As I brush my teeth, I place my hand on my stomach and think about the child growing inside me. I think about the fact that he or she will grow up with all this love around them. They will have grandparents to help raise them and spoil them rotten. They’ll have a mother and father whose only wish is to devote their love and their life to them. And at some point, they’ll have other brothers and sisters to grow up with, so they’ll never ever have to feel alone. The thought brings tears to my eyes. I may have missed out on all of those things, but I’ll make sure that they don’t. I’ll give my child the life that I never got to experience.
Feeling emotional, I head to Elijah’s bedroom. Well, I guess it’s our bedroom now. Everything that was once his, he’s sharing so willingly with me. He’s making sure that I feel at home here, even if I started out as a guest. But it really does feel like home now anyway.
I guess they say that home is where the heart is.
When I enter our bedroom, though, something is different. The room is dark and only the light of hundreds of candles is keeping the air filled with a glow. I gasp in shock because the next thing I see is Elijah, down on one knee beside the bed.
“Hey, beautiful. I’ve got something to ask you.”
I cover my mouth in shock. Is this really happening? Is he really about to propose to me?
“Surprise,” he says with a wolfish grin. I step into the room, trembling in anticipation. I can barely believe this. He’s done all of this for me? I knew we were on a good path, preparing for a life together…but it’s still hard to believe that he wants to marry me. Of all of the women in the world, he’s choosing to get down on one knee in front of me. He confesses his love to me.
I step closer to him, and he takes my hand in his, propping open the ring box he’s holding in his hand. I gasp when I see the most gorgeous diamond ring I’ve ever laid eyes on. It must have cost an absolute fortune. I blush. I’ve never owned anything fancy, never had any money for beautiful things like this. And now, Elijah is offering it up to me as though it’s nothing, as though I actually deserve something so beautiful on my finger.
“I wanted to pick the most beautiful ring…for the most beautiful woman in the world,” Elijah says in a husky tone, looking intensely at me. “I’ve known that I wanted to propose to you for a long time, baby. And I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to show my love for you, show you that you deserve the world.”
I can’t stop shaking. His words are so perfect, and yet he’s leaving me speechless. He takes my hand and brushes his thumb over my knuckle.
“Olivia…I had a lot of things before I met you. Money. Fame. Success. But those things pale in comparison to you. You are everything that was missing from my life. Everything I thought I’d never have. Before we met, I assumed I’d end up alone, unable to feel love for any woman. But now I know that I was just waiting for you to come along and show me what love really means. I was waiting for something meaningful, and I found that in you. It’s not just about the raw animal attraction I feel for you…though that is incredible. It’s about so much more, too. It’s about this deep aching love I feel in my chest. It’s about how you make me happier than anything else ever has or will. It’s about how I know I couldn’t live my life without you anymore. You’ve turned my world upside down, baby, in the best possible way. And I don’t ever want to let you go.”
“I feel the same,” I whisper. “And so much more.”
His eyes are softer than normal as he gazes up at me. “You’ve had a hard start in life. You were born into a cruel world that has hurt you so many times for no good reason. But I promise you, baby…that nothing will ever hurt you again. I won’t allow it. I’m going to protect you from every storm. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that you feel safe forever. I will keep you close to me and show you the love you’ve always deserved. I love you more than anything in the world. I love you and your body and the child you’re carrying inside you. I love the future we’re going to have together…and that’s why I want to seal the deal. That’s why I want to give you the future you’ve always dreamed of. Olivia…will you be mine forever? Will you be my bride and marry me?”