Reputation's Bloom

Chapter 52. Reputation

Chapter 52

Daphne stirred awake, her lashes fluttering as the soft light of morning streamed through her curtains, casting a glow over her bedroom. Her body felt weightless against the silky sheets, the lingering haze of sleep making her surroundings feel dreamlike. Slowly, her gaze shifted downward, and her breath hitched.

Theo was on one knee at the side of her bed, his broad shoulders bare and his smooth skin tight over his muscles. The intensity of his focus was captivating as he worked with careful precision to clasp the delicate diamond bracelet around her wrist. The cool touch of the diamonds against her skin made her heart race, each movement of his strong hands anchoring her more to the moment.

For a heartbeat, Daphne couldn't breathe. The sight of him kneeling there, his dark hair slightly tousled and the morning light softening his sharp features, ignited a thought so vivid it overwhelmed her—what if this wasn't just about the bracelet? What if he was asking her to marry him?

Her mind flickered with images of what that might be like: Theo holding her hand with that same quiet devotion, his smirk transforming into a rare, vulnerable smile as he whispered words meant just for her. She imagined his voice, low and steady, promising forever, the weight of his love as unyielding as his gaze on her now.

The thought made her chest tighten. For the first time, the idea of something so permanent, so binding, didn't terrify her. It made her ache in a way she didn't quite understand.

Theo's deep voice cut through the silence, grounding her.

"This belongs to you," he said softly, glancing up as the bracelet clicked into place. His dark eyes met hers, studying her reaction with that familiar mix of intensity and unreadable calm. "Only you."

She swallowed hard, her pulse fluttering in her wrist where his fingers lingered a moment longer.

"Were you carrying this around in your pocket?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, trying to ignore the way her cheeks flushed.

Theo's lips curved into a small, knowing smirk. "Of course," he said, his tone teasing, but his gaze betrayed something deeper.

Daphne lifted her hand slowly, as if the moment might shatter if she moved too quickly. Her fingers brushed against Theo's cheek, her palm curving to cradle his face. The roughness of his stubble under her thumb sent a soft ache through her, a longing that had simmered quietly since their breakup. Her gaze locked onto his, her heart beating in rhythm with his steady breaths. She traced the planes of his face, committing every detail to memory, as if touching him might tether her to this fragile, beautiful moment.

Theo leaned into her touch, his eyes softening as he lowered his lips to her forehead. The kiss lingered, tender and deliberate, a promise in its simplicity. His hand rose to encircle her wrist, bringing her palm to his lips. He pressed a kiss there, warm and intimate, his eyes never leaving hers as he pulled back just enough to speak.

"I thought about what you said," he murmured, his voice low, almost hesitant.

"About?" Daphne's voice was still thick with sleep, but her eyes searched his face, fully awake now.

"Talking to my parents," Theo said quietly. "I think I'm ready to do it."

Daphne's lips curved into a soft smile, her hand still resting against his cheek. "That's a really good idea," she said, her tone as gentle as the morning light filtering through the room.

Theo exhaled, his lips twitching in the faintest of smiles. "I texted my mom," he admitted, his thumb brushing over her wrist. "I told her we'd be coming over for breakfast."