The Art of Not Missing You - Chapter 8

After touring the entire estate, my impression of Alexander Monroe improved by leaps and bounds.

The moment he opened the door to his studio, I was stunned speechless by the countless sketches lining the walls.

He told me that after being discharged from the hospital, he had searched for me for a long time. But back then, the thick smoke had obscured our faces, so he drew me from memory instead.

It wasn’t until he attended my alma mater’s anniversary celebration that he spotted a photo in the outstanding graduates’ display, one that looked strikingly like me.

When he finally tracked me down in the south to express his gratitude, he found me all grown up.

That single glance felt like an eternity.

But he also discovered I already had a boyfriend.

So he buried his feelings and returned to the capital.

He feared that even speaking a single word to me, or getting just a little too close, would make him lose control of his heart.

That was why he designed this estate for me.

And filled this studio with sketches of me.

After seeing the photos stored in Alexander’s safe, I wasn’t blind, the countless portraits in this room were nothing short of love and longing.

Turns out, in places I couldn’t see, someone had loved me this deeply all along.

If not for Uncle Jack and my mother pushing me into an arranged marriage, he never would have stepped forward.

Noticing my stunned silence, Alexander nervously rubbed his fingers together.

“Sophia… did I scare you?”

His flustered expression, paired with the cautious hope in his eyes, made my heart skip.

“No. They’re beautiful. I love them.”

After agreeing to the arranged marriage, I hadn’t held any illusions about it. At most, I figured it couldn’t be that bad if Uncle Jack and my mother had vetted him thoroughly.

But ending up with a husband who only had eyes for me? That was an unexpected blessing.

When I said I loved the sketches, his deep eyes lit up instantly.

In them, I saw my own reflection.

His gaze held nothing but me.

They say the eyes never lie, and under his unwavering stare, my pulse quickened.

Then, like a magician, Alexander produced gift after gift from behind him.

“These are birthday presents.”

He was making up for every missed celebration in one go.

A luxury keychain he designed himself, custom-made by a master artisan.

Paired with a car key.

An entire set of gemstone jewelry he thought I’d adore.

…

Every single item was meticulously chosen.

Finally, a diamond ring.

Without warning, he dropped to one knee.

“Sophia Taylor, will you marry me?”

Every cell in my body screamed at me to say yes.

But I hesitated.

Even though I no longer loved Ethan Foster, my heart had belonged to him for five years.

It didn’t feel fair to Alexander, who was offering nothing but sincerity.

He seemed to read my mind instantly.

“Who hasn’t loved the wrong person when they were young? I know coming back to the capital meant leaving your past behind.”

“My only regret is that I found you too late. You deserve the absolute best.”

“Sophia, will you give me a chance to spend the rest of my life with you?”

Hope shone in his eyes.

The way he said you deserve the best shattered my last defenses.

I owed it to myself, and to Alexander, to take this chance.

The ring fit perfectly.

His radiant smile made my heart race even faster.

Then Uncle Jack, who had conveniently vanished earlier, suddenly reappeared, clapping with glee.

“Well, sweetheart? Happy with the surprise? Romantic enough to make me want to get married!”

I rolled my eyes playfully, and he wisely took the hint, herding us toward dinner.