Chapter 9 - The Second Proposal
By Christmas Eve, the legal storm had completely evaporated. Preston Fields had quietly withdrawn his court petition and announced his early retirement from his law firm, unable to survive the public backlash following Mia’s statement.
Snow began to fall over Lake Washington, dusting the tall pines surrounding the Bellevue estate in soft, white powder.
Inside, the grand living room was lit by a massive, sixteen-foot Christmas tree decorated in gold and white lights. A fire crackled in the stone hearth, casting a warm, orange glow across the hardwood floor.
Alec and Sophia, now four months old, were fast asleep in a double bassinet near the fire, dressed in matching red fleece onesies.
Carter walked out onto the stone patio overlooking the dark, snowy lake. He wore a dark wool sweater, holding two glass mugs of warm spiced cider.
Mia stood at the stone railing, wrapped in a ivory cashmere coat, watching the snowflakes drift down through the sky.
"The babies are fast asleep," Carter said gently, handing her a mug and wrapping his free arm around her waist, pulling her back against his chest.
"They loved the tree lights," Mia smiled, leaning back into his warmth. "Sophia couldn't stop staring at the top star."
They stood in silence for a few long minutes, watching the quiet winter beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
"Mia," Carter said softly.
"Hmm?"
"Do you remember the night we met?"
She turned in his arms, looking up at him with a tender smile. "Of course. It was a political gala at the Paramount Theatre. You wore a tux that cost more than my car, and you spent two hours explaining the structural engineering of suspension bridges to an ambassador who was trying to sell you wine."
Carter laughed softly—a genuine, deep sound that had become frequent over the last few months.
"I was terrified of talking to you," Carter confessed, his fingers gently tracing the line of her cheekbone. "You were so quiet, so poised. I thought if I said the wrong thing, you'd see right through me."
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, square velvet box.
Mia’s breath caught in her throat.
"Carter..."
He didn't get down on one knee. Instead, he took both of her hands in his, looking down into her sea-glass eyes with a seriousness that made her heart leap.
He opened the box.
Inside lay her original wedding ring—the simple, elegant platinum band she had left on his nightstand eight months ago. But beside it sat a second ring: a stunning, brilliant-cut diamond band, custom-carved with tiny ivy leaves, and inside the band, three tiny initials were engraved: M. A. S. — Mia, Alec, Sophia.
"Our first marriage was an arrangement made by our families," Carter said, his voice low and vibrating with emotion. "It was built on strategy, contracts, and quiet misunderstandings. I don't want that marriage anymore."
Mia bit her lip, tears pooling in her eyes.
"I want a real one," Carter whispered, taking the new ring from the box. "I want a marriage where I tell you I love you every single morning before I open my eyes. I want a marriage where we fight, where we laugh, where we raise our children without shadows or secrets."
He slid the new diamond band onto her ring finger, right beside her original wedding ring, uniting them forever.
"Lauren Mia Fields," Carter rasped, pressing his forehead against hers. "Will you marry me again? Not for an alliance. Not for a company. But because I can't live a single day on this earth without you."
Mia threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder, laughing and weeping all at once.
May you like
"Yes," she sobbed happily into his neck. "Yes, Carter! A thousand times yes!"
Carter lifted her off her feet, spinning her around on the snow-dusted patio, his joyous laughter echoing out over the quiet, dark waters of Lake Washington.
