today! You know, like we used to, back in the day."
Emma eyed her suspiciously, but eventually sat up. "Fun? What kind of fun?"
"Oh, just a little treasure hunt," Olivia replied with a sly smile. "First clue is waiting for you downstairs."
Emma, still half-dazed but curious now, got up and followed Olivia out of the room. As they descended the stairs, Olivia handed her a small note. Emma looked at it, raising an eyebrow before reading aloud: *"Follow the petals, where memories reside, find the place where love once tried."*
Emma squinted at the cryptic message. "Is this your idea of fun, Liv?" she teased, though her curiosity was piqued.
"Trust me, it'll be worth it," Olivia replied, suppressing a knowing smile. "Come on, think—where did love try?"
Emma frowned, deep in thought. After a moment, she gasped. "The lounge! Where Alex confessed he loved me after that wild gala!" she exclaimed, excitement in her voice.
Olivia grinned. "Go check it out."
Emma hurried toward the lounge, Olivia close behind her. Upon entering, Emma found a trail of rose petals leading to the couch. There, tucked under a pillow, was the second clue. She picked it up and read: *"When love is true, it will always lead you. Go to the place where new beginnings bloom."*
"New beginnings…? That could be the garden, right?" Emma mused aloud.
Olivia nodded subtly, giving her just enough of a hint without spoiling the surprise.
Emma led the way to the garden, her steps quickening as her curiosity grew. They passed through the doors and into Ethan's beautifully designed glass dome, where orchids and white roses surrounded them. As they stepped into the center of the garden, Emma stopped, stunned by what she saw.
In the middle of the garden, the ground was covered in soft petals and candles flickered gently in the breeze. Floating lanterns hung overhead, casting a magical glow over the space. And there, waiting in the center of it all, was Alex—dressed sharply, his face nervous yet full of love.
Emma's breath hitched in her throat. "Alex?" she whispered, her heart pounding.
Alex smiled, stepping forward and taking her hands in his. "Emma," he began, his voice thick with emotion, "from the moment we confessed our feelings, I knew this was real. I've carried this ring with me, waiting for the perfect moment. But the truth is, every moment with you is perfect."
Emma's eyes welled with tears as Alex slowly lowered himself to one knee, pulling out a small velvet box.
"Emma, will you marry me?"
For a moment, everything stood still. Emma stared at him, her hands covering her mouth as tears spilled from her eyes. Then, with a shaky breath, she nodded, unable to speak through her emotion. Finally, she whispered, "Yes! Yes, of course, I will!"
Alex grinned, his face lighting up with joy as he slipped the ring onto her finger. He stood, pulling her into a tight embrace, and they shared a long, loving kiss under the soft glow of the lanterns.
From behind the trees, Ethan and Olivia quietly cheered. Olivia couldn't contain her excitement as she whispered, "She said yes!" Ethan chuckled, holding his phone up to record the heartwarming moment, capturing every smile, every tear.
Emma and Alex pulled apart, both of them beaming with happiness. Emma glanced at Olivia and laughed through her tears. "You knew about this, didn't you?"
Olivia nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "I might've had a little something to do with it. But I couldn't be happier for you two."
Ethan joined in, wrapping an arm around Olivia's waist. "Congratulations, you two. Looks like we've got another wedding to plan."
Emma, still overwhelmed with emotion, hugged Olivia tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. "For everything."
As they all stood in the garden, under the soft glow of the lanterns and surrounded by the fragrant flowers, it felt like a perfect moment—one filled with love, friendship, and the promise of new beginnings.