The time in Ashwood had been tumultuous for Lucas Grey. From the shadows of murder and betrayal to the painful truths that tore at the very fabric of the town's existence, the road had been anything but easy. But now, a year later, the town was finding its footing again. The fear and grief that once hung thick in the air had begun to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of hope and healing.
And Lucas? He had found something he hadn't even known he was looking for: peace.
It had been a year since the chaos had erupted in Ashwood. A year since the Brotherhood had been exposed, and the town had finally started to breathe again. Sheriff Cole was the best thing that happened to town, she was respected. There was no need for Lucas to chase the shadows anymore. No need for the constant dread of the unknown creeping at his heels.
His focus had shifted to something simpler. Something better.
Emma.
Lucas had moved into his small home, and though it wasn't much, it had become his sanctuaryâa place where he could unwind after the chaotic investigations, a place where he could share quiet moments with Emma. Their bond had only deepened in the past year. She had helped him heal just as much as he had helped her. They built something together, something rooted in trust and understanding.
And for the first time in years, Lucas wasn't just existing. He was living.
It was a quiet evening in Ashwood. The air was crisp, the stars twinkling above as if watching over the town. Lucas was in his car, headed to Emma's place for dinner. They had spent countless evenings together, but tonight felt different. It felt like a milestoneâa moment where everything was about to shift.
He had been planning it for weeks now, preparing himself for what he was about to do. The nervous flutter in his chest was something he hadn't felt in a long time.
He wasn't sure what had changed in him, exactly. Maybe it was the realization that he couldn't imagine his life without her. Or maybe it was the way Emma had grounded him in a way that no case ever had.
But tonight, Lucas was going to make sure she knew just how much she meant to him.
He parked in front of her house and took a deep breath before walking up the steps and knocking on the door. Emma answered, a smile spreading across her face when she saw him.
"You're early," she teased, stepping aside to let him in.
"I couldn't wait," he said with a grin.
Emma raised an eyebrow but didn't question him. "You're in a good mood today."
Lucas nodded, his heart beating faster. "I am."
The evening passed like any other. They talked over dinner, laughed about old memories, and shared moments that felt almost mundane, but to Lucas, they were anything but ordinary. This was the kind of life he had always dreamed ofânormal, peaceful, happy.
As the evening wore on, Emma led him to the back porch, where the night sky stretched endlessly above them. Lucas took a deep breath, the crisp air filling his lungs. Emma settled into her chair, and Lucas stood beside her, his nerves tightening as he prepared for what came next.
"Emma," Lucas said softly, his voice laced with something she hadn't heard beforeâan emotion raw and vulnerable.
She looked up at him, sensing the change in his tone. "What's going on, Lucas?"
He took a deep breath and knelt in front of her, pulling something from his pocket. The small velvet box gleamed in the dim light of the porch, the weight of it almost too much to bear.
"Lucas?" Emma's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes wide in surprise.
"I've spent a lot of time chasing thingsâtrying to find answers, trying to fix things that weren't mine to fix. But the one thing I've never had to question, the one thing that's been clear from the start, is you," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Emma's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't speak, could barely breathe, as she watched him open the box. Inside was a delicate ring, the stone catching the light in a way that felt almost magical.
"I know we've been through a lot, Emma. More than anyone should have to endure. But I've never felt more sure about anything in my life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up beside you every day and face whatever comes next, together."
Tears welled in Emma's eyes as she took in his words, her hand trembling as she reached for his. "Lucas..."
"Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice steady now, despite the storm raging in his chest.
For a moment, Emma was silent, her emotions flooding her all at once. She had never expected this, not like this. But deep down, she had always known. There was no one else. No one else she wanted by her side.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Yes, Lucas. I'll marry you."
The words felt like the most beautiful thing she had ever said. The promise in them, the love, the hopeâit all felt so right.
Lucas stood up, his heart soaring, and slipped the ring onto her finger. As he kissed her, the world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them, caught in the magic of the moment.
The town of Ashwood had never seen such a gathering of joy. A wedding in the heart of the town wasn't something the residents would forget anytime soon. It had been a quiet affairâsmall, intimateâbut it was perfect in every way.
Sheriff Cole had attended, her proud smile evident as she stood by Lucas, a silent testament to all they had been through together. There were friends and neighbors, people who had witnessed the rise and fall of Ashwood, who had seen Lucas change from the hardened investigator to the man he was today.
And Emma, dressed in white, her beauty shining as she walked down the aisle, took Lucas's breath away. He had thought he had seen everything in his lifeâthe chaos, the darkness, the pain. But nothing compared to the light he saw in her eyes.
When their vows were spoken, when the rings were exchanged, it felt like the beginning of something new. Not just for them, but for Ashwood as well. A new chapter for a town that had long been overshadowed by secrets and tragedy.
And as they kissed, sealed in the promise of their future, the town of Ashwood found its own hope once again.
In the months that followed, Lucas and Emma settled into their new life. The house they shared was no longer just a homeâit was a symbol of everything they had fought for, everything they had overcome.
They were building something new, something beautiful.
As they traveled through the small moments of their lifeâmorning coffees, shared laughter, quiet evenings at homeâLucas knew that this was what he had been searching for all along. Not just peace, but a partner, someone who made the world feel a little less heavy.
And as they sat together one evening, watching the sun set over Ashwood, Emma turned to him, her hand in his.
"You happy?" she asked, her voice soft.
Lucas looked at her, the woman who had changed his life in so many ways, and smiled.
"Yeah," he said. "I am."
And in that moment, he knewâhe had everything he needed.
The shadows were lifted, and together, they were ready to face whatever came next.
The End
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Dania Lateef.
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