One year later, Bennett Veterinary Clinic had changed.

Not because Niko bought it.

Maya had forbidden that within the first month.

Instead, he funded something she actually wanted: an independent emergency-care program that helped families who couldn’t afford urgent veterinary treatment.

Maya controlled it.

The clinic administered it.

Niko’s name appeared nowhere on the building.

That had been her condition.

He agreed.

Mostly because Maya had taught him that agreeing with her early saved time.

On a Saturday morning, Maya stood inside Examination Room Three wearing blue scrubs.

A nervous little boy held a trembling rescue kitten.

“Is she scared?” he asked.

“A little.”

“Should we hold her down?”

“No.”

Maya crouched beside him.

“We give her a minute.”

From the doorway came a familiar voice.

“Apparently animals are allowed to have opinions.”

Maya looked up.

Niko leaned against the frame.

Black suit.

Open-collar shirt.

Tattoos visible along his left neck and hand.

Still intimidating.

Still controlled.

But Maya could read his expressions now.

Especially that one.

“You’re early.”

“Luna demanded punctuality.”

The huge white cat appeared behind him wearing a pink bow.

The boy gasped.

“She’s enormous.”

Niko looked down.

“Don’t tell her that.”

Luna entered the room like she owned the clinic.

Technically, she seemed to believe she did.

The rescue kitten stared at her.

Luna approached.

Sniffed.

Then sat beside the carrier.

The kitten stopped trembling.

Maya smiled.

“See?”

The boy nodded.

“She made her feel safe.”

Niko watched Maya.

“Yes.”

His answer wasn’t really about the kitten.

After the appointment, Maya found him waiting in the empty examination room.

Luna sat on the stainless-steel table.

“What are you doing?” Maya asked.

“Waiting.”

“For?”

“You.”

“That sounds suspicious.”

“It probably is.”

Maya folded her arms.

“Niko.”

He reached into his jacket.

She narrowed her eyes.

“If that's another donation—”

“It isn’t.”

He placed a small velvet box on the table.

Maya stopped.

Luna immediately sniffed it.

“Luna,” Niko warned.

The cat pawed it.

“Do not.”

Maya started laughing.

“You’re arguing with your cat during this?”

“She has ruined every important moment we’ve had.”

“She created every important moment we’ve had.”

Niko paused.

“That’s annoyingly accurate.”

He picked up the box.

Then looked at Maya.

No grand speech.

No audience.

No dramatic performance.

That wasn’t them.

“You walked into my life because my cat refused to cooperate.”

Maya smiled.

“She has good instincts.”

“She does.”

Niko glanced at Luna.

“Unfortunately.”

Then his eyes returned to Maya.

“You never cared who people said I was. You cared about what I did when I was standing in front of you.”

Maya’s smile softened.

“And sometimes I didn't like what you did.”

“You informed me.”

“Repeatedly.”

“You still do.”

“Frequently.”

Niko nodded.

“I want that for the rest of my life.”

Maya became very still.

He opened the box.

Inside was a simple, elegant ring.

“Maya Bennett, will you marry me?”

She stared at him.

Then at Luna.

Niko frowned.

“Why are you looking at her?”

“She chose you first.”

“No. She chose you.”

“Exactly.”

Luna stepped forward.

Her enormous paw landed beside the ring.

Maya laughed through the tears gathering in her eyes.

Niko waited.

For once, he didn’t push.

Didn’t assume.

Didn’t command.

He simply waited.

Maya looked at him.

“Yes.”

Niko exhaled.

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

He slid the ring onto her finger.

Then Maya wrapped her arms around his neck.

Niko kissed her.

For approximately two seconds.

Then Luna shoved herself between them.

Again.

Niko closed his eyes.

Maya laughed against his shoulder.

“She’s jealous.”

“Of me?”

“Too fast.”

He looked down at the cat.

Luna stared back with enormous blue eyes.

Niko pointed at her.

“You started this.”

Luna meowed.

“You brought me here.”

Another meow.

“You climbed into her arms.”

Luna began purring.

Maya picked her up.

“You know she’s coming to the wedding.”

“No.”

“Niko.”

“She’ll destroy something.”

“She’ll wear a pink bow.”

“She’ll destroy something while wearing a pink bow.”

Maya smiled.

“Then she’ll fit perfectly into the family.”

Niko looked at the woman he loved.

Then at the cat who had somehow discovered a financial scheme, exposed a betrayal, found the only veterinarian she trusted—and rearranged his entire life.

Finally, he surrendered.

“Fine.”

Maya kissed his cheek.

Luna purred between them.

Months later, when Maya walked down the aisle, Luna was there.

Pink bow.

Perfect white fur.

Completely unsedated.

Victor sat in the second row.

Marco stood beside Niko.

And when Luna calmly walked ahead of Maya carrying absolutely nothing because nobody trusted her with the rings, the entire room laughed.

Niko didn’t.

He watched Maya.

Only Maya.

When she reached him, she whispered:

“Jealous?”

Niko glanced at Luna.

Then back at his bride.

“Not anymore.”

Maya smiled.

“Good answer.”

And for the first time in Niko Bellini’s life, losing someone’s attention had given him everything he wanted.

Because Luna had chosen Maya first.

Niko had simply been smart enough to follow her.

THE END