Chapter 65

Claire's POV "Welcome to your very own proposal, Raquel," I whispered. Raquel's hands flew to her mouth, tears already streaming down her cheeks as the full reality of the moment hit her. This wasn't just a romantic dinner—this was the culmination of months of planning, the answer to every suspicious phone call and secretive conversation she'd endured. "Bob," she whispered, her voice breaking on his name. "Raquel," he began, his usual easy confidence replaced by nervous vulnerability, "two years ago, you walked into my life and changed everything. Before you, I thought I understood what happiness meant. I thought I knew what love was supposed to feel like. But you showed me that everything I'd experienced before was just a pale shadow of what was possible." I found myself stepping back slightly, giving them privacy for this intimate moment while still being close enough to witness the magic unfolding. From my vantage point, I could see both their faces—Bob's earnest devotion and Raquel