Heartprints in the Void
S2 ⊰ 1 ⊱ Proposition of a Lifetime

The car ride is suffocating, the air thick with tension. I can't help but steal glances at Cade, his knuckles white as he grips the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tight I fear it might snap. The muscles in his neck strain, the vein in his forehead throbbing with barely contained rage. He stares straight ahead, his eyes hard and unblinking, fixed on the road.

I want to reach out, to lay a comforting hand on his arm, but I hesitate. He's like a coiled spring, ready to explode at the slightest touch. So I sit still, my hands tightly in my lap, my heart hammering against my ribs. *What's going through your mind, Cade?*

It's not long before Cade's parking the car in the garage, the place a testament to his wealth and status. The sleek black and white marble floor gleams under the soft overhead lights. To the left, his prized possessions: the black Ferrari his father gifted him for his 25th birthday. It sits, polished to perfection.

But it's only one of the many symbols of the strings David has pulled, of the control he's exerted over Cade's life.

Beside it, an array of other vehicles. A red Audi, a silver Aston Martin, a deep blue Porsche, and finally, the humble gold Range Rover we're stepping out of. Each one is a masterpiece of engineering, a display of power and prestige. *I forget he's a billionaire sometimes...*

It's easy to forget, amidst the day-to-day normalcy of Cade's 9-to-5 job, that he's a closet billionaire.

We exit the car, the echo of doors closing amplified in the cavernous space. Cade's steps are heavy, purposeful, as we make our way inside. The house is quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning.

"Mr. Sinclair, welcome home." The middle-aged woman greets us as we enter the nanny, I take. She's a petite woman, her golden-brown skin wrinkled with age and laughter lines. Her brown hair is pulled back into a neat bun, her warm brown eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiles.

Cade nods, his expression softening slightly. "Maribel, how's Naomi?"

"She just went down for her nap," Maribel replies, her voice gentle. "Poor thing tuckered herself out playing."

"Thank you," Cade says, his tone clipped. "You can go home for the day. I'll call if I need you."

Maribel glances between us, a flicker of concern in her eyes, but she doesn't comment. With a nod and a soft "Of course," she gathers her things and slips out the door.

Then it's just us, the weight of everything hanging in the air. Cade runs a hand over his face, exhaling heavily. Without a word, he takes my hand, leading me upstairs to the bedroom.

I sit on the edge of the bed, the soft comforter sinking under my weight. Cade paces the room, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. The afternoon sun filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room, but it does nothing to ease the chill in my bones that's settled since my encounter with David.

*He's stressed. He's so stressed... and I'm not helping the situation.*

Finally, Cade sits beside me, the bed dipping under his solid frame. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. I can feel the tension thrumming through him. He plants a kiss to the top of my head, his lips lingering, but it feels distant, distracted.

"Are you upset with me?" I ask, my voice small, almost lost in the expansive room.

He sighs, his fingers flexing against my arm. "You should've called me immediately after he left, Ely."

*I know. I know I should've.*

But in the moment, paralyzed by fear, confusion, and loss, rational thought had fled. All I could think about was the threats David made, how he told me to stay away from Cade, and what he said would happen if I didn't. *Bubbles...*

The memory of replaceing him, laying there in a pool of his own blood, lifeless, makes my eyes sting with tears.

"I was scared, Cade," I confess, my voice trembling. "I didn't know what to do. He killed Bubbles and threatened to do the same to me if I didn't... s-so I-I thought..." I trail off, shaking my head.

*I shouldn't be here. David was clear.*

"Maybe I should go back to my place. Figure out what I'm going to do."

The words taste bitter on my tongue, the thought of leaving, of being alone again, makes me want to shut down completely. But I don't know what else to do. Am I supposed to live out the rest of my life relying on Cade's protection from his father?

*It's not his obligation to protect me. Not really.*

Cade stiffens beside me, his grip tightening almost painfully. "No. You're not going back there alone."

There's an edge to his voice, a finality that brooks no argument. But still, I hesitate.

"That's my home, Cade. I can't just leave everything behind."

Even as I say it, the words feel hollow. Because home isn't a place. It's not the walls that surround me or the things I own. Home is a feeling, a sense of belonging. And right now, in this moment, home is wherever Cade is. He shakes his head, his jaw clenched tight. "I'll have someone pack it up. You can move in here, with us."

My heart stutters, a mix of elation and apprehension swirling in my gut.

*Move in? Is he serious?*

But as much as I want to say yes, to fall into his arms and never let go, I know it's not that simple. There are things to consider, discussion to be had.

Besides that, I made it clear when we first started dating, almost 4 years ago, that I don't believe in cohabitation. There's too much at stake. "You know how I feel about that," I say softly, my eyes searching his. "I'm not living with you, Cade. Not -"

"Marry me then."

The words hang in the air, my breath hitching in my lungs. I stare at him, wide-eyed, my heart pounding a staccato rhythm against my ribs. *Did he just..?*

Cade takes my chin, his touch gentle but firm, tilting my face up to his. His eyes bore into mine, intense and unwavering, a swirl of emotions I can't begin to untangle.

"Marry me, Ely," he reiterates, his voice low and rough. "Be my wife. Let me take care of you."

His hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin in a feather-light caress. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me."

Tears blur my vision, my throat tight with emotion. It's everything I've ever wanted, everything I've ever dreamed of. But the specter of his father looms, a dark cloud casting a shadow over our happiness. "What about David?" I whisper, my voice cracking. "H-”

"Let's go," Cade interjects, standing abruptly. There's a determined set to his shoulders, a fire in his eyes that I've never seen before.

"We'll disappear for the next couple of days while we officiate our marriage."

*He's crazy. He's absolutely lost his mind.*

I stand slowly, my eyebrows furrowed, my mouth opening to protest. But before I can get a word out, his hands settle on my waist, pulling me flush against him.

"Just you, Naomi, and me," he murmurs, his breath ghosting over my lips. "Let's go."

I search his face, looking for any hint of doubt, any sign that he's not completely sure about this. But all I see is love, fierce and unwavering, a determination that takes my breath away. *He's serious. He really wants this.*

And in that moment, I realize... I want it too. More than anything.

A smile breaks across my face, tears of joy welling in my eyes. I nod, a laugh bubbling up from my throat.

"Let's go," I echo, my heart soaring.

Cade's answering grin is blinding. He leans into me, capturing my lips in a searing kiss that leaves me breathless and weak in the knees.

*This is it. This is our forever.*