Page 86 of Lust & Lies
“Not the way you love me. And I don’t love them the way I love you. Your love doesn’t come with conditions. I don’t have to prove I’m worthy. You loved me before I was worthy.”
“Aiden, listen to me...”
“I can take care of you, Noe,” he rushed to say. “You don’t need their money.”
“I don’t need your money either,” I told him. “I just need you.”
His expression softened, eyes glinting. “So is that a yes?” he asked. “Will you be mine? Will you marry me? Will you disappear with me?”
“Aiden, I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret later,” I told him.
“I will never regret putting you first, Noe. I’ll never regret choosing you over everything else. You are my heart, my soul. Without you, I’m just an empty shell. I need you to breathe.”
“Aiden,” I whispered, too choked up to say more.
“Tell me you’ll marry me. Tell me you’ll disappear with me. Let’s start a new life together away from everyone. Will you dothat with me? Will you leave with me and start a new life away from my family and yours?”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. I didn’t have to hesitate to give him an answer because I’d been dreaming of leaving it all behind for so damn long. I was so tired of making sure everyone else was okay, while I suffered in silence.
I was so tired of considering everyone else’s feelings before I considered my own. I was so tired of trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations of what my life should be instead of focusing on what I wanted and needed.
I wanted Aiden. That much was for sure. It was time for me to put myself and my wants first. To hell with everyone else. I wanted to disappear with my man.
“Yes, Aiden. I’ll disappear with you. I’m ready to leave it all behind and become Mrs. Park.”
His eyes widened, and he gifted me a smile that was so bright, I almost had to squint to keep it from blinding me.
“Are you serious?” he asked, sounding shocked.
“I’m serious.”
“You’ll leave with me?”
“Yes, Aiden.”
“You’ll marry me?” he asked in disbelief.
“I will marry you, Aiden.”
A tear slipped down his cheek as he pulled me close.
“There’s no going back, Noe. You can’t change your mind later.”
“I won’t. But I can if I want to,” I told him, teasing him.
He shook his head. “No, you can’t. I won’t let you. I’d kidnap you before I let you leave me.”
This crazy man might just do that, too. But he didn’t have to kidnap me. I was his. Had always been his. And now, I was ready to step around the barriers that had kept us apart and embrace a life with him.
I wanted to love him openly, proudly, bravely. I wanted the world to know that this man owned my heart and my soul.
“Aiden Park, yes, I will marry you and disappear with you. And you have permission to kidnap me anytime you want,” I told him, smiling from ear to ear.
But that smile faded, and tears trailed down my cheeks when he went to his knees in front of me. He slid a jewelry box from his pocket. I held back a sob when he opened it. Seeing the ring made this real. We were really about to do this. I could barely believe it.
“Will you marry me?” he asked, eyes bright with tears.
“Yes,” I whispered.
