The months following the resolution with Laura brought a new sense of peace and stability to our relationship. Colet and I continued to thrive despite the distance. We celebrated our first anniversary with a trip to the Grand Canyon, a place we'd both always wanted to visit. It was a magical weekend, filled with breathtaking views, deep conversations, and a reaffirmation of our commitment to each other.

One crisp autumn morning, as I sipped my coffee and checked my emails, I noticed a message from a prestigious art gallery in New York. They were hosting a competition for emerging artists, and the winner would get the opportunity to showcase their work in a solo exhibition. My heart raced with excitement at the prospect.

I called Colet immediately. "Guess what? I've been invited to participate in an art competition in New York! If I win, I'll get to have my own exhibition there."

Colet's voice was filled with joy. "That's amazing, Maloi! You have to do it. Just think, we could spend more time together if you came to New York."

The idea of being closer to Colet was incredibly tempting. "I'm definitely going to enter. This could be a game-changer for us."

Preparing for the competition consumed my days and nights. I poured my heart and soul into my work, creating pieces that reflected my journey, my emotions, and my relationship with Colet. The deadline approached quickly, and soon enough, I found myself on a flight to New York, my artwork carefully packed and ready for the exhibition.

Colet met me at the airport, her smile radiant as she hugged me tightly. "I'm so proud of you, Maloi. I can't wait to see your work on display."

The day of the competition was a whirlwind. The gallery buzzed with energy as artists from around the country showcased their creations. I was both nervous and excited, my heart pounding as the judges made their rounds.

As the event drew to a close, the gallery director took the stage to announce the winners. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "The winner of this year's emerging artist competition is... Maloi!"

The room erupted in applause as I stood frozen, unable to believe what I had just heard. Colet's cheers were the loudest of all, her pride and happiness evident on her face.

I made my way to the stage, tears streaming down my face as I accepted the award. This was a dream come true, and it felt even more special with Colet by my side.

After the ceremony, Colet and I celebrated at our favorite restaurant. As we clinked our glasses, I felt a sense of contentment and hope for the future. "This is just the beginning, Colet. I can't wait to see what comes next."

Winning the competition opened new doors for me. I received offers from other galleries, invitations to collaborate with renowned artists, and opportunities to teach workshops. Most importantly, it gave me a reason to stay in New York for an extended period, bringing Colet and me closer together.

We spent every moment we could together, exploring the city, making new memories, and dreaming about the future. One evening, as we sat on the rooftop of Colet's apartment building, watching the city lights twinkle, Colet turned to me with a serious expression.

"Maloi, there's something I've been thinking about. We've been through so much together, and I don't want to be apart anymore. What if... we moved in together?"

The idea thrilled and scared me at the same time. "Are you sure? I mean, it's a big step."

She took my hand, her eyes filled with love and determination. "I'm sure. We've proven that we can handle anything. I want to wake up next to you every day and build a life together."

One evening, as we were settling into our new routine, I received another message from an anonymous number. This time, it was a video of Colet at a café, talking to a man I didn't recognize. The message read, "Do you really know everything about her?"

My heart sank. Not this again, I thought. But instead of jumping to conclusions, I decided to talk to Colet openly.

"Colet, I got another message. It's a video of you at a café with some guy. Do you know who he is?"

She looked puzzled for a moment before realization dawned on her face. "Oh, that must be Jason. He's a colleague from work. We've been working on a big project together."

I showed her the video, and she nodded. "Yes, that's Jason. We were discussing the final details of our project. There's nothing more to it, Maloi."

I believed her, but the nagging feeling in the back of my mind wouldn't go away. "Who keeps sending these messages? What do they want?"

Determined to get to the bottom of it, Colet and I decided to investigate. We reviewed all the messages, looking for any clues that might reveal the sender's identity. One detail caught our attention: the locations in the photos and videos were all places Colet frequented for work or our favorite hangouts.

We enlisted the help of our friends, who kept an eye out for any suspicious behavior. One afternoon, Mikha spotted someone taking photos near Colet's office. She managed to snap a picture of the person and sent it to us.

"Do you recognize this person?" I asked Colet, showing her the photo.

Her eyes widened. "That's Sarah, an old friend of mine. We had a falling out a while back, and I haven't heard from her since."

We decided to confront Sarah directly. Colet reached out to her, asking to meet up and catch up. Sarah agreed, and we arranged to meet at a café.

As soon as we saw her, it was clear that she wasn't expecting me to be there. "Sarah, we need to talk," Colet began, her voice steady.

Sarah looked uncomfortable. "What's this about?"

I showed her the messages and photos. "Have you been sending these?"

Her face turned pale, and she looked down, unable to meet our eyes. "I didn't mean to cause any harm. I was just... jealous. Seeing you so happy without me made me feel left out."

Colet sighed, her expression softening. "Sarah, you should have talked to me. We could have worked things out. But this? It's not okay."

"I know," Sarah whispered. "I'm sorry. I'll stop. I just wanted to be part of your life again."

With the mystery finally solved, Colet and I felt a weight lift off our shoulders. We focused on our future, excited about the possibilities that lay ahead. My art career flourished, and Colet's projects at work brought her new opportunities and recognition.

We continued to support each other, learning and growing together. The experiences we had faced only made our bond stronger. We knew that no matter what challenges came our way, we would face them together, side by side.

One year after moving in together, Colet surprised me with a weekend getaway to the countryside. It was a beautiful, serene place, perfect for relaxation and reflection. On the last evening of our trip, as we sat by a lake, Colet turned to me with a smile.

"Maloi, there's something I've been wanting to ask you." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box.

My heart raced as she opened it to reveal a delicate ring. "Will you marry me?"

Tears filled my eyes as I nodded, unable to speak. "Yes, Colet. Yes!"

She slipped the ring onto my finger, and we embraced, our hearts full of love and joy. This was the start of a new chapter in our lives, one filled with promise and endless possibilities.

As we looked out over the tranquil lake, I knew that our future was bright. We had faced so much together and come out stronger on the other side. Now, we were ready to build a life together, filled with love, trust, and unbreakable bonds.