Chapter 164: Chapter 164

The sights and sounds of the amusement park brought back a flood of memories. The colorful rides, the laughter, and the smell of popcorn and cotton candy.

The sun shone brightly, bringing with it warmth that made the day perfect for fun.

Everything, especially the atmosphere, looked and felt vibrant, which was probably why everyone around them seemed so happy.

Perhaps happiness, like laughter, was contagious.

“I still can’t believe we’re here together,” Hailey remarked, her voice filled with nostalgia. “It feels like only yesterday when we were running around this place, having the time of our lives.”

Michael grabbed her hand with a grin. “It’d be fun to relive some of those moments, wouldn’t it?”

“I say let’s do it!” Hailey exclaimed, and there was that rare spark of excitement in her eyes again.

It made Michael glad he had brought her here. She needed a break from her work, and he needed a break from his duties too.

They spent the day reliving some of their favorite memories. They rode the roller coaster, screamed their hearts out — though Hailey would later clarify that it was Michael who did all the screaming, not her. He, of course, would refute it by claiming that they both screamed bloody murder. They also competed fiercely in the carnival games.

Michael won Hailey a giant stuffed bear that he hadn’t been able to win for her years ago. She hugged it tightly, her face glowing with happiness.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she had played a game like this, or when someone had given her a gift this way. It was genuinely touching.

As the sun began to set, they made their way to the Ferris wheel. Holding hands, they laughed about everything they had done so far while waiting in line.

“Are you having fun so far?” Michael asked.

“Of course,” Hailey said, closing her eyes with a smile. “Isn’t it obvious by now?”

“Just asking to be sure,” he teased. “I wanted to hear you laugh ten times today. That was my goal before we got here.”

“Really?” She decided to humor him. “And how many times have I laughed so far?”

“Hmm, about four or five times? Seems I’ve still got a long way to go.”

“You’re not even sure? Looks like you’re not serious about keeping count.”

“Just kidding.” He suddenly leaned over and caressed her cheek. His gaze radiated warmth as his eyes met hers. “It went past ten already. I’ve definitely achieved my goal.”

Hailey laughed.

When it was finally their turn, they climbed into the carriage, and it slowly began to rise.

Hailey looked out at the breathtaking view of the park, her heart swelling with a mixture of nostalgia and satisfaction. “This place holds a precious memory for us, doesn’t it?” she said softly.

She could remember it vividly. In fact, she had been the one to drag Michael to the amusement park in the first place.

It was a week after their midterms, which she later learned he had done well on. Delighted by his improved grades, she had taken him to this amusement park years ago to celebrate.

-

“It’s my treat!” she had told him.

“I can pay for my own,” he had grumbled.

“Nonsense,” she insisted. “This is to congratulate you on your tests!”

“Stop treating me like a kid,” he had complained.

-

She fought back a chuckle at the memory.

He had tried so hard to be cool and ‘mature,’ but he had failed. He was younger than her, after all, and it was clear that he had enjoyed being taken out and dragged along on fun rides.

“It does,” Michael agreed, his eyes fixed on her. “And I want to make another precious memory today.”

When they reached the top of the Ferris wheel, the carriage paused, as if to give them a moment to take in the stunning view.

Michael took a deep breath, his heart pounding with nervous excitement. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

“Hailey,” he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, “we’ve shared so many incredible moments, from our high school days to now. A lot has happened between us, hasn’t it? But let’s not let the bad memories overshadow the good ones. Right now, we should live in the present and prepare for the future. That’s the only way to be happy.”

Hailey’s eyes widened as she tried to process the scene and his words.

‘No way… is he…?’

“You’ve always been the one for me, even when we were apart for so many years. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”

Her hands trembled as she realized what was happening, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Will you marry me?” Michael asked, opening the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.

Hailey’s breath caught in her throat. Overwhelmed with emotion, she nodded, her tears spilling over. He might tease her about this in the future, but she didn’t really mind.

“Yes, Michael,” she whispered. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Michael’s face broke into a radiant smile as he placed the ring on her finger.

Then she reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace, her heart pounding in excitement.

‘I never expected that he would do something like this,’ she thought. ‘I figured that he just wanted me to have fun and relax for a while, but…’

‘He really surprised me this time.’

The Ferris wheel began to move again, but they were lost in their own world.

For Hailey, this was the happiest day of her life. Finally, the shattered pieces of her life were coming together into a perfect puzzle.

Christian Callahan and his father were still behind bars for their crimes. Since their incarceration, Hailey had erased their existence from her mind and was determined to live her life without them and their influence.

This time, she was in control, and it was a liberating feeling.

Now, she was with the one she loved, and she was finally truly happy.