Chapter 170: The question

We took one step into the maze, and the music stopped playing abruptly.

The crowd fell silent at once.

We moved through the maze in quiet anticipation until we rounded the first corner. Then, the violinist began playing again—a slow, sensual tune that wrapped around my thoughts like a wicked dance. The strings vibrated in my heart, and I knew my friends behind me were just as entranced as I was.

When we reached the open field, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Sam stood beneath the willow tree, his back to me.

That was all I saw. The enormous crowd, the wildflowers, the fire, the snow—it all faded from my mind as soon as my eyes found him. My husband-to-be, his tense back clad in a black suit, seemed to ripple as if he felt my presence.

My black veil made it a little harder to see.

The violin's tune shifted, signalling that it was time for me to walk forward. The crowd turned to face me, their eyes finding me. Gasps, murmurs, and praises filled the air, and Sam tensed even more.

I grasped