Suddenly, Elizabeth let out a snort, clapping a hand over her mouth to muffle a laugh.

Noticing the heavy atmosphere, Rose quickly grabbed Elizabeth's arm, shooting her a warning glare to knock it off. But Elizabeth couldn't stop. She pointed a trembling finger at Tristan, giggling.

"Tristan, who proposes on both knees? You're supposed to take one knee! You look like you're kneeling at an altar begging for forgiveness..."

She doubled over, snickering at his posture.

Tristan looked down at his knees in absolute mortification. His ears flushed crimson as he awkwardly scrambled to lift one leg, shifting into a proper, single-knee proposal.

He looked back up at Emily, his voice as timid as a student facing a strict principal. "I'm sorry. I just... I panicked."

Meeting his eyes, Emily suddenly changed her mind.

Marriage required caution and endless deliberation that had always been her philosophy. But rules were meant to be broken for exceptional people. And Tristan was undeniably exceptional.

His eyes were just too vulnerable, too heartbroken. She simply didn't have the heart to reject him and watch him shatter.

Her usual calm rationale evaporated in the face of his devotion. With a soft sigh, she finally understood why some people threw logic out the window for love.

Even knowing she should think this through, she wanted to throw out the rulebook and say yes. It didn't matter. She was an adult. She was perfectly capable of handling the consequences of an impulsive decision.

As Tristan's eyes grew dim with impending defeat, Emily reached out her hand toward him. Her left hand, palm facing down.

Tristan's eyes widened drastically. He stared up at her in absolute disbelief.

Emily smiled, the curve of her lips incredibly tender. "You dummy," she whispered. "What are you staring at? Put the ring on me."

Elizabeth and Rose both slapped their hands over their mouths, letting out

synchronized, high-pitched squeals.

Tristan's jaw dropped. He took several sharp breaths, his hands shaking so violently

that he could barely pry the ring from its velvet slot.

He tossed the empty box aside as if

he had just won the lottery. With a profound, almost reverent

gentleness, he held her left hand and slid the diamond onto her ring

finger.

It fit perfectly.

From the very beginning of their relationship, Tristan had made it his mission to memorize her ring size.

Emily pulled her hand back, gazing down at the sparkling diamond before looking back up at him. "Why are you still kneeling? Get up."

Hysterical joy finally caught up with Tristan. His blood turned to fire, and his heart hammered against his ribs. His arms were still trembling at his sides as he burst into a blinding smile.

He wanted to scream. He wanted throw his arms in the air and

announce to the entire world that his girlfriend had said yes. She said yest She actually said yes!

Leaping to his feet, Tristan practically tackled her in a fierce, exuberant hug.

Elizabeth and Rose exchanged a thrilled glance and started clapping wildly.

"Congratulations!"

"Cheers to the newly engaged couple!"

Emily laughed, wrapping her arms around Tristan, her eyes curving into happy crescents.

And that was exactly the scene Andrew walked into, leaning heavily on Beatty as he appeared in the doorway.