A light rap on the door preceded the entrance of two towering figures into the ward. Catching sight of Kasra, followed closely by Seven, a flicker of joy danced across Sana’s face. And in the next breath, a giggle escaped, light and airy.

  “Kas! Seven! You’re back!” she exclaimed. “How did the visit go?”

  Kasra blinked, curiosity piqued, his brows lifting slightly. “The visit went well. We’ve sorted most things out. But what’s got you in such high spirits? Hmm?”

  A bubbly titter spilled out of Sana's mouth again. “Lara told me that Kimi and Kate are dating—like officially! Kimi is dabomb.com! Seven, you approve, right?”

  Her playful demeanor brightened the room, infusing it with contagious energy.

  A small smile tugged at Seven's lips. “She’s an adult. As long as she’s happy, I’m on board. But if Kimi ever bullies her, whether he’s your brother or not, he’ll have to answer to me.”

  Kasra let out a sharp, unexpected chuckle, drawing everyone’s attention. “You’ll have to get in line, man. Dad already declared that if Kimi even so much as makes Kate shed a tear, he’ll whip his ass until it splits!”

  Laughter rippled through the room, underscored by a subtle schadenfreude; the thought of Kimi facing his father’s wrath if he ever dared to hurt Kate added an edge to their amusement.

  ……

  Meanwhile, over in Washington, D.C., at Boqueria Penn Quarter, Kimi paused mid-chew and suddenly sneezed, interrupting the otherwise romantic lunch he was enjoying with Katherine.

  “You okay?” she asked, concern lacing her words, her hand instinctively reaching out to touch his arm.

  Kimi smirked, loving the attention. “Yeah, I’m good,” he mused, “but I think someone’s gossiping about me.”

  Katherine leaned in, her fingers brushing her lips as if to share a secret. “Oh? I wonder what they’re saying.”

  A snort escaped his throat as he leaned back in his chair. “They’re probably just jealous I’ve snagged the best girlfriend in the world.”

  Katherine’s laughter rang out, bright and infectious. “Oh? And how did you figure?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Kimi said with a wink. “I told a bunch of losers this morning that I’m officially off the market. Naturally, they’re green with envy.”

  His swagger amused Katherine. “You call your brothers ‘losers’? That’s rich.”

  Kimi, unfazed, doubled down. “They’re all older, but I’m the one who snagged a girlfriend first. So yeah—losers.”

  She shook her head in mock disbelief. “Does it bug you being the youngest?”

  Kimi’s rascally grin faded, his voice softening as he opened up, trusting Katherine with his vulnerabilities. “It wasn’t easy growing up. Sure, I got Mom’s attention for being the youngest, but it also meant dealing with a lot of jealousy until Princess came along. On the upside, all my brothers stopped bullying me. But the downside? Mom shifted all her attention to Sana. It’s a double-edged sword.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  At his candid recountal, Katherine squeezed his hand. “Well, I’m glad you beat them to the punch.”

  Kimi’s gaze grew distant for a moment, but the mischievous glint soon returned. “Ahem… before you elevated my standing, they couldn’t out-argue me, no matter how hard they tried. But rubbing my new relationship status in their faces is way more satisfying.”

  Katherine shook her head, chortling until her belly hurt. Their lively banter flowed naturally, each moment drawing them closer.

  As they waited for dessert, Kimi took her hand in his. “Katherine, do you like the ring I got you?”

  Katherine’s thoughts drifted back two hours earlier. After meeting her superior, they drove into D.C. to Kimi’s office to grab his laptop. Then, hand-in-hand, they strolled to CityCenterDC Mall. Kimi popped into the Tiffany & Co. boutique, picked out a Tiffany Harmony wedding band, and slipped it onto Katherine’s finger, a silent declaration that officially marked her as his girlfriend.

  Now, hearing Kimi’s question, Katherine traced the delicate band on her fourth finger, a tangible reminder of their new journey together. “I love it,” she whispered. “But…”

  Her hesitation caught Kimi’s attention. “But?” he asked gently.

  “I’ve never worn jewelry before,” she admitted, her fingers nervously twisting the ring. “I’m scared I’ll lose it. Would it be alright if I looped it on my badge chain instead?”

  Kimi’s eyes held hers, the warmth between them palpable. “It’s just a ring, Katherine. If you lose it, I’ll get you another one. It’s meant to show you’re mine. You’ll get used to it in no time. But if you’re undercover, you can remove it and loop it through your badge chain. Deal?”

  Katherine’s playful side returned as she teased, “Then maybe I should get you a matching ring, so everyone knows you’re taken too.”

  Kimi’s face lit up. “Matching couple rings! Why didn’t we think of that just now?”

  Katherine nodded enthusiastically. “Let’s head back to Tiffany’s after this.”

  ……

  They returned to the boutique after lunch, where Katherine selected a ring for Kimi. It was the same design but slightly thicker and wider. Sliding it onto his finger, she cheekily proclaimed, “There. Now you’ve also got your ‘Off Limits’ sign on.”

  Kimi leaned in for a quick kiss, right in front of the sales staff, much to Katherine’s surprise and mild embarrassment. “Watch it, or I’ll cuff you and haul you into detention for disorderly conduct,” she taunted, though the affection in her mock eye-roll told a different story.

  Kimi broke into a chuckle, amused by her "threat." He shot back, “You can cuff me and take me anywhere, anytime, Detective Kitty!”

  Clasping her hand, they left the store and strolled to Nosegay Flowers. Amidst the fragrant blooms, they picked up a bouquet of white carnations for Katherine’s mother and poppies for her father. With the flowers in tow, their next stop was the Columbia Gardens Cemetery.

  ……

  Arriving at the cemetery, a solemn air fell over them. The mid-afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground as they approached the plots. Kimi gently placed the carnations on Katherine’s mother’s grave, acknowledging her with a silent nod of respect and greeting.

  Katherine stood still, the weight of her memories pressing down on her. As she laid the bouquet of poppies in front of her father’s headstone, tears brimmed in her eyes, unbidden. Dropping to her knees, she whispered an unspoken apology, her heart aching with love, longing, and guilt.

  “I miss you both so much,” she murmured between sobs. “I wish you could have met Kimi.”

  Kimi knelt beside her, his presence a much-needed anchor in the poignant moment. “They’d be proud of you,” he said softly, a balm to her wounded heart. Katherine glanced at him, grateful for his presence.

  Tears slid down Katherine’s cheeks again, and Kimi gently wiped them away, a silent testament to his love. “I’m here for you,” he reassured, the sincerity in his gaze offering her a sense of solace amidst the sadness.