(Rough Copy. Will edit later.)
Gisela's question lingered in the air far longer than either of them expected.
For a brief moment, Juliette only stared at Brendan, searching his face for certaintyfor something that would tell her this wasn't just another fleeting promise wrapped in emotion. But what she found instead was steadiness. A quiet conviction that didn't waver under her gaze. It wasn't loud or dramatic, but it was there, grounded and unwavering in a way that made her chest tighten.
She shifted slightly, turning her body toward Gisela, her fingers unconsciously tightening around Brendan's hand as if drawing strength from him. There was hesitation in her eyes for just a second, a flicker of doubt, but it passed just as quickly as it came.
"I am ready," Juliette said, her voice soft but firm enough to carry meaning. "I want to marry him."
The words settled into the room, heavier than she expected them to feel.
