Page 72 of Always Been You
“I have a surprise for you, and I hope you like it.”
She turns to me, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “I’ll love anything you give me. Why are you nervous?”
I don’t answer. I just take her hand as we step off the helicopter onto the yacht’s sleek deck. The cool night air swirls around us, carrying the faint scent of salt and something floral.
“Yours?” she asks, raising a brow.
I nod, and she raises a brow. “How much are you worth again?”
“Me alone or Montgomery Industries?” I smirk.
“Don’t answer that.” She shakes her head, laughing.
The city lights twinkle in the distance, their reflections dancing on the water below. Lawliss’s fingers tighten around mine as we step onto the wooden planks. She looks around, her gaze catching on the soft glow of purple candles scattered along the railings. A trail of white lilies and hibiscus petals lead toward a private setup on the open deck and a candlelit dinner, framed by sheer drapes swaying gently in the breeze.
She stops mid-step, her breath hitching. “You did this?” Her voice is barely above a whisper, her eyes shining with something I can’t quite name yet.
I squeeze her hand, leading her forward. Intrigued but unsuspecting. Perfect.
The yacht sways gently beneath us, matching the quiet, nervous energy thrumming in my veins. I never get nervous. Boardrooms, negotiations, revenge, million-dollar deals—I’ve handled them all without breaking a sweat. But now, with her, my hands tremble slightly as I reach into my pocket.
I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her skin. We come to a stop, and she turns fully to face me, eyes searching mine.
“I had this whole speech planned,” I admit, exhaling a quiet laugh. “Even thought about convincing you to say yes by making it a rule for you to agree with me all day.”
Her lips twitch, but she stays silent, watching me... waiting.
“But the truth is, no matter what I say, it all comes back to this. I never want to do life without you.” My voice thickens with emotion, my heart pounding in my chest. “Whether we’re covered in clay or paint, dancing in a hall with your family, or flying over the ocean, it’s only ever meant something because you’re with me.”
I drop to one knee.
A sharp inhale escapes her lips, her hands flying to her mouth.
The yacht’s lights cast a golden glow around us, flickering against the deep blue of the night sky. The moment stretches, a fragile breath between past and future.
“Lawliss Dua,” I say, looking up at the woman who changed my life in ways I never saw coming. “Will you make me the happiest man on earth by agreeing to marry me?”
Her chest rises and falls, eyes brimming with emotion.
She touches my face, her fingers trembling against my jaw. A breathless laugh escapes her, a mix of shock, joy, and disbelief.
Then, through the quiet night, she whispers the only word I’ve been waiting for.
“Yes…” she breathes, her fingers tightening around mine. "But... but not now. Maybe in a year or two... or three.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. Classic Lawliss, always needing control or always overthinking.
She lifts her gaze, eyes soft yet determined. “But I want to get married again. And I think... you’ll do.”
Something warm spreads through my chest—a mix of amusement and relief. She thinks I’ll do.
I stand, cupping her face, brushing my thumb along her cheek. “I’ll take whatever you give me, Lynx. Any day, any time.”
She smiles, leaning into my touch and as much as I want to celebrate this moment, a small, wicked thought lingers at the back of my mind.
I just hope she doesn’t find out she’s already married to me before we get married.
Chapter Twenty -Nine
