Page 75 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire
I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and drop to one knee, feeling the weight of the moment settle around me. I pull out the ring that has been in my dresser drawer from long before she left Ocean Bay.
“I don’t want to wait anymore, Lucy. I want you to be my forever. Will you marry me? Will you make me the happiest man alive and share your life with me?”
I see the surprise flicker in her eyes, but there’s no hesitation in her response. She doesn’t look confused or unsure. She looks like she’s been waiting for this moment just as long as I have.
“Yes,” she whispers, her voice full of emotion, so soft and clear that it rings in my ears. “Yes, I will.”
And just like that, everything falls into place. The world slows, and all I can feel is her, her warmth, her love. The overwhelming relief that she’s mine, that we’ve both found each other in this chaos of a world.
I stand up, pulling her into my arms, and kiss her like I’ve never kissed anyone before. It’s not a kiss of passion or desire — though there’s plenty of that. It’s a kiss of pure love. A kiss that promises forever.
Her hands clutch at my jacket, and I pull her closer, as if there’s no space in the world that could exist between us. There’s only this moment. Only us.
We pull away slowly, and I rest my forehead against hers, feeling the steady rhythm of her breath, the soft sound of her heartbeat against my chest.
“I can’t believe this is real,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I never thought this would happen.”
I smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’ve been my dream from the beginning, Lucy. I’m just glad I didn’t miss my chance.”
Her eyes flicker with something — a vulnerability, a relief — but there’s no doubt in them. There’s no second-guessing, no pulling away.
“I love you,” she says, her voice so sincere that it feels like a promise.
“I love you too,” I reply, pressing my lips to her forehead. “And I always will.”
I pull away slightly to look at her again, my heart swelling. It’s overwhelming, in the best way. I never thought I’d get here, never thought this would be my reality, but now that it is, I don’t ever want to let it go.
“You’re my everything,” I say quietly, my voice thick with all the emotions I’ve been holding back. “And I promise, I’ll never stop showing you that.”
She nods, a soft smile curving her lips, and for the first time in my life, I feel at peace. Like the storm inside me has finally calmed. I’ve found what I’ve been looking for all these years.
We stand there, together, knowing this is just the beginning.
This isn’t the end. This is only the beginning of our forever.
***
It’s only a few weeks later, and I can’t believe this is happening.
It feels like I’m living in a dream, but everything around me is so vivid, so real. The sun is low on the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over Ocean Bay, the perfect backdrop for the day that will change our lives forever. The gentle waves lap at theshore, the air is crisp and clean, and there’s a feeling of magic in the air.
I stand at the front of the makeshift aisle on the beach, my heart racing with excitement. Every inch of this moment feels sacred. Every breath I take feels like a promise to her, to us, to the life we’re about to build. I glance at my friends — Bryan, Nate, and Emma — standing beside me, smiling, their eyes full of pride and love. This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for, for so long.
The minister stands ready, a kind, smiling man who’s been a part of this community for years. He’s ready to seal this moment, but my mind can’t focus on anything except her.
And then, I hear the soft hum of the music begin.
The crowd falls quiet, but I don’t need to look around. I can feel her coming. I can feel the air shift.
My heart skips a beat as I see her.
Lucy.
She’s standing at the end of the aisle, her father by her side, her arm linked with his. My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, the world feels like it’s spinning, but in the best possible way. She looks breathtaking, the woman of my dreams, and she’s walking toward me like a vision — calm and beautiful, yet radiant, as if she’s glowing from within.
Her pale pink dress flows around her in delicate waves, the lace and satin catching the sunlight. The veil is held gently in place, framing her face. She’s smiling, but I can see the slight tremble in her lips, the quiet excitement and nerves mingling.
And then I see them — Pip and Nibbs. Of course, how could I not have known?
