Chapter 80: Getting Ahead on New Ground

"There's been something I've been wanting to do," John said, sounding a little nervous. He extracted a little velvet box from his pocket. There was a collective gasp. "Marie," he said, staring at her stunning face, "our marriage wasn't very conventional when we were married. The turmoil of "Ghost Protocol" engulfed us, and we mumbled our vows in the middle of anxiety." With a sudden awareness, Marie's eyes became wide and she started to flush. She felt laughter, nostalgia, and an intense, heartbreaking love for the guy in front of her all at once. With the velvet box glistening in the gentle light, John knelt on one knee. "So, Marie Petrova," his tone full with passion, "would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife, not just in a legal sense, but in a way that truly reflects the depth of my love for you?" Marie felt tears rise up in her eyes. This was not a big, showy move. It was a straightforward act of love a chance to restart their future and redo a moment that