The night was unusually quiet.
Too quiet, Liyana thought as she stared at her reflection in the floor-length mirror. The silk robe clung gently to her frame, and her long hair spilled down her shoulders in soft waves. Yet beneath her composed exterior, a storm swirled.
Tomorrow, she would become Mrs. Lu.
Her fingers clutched the silver key pendant Damien had gifted her the night before. It was a promise—one that still lingered in her chest like a soft echo. The sanctuary, the books, the words he spoke… they weren't just gestures. They were glimpses into a man who had once only been her unreachable dream.
And now he was her reality.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Mira peeked in, eyes gentle. "Can I come in?"
Liyana nodded, offering a small smile. Mira stepped in with two cups of chamomile tea and a warm look on her face.
"I figured you'd be awake," Mira said, handing her one.
"I couldn't sleep," Liyana admitted, taking a sip. "There's this… strange tightness in my chest."
"Nerves?" Mira asked.
Liyana hesitated. "Not exactly. It's more like… awe. Like everything I've ever controlled—my company, my emotions, my image—it all led me here. But now that it's real… I'm scared."
Mira sat beside her, curling one leg beneath her. "You're not scared of him though, right?"
"No." Liyana shook her head. "Never of Damien. He's the only thing I'm sure of. It's just—what if I don't know how to be someone's wife? I've been so good at being alone."
Mira reached over and grasped her hand. "Liyana, you never needed someone to complete you. But Damien doesn't want to complete you—he wants to walk beside you. And if anyone can be both a CEO and a fiercely loved wife… it's you."
Liyana gave a shaky smile, the corners of her eyes stinging. "You make it sound easy."
"It won't be," Mira said. "But you have people who love you. Xu family, Lu family. Us. You've built empires. You'll build a marriage too."
Liyana leaned her head on Mira's shoulder. "You're getting good at this friend thing."
"I learned from the best," Mira teased softly.
The moment passed gently, and Mira left shortly after, giving her space. Liyana wandered back to her room, only to find a small envelope tucked beneath her pillow—Damien's handwriting again.
"For when the night feels too long."
Inside, a folded letter.
Liyana,
If you're reading this, you're probably overthinking again.
I know you. You'll wear silk, you'll sip tea, and you'll keep staring at the moon like it holds answers. But let me remind you of something...
You don't have to be perfect for me. Just be you.
Tomorrow, when I see you walk down that aisle, I won't be thinking about business, legacy, or anyone watching. I'll be thinking about the girl who once stood across a ballroom, pretending she didn't see me—and the woman who made me fall harder with every fight we had.
I love you, Liyana. For your strength, your fire, your silence, your flaws. I'm proud of you—then, now, and forever.
Sleep well, my stubborn heiress. Tomorrow, we begin forever.
– Yours, Damien
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
She clutched the letter to her chest and slid beneath the covers, the words still echoing in her heart.
Maybe she was scared. Maybe the future was uncertain.
But if love like that was waiting for her at the end of the aisle…
She'd walk toward it with everything she had.