*Song: Bless The Broken Road by Travis Atreo*

//////

Three years later—

Danielle's POV:

*Sound of Slow Rise ringtone*

'Hmm...Dani, shut it will you?'

I feel a not-so-gentle push on my shoulder that forces me out of my deep sleep. I reluctantly flip onto my back and reach for my phone.

9 am. So bloody early but I have to get up. I flutter my eyes open, adjusting to the way-too-bright sunlight, letting out a groan as I stop the alarm.

I've grown so much used to the Spanish hours in the past five months. Nobody works until it's close to lunchtime. And at three in the afternoon, it's time for breaks and snacks.

So bloody chill.

Why did I have to open a gallery right after we moved here?

We could've enjoyed the Barcelona sunshine and beach for a few months.

Because I'm a workaholic. That's right. I couldn't even wait until we're properly settled to start working again.

I tilt my head to my right, seeing Sage's bare chest rise and fall regularly, indicating that she's still in her dreams.

The beams of light scatter on her tanned skin against the white sheet, making her look somewhat heavenly. I can't seem to avert my gaze.

Until a loud cough breaks my short-lived admiration.

'Ahem, ahem, ahem...' Sage jumps up, grabbing the water bottle on the nightstand and taking a gulp.

'I still don't get it. How can you choke on your own saliva in your sleep?' I shake my head helplessly, discarding the idea of surprising her with a nice in-bed breakfast completely.

'Honestly, I don't know either.' She pats her chest and lets out a sigh, looking oddly cute.

'Anyway, since you're awake, why don't you go make us breakfast? I'm craving scrambled eggs and hams.'

I smirk and wink at Sage's pouting face before going into the bathroom and preparing myself for the day.

In fifteen minutes, I take a quick shower and put on my makeup and a light blue sleeveless pantsuit that matches my eyes.

I walk into the open kitchen and am delighted to see the two plates of food and two cups of English breakfast tea on the island.

Of course, and the woman swinging in nothing but an oversized T-shirt, exposing her also delicious-looking thighs.

Fantastic view. I shift my focus to the food before she notices the longing in my eyes.

How the table has turned, now I'm the one staring. I mock myself internally. And I thought I was better than this.

I take a bite of the scrambled egg. Perfect as usual.

No need to inform her though. She is smiling at me proudly, meaning my face must've given me away.

'Tell me, did you have a good sleep before you choked?' Well, can't let you stay cocky for too long. I smirk at Sage, teasing her with the previous incident.

She scowls and gives me a dirty look, 'I actually did.' She adds, 'I was having a very hot dream.' Now she's grinning like an idiot.

'Oh? I guess I didn't wear you out last night after all.' I squint my eyes at her in the way I know intimidates her, 'I'll note that for tonight.'

I feel satisfied seeing her tense up and flush at my last word.

Although I am no longer her boss at work, it doesn't mean I am not her boss in other aspects of the relationship.

'I-I mean "hot" as in the weather.' She quickly clarifies. 'The dream was actually about our life after running away.'

'Huh, really?' I can't help but soften my gaze at her reply.

Sage opened up to me about her odd past-life dreams after we first visited her parents in Singapore.

I was quite shocked about it. But, it wasn't because I didn't believe her (okay, I was quite doubtful at first), it was because I dreamed of the same scenario.

The one that we, the princess and I, riding off to the beach. The one that I said I loved her.

I usually don't remember anything after waking up, but that particular one was vividly imprinted in my memories.

Just like that, I was convinced. This relationship might be the connection that lasts.

'I dreamed of us building a life near that beach.' Sage's face glows as she speaks, 'We had our happily ever after.'

'Sounds like what we are having now.' I say without thinking.

It must be under Sage's bad influence, I've become less self-conscious when saying weird cheesy stuff like this.

'Yeah, it does, doesn't it? We have the beach and warm weather here.' She nods in agreement, seemingly content with my comment.

Well, it's all because of you. I watch her diving happily into her food again.

I might never admit it, yet I think she knew already, that she gave me the push I needed to leave my comfort zone in London and started over in a foreign place.

My life was good in London, I loved my old job as the director, but I knew I'd grow out of it someday.

I want something of my own, something to honour my dad. A legacy, you might say.

So, after countless discussions and Sage's encouragements, we decided to open a gallery in Barcelona where Sage adores.

'Are you sure you can handle the contractors on your own?' Sage follows me to the door along with Cherry as I put on my heels.

'Yes. They speak English, don't worry.' I roll my eyes and look down at her. I love this height difference. It makes me feel so much more powerful and her so petite.

'Alright. Call me if you need anything.' She leans forward and pecks on my lips.

'I definitely will.' I hold her waist before she can back down, giving her a teasing bite on her bottom lip. 'You know, you should consider yourself lucky...' I lurk my free hand under her oversized T-shirt and grope her derriere.

'Why?' She curves her rosy lips, asking in a playful tone, arms crossing over my neck.

'Because...' I give her ass cheek a sudden slap, making her gasp, 'If I don't have a better taste in interior design, it would be you walking into the heat right now.'

'Lo siento. I don't possess the ability to tell which floor pattern costs more.' She rolls her eyes and replies in sarcasm, which she's been increasingly doing.

Probably under my influence. But make no mistake, I'm only enduring her sassiness because I'm in a hurry.

'Price reflects the quality.' I smirk and give her one last smooch before dropping my arms.

'Not always though.'

I hear her say behind me, to which I simply wave while descending down the stairs.

She better has that boldness to refute later tonight.

//////

I managed to communicate perfectly with the contractors with their accented English and my elementary-level Spanish.

Well, not without the help of Google translate from time to time.

However, it was way better than bargaining with the merchants in the market.

That's a whole other level. One I cannot yet conquer.

As I march down the stone-paved street, I acknowledge once again how diverse and accepting this place is.

No one bloody cares who or what gender you're kissing or holding hands with.

In fact, I think the majority of the population in this city is somewhat queer. The rainbow flag can be found at almost every corner.

It relaxes me and helps me inspect my relationship with Sage in a different light.

A more serious and sustaining one.

One that costs me a few phone calls and a lot more than the floor pattern of the gallery.

//////

Sage's POV:

'Babe, are you done working? It's late.' I rub my sore eyes as I call for Danielle from the bedroom doorway.

Only silence answers me, Danielle doesn't react, eyes glued to her laptop screen, apparently lost in her own world.

'Danielle,' I sigh and walk towards her, 'You should take a rest.'

'Fine.' She glances at me and puts down her laptop.

She stretches while standing up and meeting me halfway.

'Let's go to bed.' She gives me a tired smile, hooking my hand with her fingers and guiding me back to the bedroom.

I don't know what came over her, but she's been working extra hard (if possible) these few weeks.

I mean, she looks so damn hot when she's focused and serious, but now it's to an extent that she sometimes doesn't even hear me.

Sometimes, when we're eating, I can tell her mind is absent because all she answers are 'uh-huh' and 'good'.

The last time this happened, she was freaking out about me moving backing to Singapore. She ended up crying.

So yeah, I think I have a perfect reason to be worried.

'Hey, is everything okay?' I turn under the duvet and face Danielle. 'If there's anything wrong with the gallery, I have the right to know. We're partners.' I say seriously.

She looks at me with unfazed eyes, 'Everything is fine, don't worry.'

I frown, 'Are you sure?' I'm hardly convinced.

'Yes.' She sighs and pulls me closer, resting her forehead against mine. 'The only thing you need to worry about is finding pieces for our gallery. You better impress me.' She says in a seemingly threatening tone.

I take it as a cue for kissing. 'I'll try my best...' I whisper while leaning in.

'No,' she pulls back, smirking at my confused face, 'You forgot? You need to give me your best.'

'Ugh, of course. How can I forget?' I groan at the memory of her saying this to me across her desk back in our office days.

She was my sexy mean boss...now she's my equally sexy mean partner.

Not that I'm complaining. Years of being with a sadist only make me more of a bossiness-digging masochist.

'Good. Never forget that.' She finally presses her lips on mine, giving me the attention and passion I've been itching for the whole day.

'Hmm, then, can I get a reward?' I mutter between our entwined breaths.

'I see...' I feel her lips curve into an amused smile, 'What reward?'

She slides the tip of her tongue across my upper lip, sending a ticklish sensation down my spine.

She really knows how to use her tongue. I pant slightly, almost losing my words over her licking and kissing my jawline.

'I want this.' I stroke her inner thighs, letting my hand do the talking.

As much as I fancy her dominance, I still want to take control and have her scream my name under me all night from time to time.

She hardly ever complies though.

Therefore, it surprises me when she lets out a quiet moan and says, 'Okay, granted.'

I don't hesitate and quickly get on my elbow, only to find my right wrist cuffed to the headboard right above her head.

Of course. How dumb am I?

'After I have my fun.' Her blue eyes flicker in triumph as she leisurely straddles my waist and cuffs my left wrist.

I can already see how this night is going. She never uncuffs me before draining all my stamina.

I shouldn't have agreed to hang a pair of handcuffs so conveniently on the bedstead.

I was digging my own grave.

I sigh to my failing attempt of topping tonight as Danielle charges at me with her lust storm.

//////

After weeks of searching, I've eventually found several artists that are willing to collaborate with us.

The decoration and construction of the gallery are already done, yet Danielle doesn't seem to be less stressed.

That makes this impossible to do.

I quietly open the last drawer of my wardrobe and take out a small black velvet box hidden under the piles of socks.

Inside the box, a clear-ocean sapphire ring stands between the folds.

I didn't consider diamond because I know how much she hates clichés (sorry, Papá). Also, sapphires suit her better with the calm and classic vibe.

I secretly bought this three months ago, after waking up and seeing Danielle lying next to me one morning.

It was a typical morning, nothing out of ordinary, but everything made me feel magical and fulfilled.

She made me feel magical and fulfilled. And I wanted to feel like that every single day for the rest of my time.

I knew marriage is just a piece of written vows and our connection goes beyond this world, but I wanted to show her my appreciation of her.

I wanted her to know how much she means to me.

Since then, I've been waiting for the right moment to propose.

Yet, the moment never came.

I thought about proposing after we finish the prep work of the gallery, but now it still doesn't feel like it.

She's somewhat preoccupied. I've asked her directly and indirectly about it, she just wouldn't budge, insisting that everything is fine.

I trust her undoubtedly, but I also trust my instincts when it's telling me something is off.

I wish it's nothing serious.

As soon as I hear the water stop running in the bathroom, I shove the box back into the deep end of the drawer and pretend to fuss over what to wear for our dinner date later.

'You're still not dressed. Brilliant.' Her sarcastic remark comes out of the steam along with her naked body.

'Says a nude.' I roam my eyes over her butt and long legs.

She shoots me a warning glance, 'Unlike you, I already know what to wear.' She slides into a black halter midi dress.

'Well, I can always wear a suit.' I shrug carelessly, knowing it'd annoy the hell out of her.

'I swear I'll burn them all if you wear one tonight.' She glares at me through the mirror while applying her mascara.

I chuckle at her seriousness, 'Fine. For their sake, what do you want me to wear then?'

She finishes her makeup and walks over, starting shuffling my clothes in the wardrobe.

'This one.' She drags out a Tiffany green mini dress with ripple patterns and pushes it to me.

'You just want me to wear a dress, huh?' I smirk at her choice.

This is the one I tried on and she almost had me right in the fitting room.

'Shut up.' She squints her eyes at me as usual.

'Can I at least wear boots?' I plead. I really don't want to wear heels.

Thankfully, she nods, 'Sure.'

Danielle didn't tell me where we're going, so I just follow her blindly as the Uber takes us to an open terrace restaurant that overlooks the sea.

'Are you feeling alright?' I can't help but ask as we sit into the booth concealed by plants.

She stayed weirdly silent on our way here, and her hands are cold and a bit sweaty. However, I can't tell if she's sick from her flawless makeup and the glooming light.

'Uh-hm.' She nods and bites her cheeks, eyes fixing on me, seemingly holding herself back on saying something.

'Okay, what's going on? Seriously, you've been acting strange for a while now.' I crease my brows, looking straight at her, trying my best not to sound too upset.

Her eyes glint, but she doesn't reply.

I take a deep breath, containing my growing frustration.

I continue to press, 'If it's not work, then what is it? You've been zoning out on me during our talks. I need you to talk to me if...' I gulp, feeling a sour taste in my mouth as I say, '...if you have any doubts about this relationship.'

The silence falls upon us like a dark mist. I want her to give me a direct answer, but I am afraid of hearing it.

Time slows down as we stare at each other. Hours seem to pass before she breaks the gaze and sighs.

'No, it's nothing like that.' Danielle shakes her head gently, 'The opposite, actually.'

Under my puzzled stare, she takes something out of her handbag. Something similar to the one that rests in my socks drawer.

No. Bloody. Way.

'This is why I've been acting strange.' She places the white square box in the middle of the table, saying in the lightest tone, 'Open it.'

My previous discontent is now replaced by anxiety. I feel my heart racing as I take the feather-weight box into my trembling hands.

I open it, dazed by the sky-blue stone bezel-set in platinum.

I look up at Danielle in disbelief, feeling water gathering around the corners of my eyes.

'Are you...' I can't finish my sentence as my throat tightens.

'I heard you like aquamarines better than diamonds.' She smiles at me, still looking quite nervous.

'From who?' I can't think properly with my head spinning in adrenaline.

She takes a breath, 'I asked your parents and Luke.'

'They knew?' That explains why Luke and my mum seemed overly cheerful on the call this past month.

Thank god I didn't tell them that I was planning on proposing three months ago. They would've given it away.

'I also told Jane and my mum about it.' She adds.

That means she is serious about this. This thought echoes in my mind like a damn parade.

'So...' Danielle motions me to give her the box. I comply, holding my breath for what she has to say.

She lets out a sigh as if doing some mental preparation, then she looks into my eyes with an alluring smile on her lips, 'Sage Carlos, my former annoying intern and current annoying girlfriend, who challenges me all day long but in a good way...' She takes out the ring, saying in a husky but gentle voice, 'Will you marry me and be my future annoying wife?'

The sound of waves and the noise of others fade away at this moment; all I hear is my pounding heartbeats, and all I see is Danielle Osis, my twin flame, the love of my life.

'Yes, a thousand times yes!' My face breaks into a big grin and tears—which definitely looks funny, but I don't care—as she slides the ring into my ring finger.

It fits perfectly.

I instantly stand and climb out of my seat; she does the same as if she knows what I am going to do.

I cup her face that's covered in thin sweat and kiss her as my life depends on it.

She presses her body against mine until there's no gap between us, returning the kiss in the same hard and passionate manner.

We just stand there, exchanging kisses like there is no one else, the whole universe is ours alone.

As we stop and pant breathlessly, Danielle hugs me tightly and whispers to my ear, 'I love you, so much.'

The memory of the dream flashes back, where I heard her saying those three words for the very first time.

'I love you, too, very much.' I whisper back, holding her tighter.

The Universe works in a mysterious way. Funny how our worlds collide, smashed into pieces and rebuilt into one.

All the joy and pain, it's like two sides of a coin. If you want the coin, you gotta embrace all the heartaches and smiles along the way.

No one says this journey to love is easy, but it's definitely worth it.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

//////

Note:

Thank you so much for reading!

I am glad there are still people fancying this story as much as I do.

So I guess in this bonus chapter, I give them the happily ever after they deserve. :)

And if you like my stories, don't be shy to show your support at ko-if.com/snuna (link in my bio)! Every little motivation helps! ;)

Let me know what you think, I'll see you later!