"When are you going to make it official for me, Mrs. Russell?" Stephan asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He pinched Felicia's waist.

Felicia stared silently at the chandelier's tassels, counting them.

Stephan wouldn't let her evade the question. Gently turning her face toward him, he smirked playfully. "Didn't you promise to let me marry you? Are you backing out now?"

Flustered by his teasing hand on her waist, Felicia blushed, struggling to breathe. "I'm not backing out! I admit it, okay?"

"That's more like it," Stephan said, drawing out his words. He was clearly worried she might escape, prioritizing the marriage certificate over the wedding itself. Felicia hesitated, then confessed, "Well, I don't think I've reached the legal age for marriage yet, so…"

For a moment, a fascinating array of emotions—disbelief, confusion, frustration, and a faint twitch of his lips—crossed Stephan's face. Felicia couldn't contain herself and burst into laughter, tears welling in her eyes. Lying on the bed, too weak from laughter to sit up, she collapsed into Stephan's arms, her head against his chest.

Felicia tried to calm herself, but Stephan's rare look of defeat was too funny. She couldn't stop laughing. It was the first time she'd seen such a range of expressions on his face.

After a long while, Felicia stifled her laughter and tried to offer comforting words. But when she looked up, Stephan was gazing at her with a sly smile. "Are you done laughing?" he asked.

Before she could answer, something cool and smooth slipped onto her ring finger. She instinctively pulled her hand from under the blanket and found a ring—incredibly beautiful and unique, adorned with a fiery-red gemstone resembling a blaze. At first glance, it seemed almost alive, as if it might spew flames. Felicia stared, feeling it looked oddly familiar yet unable to place it. She looked up to find Stephan leaning close, murmuring against her ear, "Here's my wedding edit."

Felicia smiled and shook her head. "Alright."

That single word was a promise, carrying immense weight. While her response was calm, Stephan's reaction was different. He tightened his arm around her waist, and Felicia felt his racing heartbeat through the fabric. The next moment, he rained kisses upon her.