Chapter 64: The Unexpected Proposal

**Aldrich’s POV:** Happiness is an odd thing. It often sneaks up on you when you least expect it, leaving your heart light and your mind adrift in dreams. For me, that happiness was Thelma Zane. I used to scoff at the concept of love. Back in high school, I found the romance dramas that my peers adored laughable and overly sentimental. Love, in my opinion, was a distraction—an emotion that weakened resolve and clouded judgment. Soldiers had no room for such vulnerabilities. But that was before. Before her. Now, I couldn’t go a single day without thinking about Thelma—her smile, her fiery determination, even her moments of frustration. Everything about her captivated me. She had become the anchor of my thoughts, the reason behind my newfound happiness. When winter arrived and the first snow graced the ground, I began thinking about the perfect gift for her. Perfumes and cosmetics felt too mundane, dresses too superficial, and jewelry too extravagant. Nothing seemed worthy