“Besides,” Winona continued, "you know she has a thing with Keaton. Even if I wanted to hurt her, he wouldn''t let me."


    Elysia asked, "Then what are you nning to do?"


    "I''m going to shatter her fantasy, once and for all," Winona said. "So she can never get her ws into Keaton again, and so she stays far, far away from Janelle and Richard for the rest of her life."


    Elysia was speechless. Just as she was about to ask another question, a group of people appeared at the door. "Ms. Newsom!"


    Winona nced toward the entrance with a smile, then turned back to Elysia. "Go ahead and wake Beatrix up. Once she''s awake, you can head out. I''ll wait for you in the hallway."


    With that, she walked over to Keaton, grabbed his arm, and pulled him toward the door. As they walked, she announced to the room, "Everyone, get ready! The main event is about to begin. Time to witness a little magic."


    At her words, everyone in the room stood up. Sophus even called out to his daughters, reminding them not to forget the livestream. The Huber-Sutton union was


    a monumental honor for his family, and he needed the world to know.


    Elysia watched Winona''s retreating back, still confused. She didn''t know what wasing next, but she walked over to Beatrix and administered a treatment to wake her.


    A momentter, Beatrix''s eyes fluttered open.


    Elysia gave Winona a nod and then walked toward the door with Tarquin.


    Winona flipped off the main lights, plunging the room into darkness. But in the next second, colorful mood lighting flickered on, and soft, romantic music began to y.


    Winona looked at the young man in the hallway. "Tate, are you ready?"


    The young man, wearing sses and a white suit and holding a bouquet of flowers, took a deep breath. "I''m ready!"


    Winona smiled. "Then please, go on in. And good luck."


    His professor and ssmates in the hallway whispered their support. "You got this!"


    "Right!" Holding the flowers in one hand and a microphone in the other, the young man entered the room. The colored lights obscured his face.


    Sophus and Sophie, assuming it was Keaton, grinned from ear to ear. "How romantic! Beatrix is so lucky."


    Beatrix sat up in bed, her brow furrowed as she tried to piece together what had happened. She had just remembered seeing Winona at City Hall when a familiar male voice suddenly began to sing "Spring flowers bloom, chasing winter''s gloom away, a gentle breeze brings a romantic bouquet... Listen to me, take my hand, and walk with me... Will you marry me today?"


    Beatrix''s eyes flew open.


    The Sutton family froze.


    Janelle and Richard stared,pletely baffled.


    In the hallway, Elysia, Tarquin, and Keaton all turned to look at Winona, their faces a collective question mark.


    Winona put a finger to her lips. "Shhh. Don''t ruin the mood. Just watch."


    The three of them fell silent.


    After the short, sweet song, the room''s main lights shed on.


    Tate Joubert was on one knee in front of the bed, holding the bouquet. "Beatrix,” he began, "thank you for taking a charice on me when had nothing, for seeing the man could be and. Thank you..."


    Beatrix stared at Tate Joubert, holding her breath, her eyes nearly popping out of her head.


    The entire Sutton family was dumbstruck, gaping at Tate in utter disbelief.


    Tate finished his heartfelt speech and then dered, "Beatrix, marry me!"


    Winona, thrilled, immediately started pping and cheering. "Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!"


    Beatrix''s professor and ssmates joined in. “Say yes, Beatrix! Say yes!”


    Richard and Janelle were still in a daze, but it was starting to click. Seeing Winona pping and cheering, they


    Seekly joneel


    in.


    yes! Say yes!"


    Sophus and Sophie whipped their heads around to face them. “Wait... Mr. and Mrs.


    Huber, isn''t Keaton supposed to be the one proposing today?"