Chapter 642

I didn’t stop running until I reached the Ferris wheel. Since the park opened, it had become the spot—people called it “The Eye of Seavora.” “Get me on it!” I said.

Apparently, my name carried enough weight to pause the whole ride. The gondola creaked as it started moving, lifting me up and away from everything below. Down there, Wayne just stood, neck craned, his gaze locked on me as I climbed higher.

From the top, the park stretched out like a living postcard. Last time I was up here, Hayden was with me, fiddling with the lights after hours. We didn’t just admire the view—we were in our own little bubble, drowning in the bliss of it all.

The lights were just as beautiful now. But he wasn’t here. Except… no. He was here. The lights earlier—it wasn’t random. He was telling me something.

When the gondola hit the peak, everything spread out: the park, the glittering skyline of Seavora. But I wasn’t here for the view. I was here for him. Just him.

“Hayden!” I shouted, my voice ripped away by the wind. “If you wanna marry me, then come back!” I threw my hand in the air, the ring we picked out together catching the light. “The ring? Still on my finger. The bracelet you gave me? Yeah, I’m wearing that too. The only thing missing… is you.”

My voice rang out, tangled with the flashing lights above, like they were amplifying my words. Below, the crowd went wild again, cheering and screaming like this was part of the show. Guess the earlier chaos was old news—they were all in on tonight’s unexpected spectacle now.

They say life’s full of curveballs, and when you can’t dodge them, you just roll with it. Tonight, the crowd below figured that out. And maybe… so had I.

The crowd’s cheers swelled as Wayne took a call. On the other end, a staffer reported that the guests demanding refunds earlier had stopped complaining. Wayne ended the call and looked back up at Keira, perched at the top of the Ferris wheel. His eyes flickered with something unreadable as he dialed another number. “Get me a full report on tonight’s light glitch. I want details.”

Officially, it was a technical hiccup. But the so-called “accident” felt too precise, dredging up memories Hayden had hardwired into the system—memories that tied him to Keira. Wayne knew Hayden had a sentimental streak, programming his emotions into the lights like a love letter. But a random glitch recreating his proposal? No way that was random.

Before Wayne could dig deeper, his phone buzzed again. His gaze was still locked on Keira when he answered it. “Yes, Jace…”

“What’s going on at the park?” Jace’s voice was sharp, already half-informed.

“The lights malfunctioned,” Wayne replied, his tone measured, eyes briefly darting to the dazzling display still spilling over the park. “But it’s under control now.”

“Good,” Jace said, like he was ready to hang up. But Wayne stopped him. “Do you really think Hayden is gone?”

On the other end, Jace’s grip tightened around the phone. “What are you trying to say?”

“Tonight’s lighting glitch didn’t just cause a blank screen,” Wayne said slowly. “It displayed the proposal streamers. The words weren’t random, Jace. They said, ‘Kiki, marry me.’”

The line hung heavy in silence. “Keira’s here,” Wayne finally said, his voice softer now, almost reluctant. “She’s… shaken.”

“You sent her there?” Jace’s tone dropped, suspicion curling through each word. Wayne didn’t answer.

“You shouldn’t have let her go,” Jace pressed.

After a pause, Wayne asked, “Do you really think this glitch was just technical? Or could it be… something else?”

Jace caught the implication immediately. “You think Hayden might still be alive?”