THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 397: Our Special Place

"I don’t want you anywhere near Dolly," Lauren said, her voice edged with a quiet intensity as she idly twirled the wine glass between her fingers. "I want you to stay away from her as far as possible."

They were seated in a quaint eatery just a short walk from Medstar Hospital. It was a favored spot for families visiting patients and hospital staff looking for a change of scenery from the cafeteria’s usual offerings.

It had the hum of quiet conversations, the clinking of silverware, and the gentle lull of soft music in the background. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Steffan looked up from his plate, an indulgent smile spreading across his face. "But that’s not possible, sweetheart. At least for now," he added. "We work at the same hospital, remember? I can’t just pretend she doesn’t exist."

"But you can still avoid her," Lauren insisted, her lips curving into a stubborn pout that tugged at Steffan’s heart.

"Come on, Lauren. We talked about this already. Don’t tell me you’re this jealous," Steffan teased, though he didn’t mind it one bit.

The possessiveness and the way she was trying to assert herself in his life, made him feel wanted, in a way that was oddly satisfying.

Lauren’s eyes narrowed defensively. "I am not jealous," Lauren shot back a little too quickly.

"Oh, really?" Steffan asked, a mischievous glint lighting up his eyes.

"Mm-hmm."

"Then why do I see green all over your face?" he teased, leaning in closer as if inspecting her. "Even your lips look like they’ve caught the green trend. Is that the latest fashion trend?" He grinned, earning a swift kick from under the table.

"Ouch!" Steffan yelped, clutching his shin as he dramatically winced in mock agony. "Are you trying to cripple your husband?"

"You’re not my husband," Lauren stated shyly as she turned away to avoid Steffan’s eyes. "Unfortunately, you never got to be, thanks to your..." She cut herself off abruptly, biting her lip.

She almost mentioned that he was shot by one of his jealous "girlfriends." Killian had advised they keep Steffan out of the case for the meantime so he wouldn’t interfere with the investigation. But along the line, they had completely forgotten to bring it up after he became stable.

She almost let it slip before confirming with her brother and that would have brought about another barrage of questions from Steffan and digging deep into the past which she was not ready to indulge in for now, especially after just dealing with Dolly’s nonsense.

Thinking she was referring to the accident that had stolen his memories, Steffan softened his expression. "I’m sorry," he said sincerely. "But I’m working on it, and as part of the plan..." His voice trailed off as he reached into his breast pocket.

When his hands came out, Lauren’s eyes widened inexplicably as her breath caught in her throat.

With a slow, deliberate smile, Steffan pushed his chair back and knelt on one knee before her.

A murmur of surprise rippled through the restaurant, heads turning to witness the unfolding scene.

"Lauren," Steffan began, his voice steady but warm, his gaze locked onto hers. "Will you be kind enough to let this forgetful doctor back into your life, even if his memory isn’t quite complete?" He paused, letting the words sink in before popping the timeless question that had heralded the journey of every courtship. "Will you marry me?"

The restaurant fell into a hush, and then, as if on cue, a chorus of encouragement broke out from the other diners. "Say yes!" someone called out, and soon the entire room was chanting, "Say yes! Say yes!"

Lauren, overwhelmed and visibly emotional, covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes darting from Steffan’s hopeful face to the eager crowd around them. The chants grew louder, and tears glistened in her eyes as she took a deep breath.

"Yes," she finally said, her voice trembling but clear. "Yes, I’ll marry you!"

The room erupted into cheers and applause. Steffan’s face lit up as he slipped the ring onto her finger, pulling her into a tight embrace. He kissed her cheek, and the joy of the moment seemed to swell around them, infectious and bright.

Caught up in the euphoria of the moment, Steffan stood and turned to the cheering crowd. "Drinks are on me!" he announced, his voice booming with excitement. "Everyone gets free drinks!"

A delighted cheer rose up, and the atmosphere shifted into one of celebration. Waitstaff scrambled to fulfill the spontaneous order, the clinking of glasses and the buzz of laughter filling the room.

Lauren laughed against Steffan’s chest, the sheer absurdity and joy of the moment washing over her.

Steffan looked down at her, his eyes soft with affection.

"You didn’t need to propose again, you’re my fiancé," Lauren whispered.

"Well I needed to do that as a fresh start. The former proposal expired with the loss of my memory and this is for the new Steffan who has fallen helplessly in love with this gorgeous babe. Besides, you said it yourself... we can create what cannot be remembered," he reminded her.

"Yeah," Lauren nodded happily. She was in no mood for lunch anymore. Pulling Steffan’s hand, she whisked him out of the restaurant after they’d settled the bills.

"Hand me the keys," she said with a mysterious smile.

"And where are you taking me, my dear adventurous fiancée," Steffan asked. Not that he cared... he was ready to go to the ends of the world with her as long as she was the one with him.

"You’ll find out soon, Lauren said as she settled behind the wheel.

As Lauren drove, Steffan noticed they had left the bustling and hustle of the city behind.

He watched with curiosity, his mind racing with possibilities about their destination as Lauren drove along winding roads lined with towering trees.

But Lauren kept her lips sealed, her smile never fading as she occasionally glanced over at him, catching his intrigued expression.

After about thirty minutes, they pulled up to the entrance of an old, ivy-covered estate.

It was hidden behind grand wrought iron gates that looked as if they had stood there for centuries.

Lauren stepped out of the car and led Steffan down a narrow, cobblestone path that was almost swallowed by the thick greenery on either side.

"Where are we?" Steffan asked, taking in the serene, secluded surroundings. The air was filled with the fragrant scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of a trickling fountain could be heard in the distance.

Lauren smiled softly, a touch of nostalgia in her eyes. "This used to be our special place," she explained.

"Really?" Steffan asked, intrigued.

"We came here a lot, It was our little getaway whenever things got too hectic. You loved it here. It’s a hidden garden behind an old estate that’s been abandoned for years. We practically made it our own."

As they stepped through an archway of ivy, Steffan felt a jolt of familiarity, like he was stepping into a dream he had long forgotten.

The garden unfolded before them in a burst of color, vibrant roses in full bloom, lavender bushes gently swaying in the breeze, and tall hedges that created a secluded, almost magical atmosphere.