Chapter 15: Forever His Rosebud

Three months later...

Rose Hills had finally returned to peace.

The Kings organization had completely fallen after the evidence from Project Rosebud was released.

Edward Hutton and his remaining associates were sentenced to prison, while Victor Kane disappeared without a trace, becoming an international fugitive.

For the first time in years, neither the Hutton family nor the Valencian family had to live in fear.

The wounds left by the past were slowly beginning to heal.

Emerald stood outside Rose Hills Memorial Hospital, smiling as she adjusted the white coat over her shoulders.

"Congratulations, Dr. Emerald Hutton," Beth teased, handing her a bouquet of white roses.

"Officially the youngest surgeon in the hospital."

Emerald laughed.

"Thank you."

"You earned it," Beth replied proudly.

"After everything you've been through, you deserve this happiness."

As Emerald entered the hospital, nurses and doctors congratulated her on her first day as Head of Trauma Surgery.

Helping people had always been her dream.

Now, she was finally living it.

Later that afternoon...

A familiar black luxury car stopped outside the hospital.

Marcus stepped out first before opening the rear door.

"Dr. Hutton," he said respectfully.

"Mr. Valencian is waiting."

Emerald smiled knowingly.

"He's always so dramatic."

She walked toward the car.

Inside, Achilles sat wearing a charcoal suit, looking as handsome as ever.

"Busy saving lives already?" he asked with a smile.

"Someone has to."

"I thought I already saved the most important one."

Emerald rolled her eyes playfully.

"You're impossible."

"Only when it comes to you."

The car drove toward the old hill overlooking Rose Hills.

The same place where they had often watched sunsets years ago.

As Emerald stepped out, she froze.

The hill was covered with hundreds of white roses.

Candles lined the stone pathway.

Soft violin music filled the evening air.

"Ace..."

"You once asked me when the right time would come," Achilles said quietly.

"I was too foolish to answer back then."

"Seven years ago, I let fear decide for me."

"I thought staying away from you would protect you."

"Instead, I only broke both our hearts."

He slowly knelt on one knee.

Marcus handed him a small velvet box.

Inside rested a beautiful diamond ring.

"Emerald Hutton," Achilles said, his grey eyes filled with emotion.

"You were my Rosebud when you were seven."

"You became the woman I loved before I even understood what love meant."

"You survived heartbreak, betrayal, and danger... yet you never stopped being kind."

"I don't want another seven years without you."

"Will you marry me?"

Tears rolled down Emerald's cheeks.

For years she had imagined this moment.

She had once believed it would never happen.

Yet here he was.

The boy she had loved.

The man who had protected her.

Her knight.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Yes, Achilles."

"A thousand times yes."

He slipped the ring onto her finger before pulling her into his arms.

Their kiss was gentle, filled with every unspoken feeling they had carried for years.

Behind them, cheers erupted.

Emerald turned in surprise.

Her entire family stepped out from behind the trees.

Richard smiled proudly.

Beth and Marcus clapped.

Even Tess walked forward with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Tess said sincerely.

"For everything that happened years ago."

"I should have trusted you instead of trying to protect everyone my own way."

Emerald hugged her tightly.

"We're sisters," she whispered.

"Let's stop living in the past."

Tess nodded through her tears.

Months later...

The wedding of Achilles Valencian and Emerald Hutton became the biggest event Rose Hills had ever witnessed.

The ceremony was held in a beautiful garden filled with white roses.

Richard proudly walked Emerald down the aisle.

Achilles never took his eyes off her.

She looked exactly like the princess he had once called his Rosebud.

"Do you, Achilles Valencian, take Emerald Hutton to be your wife?"

"I do."

"Do you, Emerald Hutton, take Achilles Valencian to be your husband?"

"With all my heart... I do."

As they exchanged rings, applause echoed throughout the garden.

The years of pain, misunderstandings, and secrets finally faded into the past.

Later that evening, while dancing beneath thousands of lights, Emerald rested her head against Achilles' shoulder.

"You know," she smiled.

"Our chess game finally ended."

Achilles chuckled.

"Actually... it didn't."

"Why not?"

"Because every marriage begins with a new game."

"And who's winning this one?"

He kissed her forehead.

"Neither of us."

"Because from now on... we're always on the same side of the board."

Emerald smiled as she looked at the stars above.

For years, she believed love had been nothing more than heartbreak.

But true love had never disappeared.

It had simply waited for the right moment to bloom.

Just like her grandfather had once written...

"The rose blooms after the storm."

And at last, Rosebud had found her forever home—in the arms of the man who had loved her all along.

**THE END**