Mrs. and Mr. Soysalan - AsLaz

14

Asi stood there, staring at the sight in front of her: Alaz, on one knee, holding a diamond ring. It was a scene she had seen countless times in movies, a moment that every girl dreams about, fantasizes about—the man you love, kneeling in front of you, offering a future together. As a teenager, Asi had often wondered how her proposal would one day unfold. Would it be a grand gesture, something extravagant, or an intimate, quiet moment? She had imagined different versions in her head, each one beautiful in its own way.

But as she grew older, It didn't matter that much to her because she couldn't even imagine herself as a married woman. But if it ever happened, she realized it wasn't the proposal itself that mattered—not the grandeur or the ring. It didn't matter if it was a 24-carat diamond or a simple $1 ring from AliExpress. It didn't even matter if there was no ring at all. The only thing that would matter was the man standing in front of her, the one offering his heart.

And now, looking down at Alaz, her heart pounded in her chest. A surge of emotions washed over her, so intense that she felt she might pass out from the sheer weight of it. She couldn't believe this was happening. Not like this, not now, not after everything.

Alaz, for his part, didn't seem any better. He stayed in his position, not saying a word, his eyes filled with a nervous kind of anticipation. She saw the tiniest beads of sweat on his forehead, proof that even someone as confident and self-assured as Alaz Soysalan could be shaken by this moment.

Finally, Asi broke the silence. "What is this?"

Alaz shifted, his usual cocky charm faltering for just a second before he replied, trying to mask his nervousness with a cheeky grin. "What does it look like?"

Asi shook her head, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips. "I thought there wouldn't be a proposal in an arranged marriage." 

Alaz's eyes softened as he looked up at her. "Our family and the PR team can tell us how to act in public, what to say, where to stand. But they can't interfere with what happens in our private space." He paused, watching as tears slipped down Asi's cheeks.

Seeing her cry broke something inside him. He quickly snapped the ring box shut and slid it into his pocket before standing up. Without hesitation, he wrapped her in his arms, pulling her tightly against him. He kissed the top of her head, his hand gently running through her hair, soothing her as she cried softly into his chest.

He pressed his lips to her forehead and whispered, "I'm trying, Asi. I'm trying to make things right. This isn't just some arrangement for me. This isn't part of a plan, or a strategy. This is my second chance—our second chance. I know I don't deserve it, but I'm grateful every day that we're here again, that we met again."

His voice cracked slightly, and Asi could feel trembling of his hands. He pulled back just enough to cup her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears. His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers.

"Please, don't get me wrong," he continued, his voice gentle but firm. "I don't want you to think I'm just tossing you a ring like it's some prop for this whole marriage performance. This isn't just equipment for a show. I want this moment to be real—for us. I want it to be honest."

His gaze deepened, and his next words came out with a quiet desperation. "I don't want to start this marriage any other way than the right way. The only way. And the only right place for that is here. Here, where it all began."

Asi stared up at him, her heart aching. She could see the regret for the time they had lost. But beneath that flutter, there was still the hurt. The hurt that had lingered for two years, the pain of him walking away without a word. She had buried it deep, but now, standing here in the place where it all started, it was as raw as ever.