Act I: The Sunlit Mirage
Chapter 1: The Proposal on the Terrace
The estate at Crestview Ridge was a masterclass in modern luxury. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the villa boasted white marble terraces, sprawling glass facades, and a subterranean infinity pool that seemed to merge seamlessly with the azure sky.
On this warm sunlit afternoon, the atmosphere around the pool was charged with excitement.
Marcus Bennett knelt on one knee beside the sparkling blue water, dressed impeccably in a vibrant cobalt-blue suit and a crisp white shirt. In his hand, he held an open velvet box containing a pristine three-carat diamond ring that caught the bright sunlight, casting tiny prisms of light across the tiled patio.
Standing before him was Sophia Vance.
Sophia was wearing a beige silk sundress that fluttered softly in the ocean breeze. Her long, dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and her hands were pressed against her collarbone in apparent shock. Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked down at Marcus.