Wheel Chair 112

LILITH

By the time Marissa and I reached The Haven Residences, night had already settled in.

As we neared Dean’s home, I immediately noticed something odd.

His villa stood out immediately-completely dark, swallowed in the shadows amidst the gentle glow of the others.

Not a single light flickered from within.

I frowned, slowing the car to a crawl before stopping at the curb.

“Why is it so dark here?” Marissa exclaimed, leaning forward to peer through the windshield. “Don’t tell me there’s a power outage in such a high-end community. And look-the gates are wide open. Did your boyfriend leave them that way for us?”

The crease between my brows deepened. “But on our way here, the other villas were all lit. Even mine’s fine.” I gestured toward my own villa, softly illuminated right next to his. “His can’t be the only one with a power outage.”

Marissa nodded thoughtfully. “Then what do we do? Should we call him first?”

My hands tightened on the steering wheel. “That’s what I was thinking.”

But before I could reach for my phone, she tilted her head, her lips curving in a subtle smile. “Why not just check? Maybe he’s waiting inside.”

Something about her tone-casual, yet somehow confident-made me glance at her. But she only smiled wider.

Left with no better choice, I exhaled, unbuckled my seatbelt, and stepped out of the car. Marissa followed close behind.

Each step I took toward the gate echoed faintly in the still night.

When I reached it, I pushed it open fully.

From a distance, the villa had seemed pitch-black, but up close, I could just barely make out the outlines of the path and the steps.

“I should’ve brought my phone,” I murmured, then turned to Marissa. “Did you bring yours? We could use the flashlight.”

She shook her head, her tone somewhat laid-back. “I left it in the car.” Then, arching a brow, she added, “You forgot yours too?”

I nodded.

“Should we go back for them?”

“It’s fine.” I said after a pause. “It’s not that dark-we can still manage.”

With that. I turned back toward the house and continued walking forward.

Soon. I reached the front steps.

The moment my foot touched the first one-

Click.

A soft, golden light bloomed beneath me, illuminating the marble step-the only beacon in the sea of darkness.

I froze. The lights had turned on by themselves.

That couldn’t be right.

Dean’s villa didn’t have motion-sensor steps, at least not from what I remembered.

At this thought, my heart gave a sudden leap and I glanced back instinctively.

Marissa was standing just behind me, amusement glinting in her eyes.

“Go on,” she urged, her tone teasing.

Her calm reaction only deepened my suspicions.

A faint, daring hope began to take shape in my chest.

I turned back and lifted my foot again.

Click. Another step lit up.

Then another.

One by one, the stairs glowed to life beneath my feet, forming a trail of golden light that guided

me toward the front door.

And with each step, my pulse quickened, my heartbeat drumming so loud it echoed in my ears. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Find1Novel.net

At last, I reached the last step. The door stood closed before me, silent and still

I hesitated, not daring to reach out and push it open.

But then-

With a soft creak, it swung open on its own.

Like something out of a dream, warm light spilled from within, washing over the yard and chasing the darkness away.

My breath hitched, a soft gasp escaping my lips as I stared at the breathtaking sight before me.

The living room I’d come to know so well had been utterly transformed.

Petals were scattered across the floor in soft hues of red and white. Candles flickered in crystal holders, fairy lights were strung along the walls like a constellation brought to land.

And at the far end of the room stood Dean.

He was dressed in a crisp, double-breasted burgundy suit, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

Our eyes met.

His gaze was warm, impossibly tender-so full of feeling it made my throat tighten.

And in that instant, everything clicked into place.

His recent disappearances. His evasive replies. Marissa’s knowing smile.

So this was what he’d been up to all along.

A small laugh threatened to escape me.

All my worrying, my doubts, my overthinking-it suddenly seemed so foolish. Ridiculous, even.

And yet, as I stood there frozen on the threshold, my heart was pounding so wildly it hurt.

I didn’t move until I felt a gentle nudge from behind.

“Why are you standing still?” Marissa whispered with a smile. “Don’t keep him waiting.”

And then she stepped back, leaving me alone in place.

Taking a steadying breath, I walked forward.

One step. Two. Three…

Dean’s smile widened as I approached, and when I finally stopped before him, he lifted the bouquet toward me.

“Happy one-year anniversary.”

Just four simple words-yet they made my heart clench with emotion.

I blinked quickly, forcing back tears as I accepted the bouquet.

White lilies and red roses.

Lilies. Lilith.

Before my rebirth, I’d never had a favorite flower. I’d simply accepted whatever others chose for me. But afterward, I’d fallen in love with lilies-not just because of its similarity with my name, but because of what they symbolized:

Rebirth. Renewal. Purity after pain.

It felt like a flower made just for me.

Was that why he’d chosen it?

As if hearing my thoughts, Dean spoke softly. “The lilies represent you-your quiet strength, your resilience, your new beginning. They’re like your soul in full bloom.”

He paused, his gaze deepening. “The roses… they’re me. My love, my devotion, my promise to cherish you for as long as I breathe.”

My heart gave a painful thump.

“Lilith,” he continued, his voice low but steady, “from the first moment I met you, I knew I’d never love anyone else. The past year has been the happiest of my life-and I want it to continue. I want to wake up beside you, have breakfast with you, drop you off for work… Greedy as it sounds, I want everything with you.”

He took a small step forward, his eyes shimmering with both warmth and a trace of nervousness. “So…” His lips curved faintly. “Can we continue like this? Whether it’s as your boyfriend or your

fiancé, I’ll take any role-as long as it means I can stay by your side.”

My breath caught as his hand slipped into his inner pocket.

And when he brought it out-

Uh?