Ella’s POV
Tears were already spilling down my cheeks, slow, embarrassing, traitorous, by the ti the man guiding finally stopped and positioned right in front of Liam. I was so overwheld, I don’t know how to react.
I stole a quick glance toward the house.
Everyone was already behind .
All of them, in front of the tree, of Liam and .
Smiling like they knew sothing I didn’t. Which was... great. Exactly what my anxiety needed.
When I looked back at Liam, my breath caught.
He looked terrified. Like pale, sweaty, I-might-pass-out-any-second terrified.
Honestly, if soone brought out a stretcher right then, I wouldn’t have been surprised.
He stepped closer, gently took my right hand, and cupped my left cheek. His thumb brushed away a tear that imdiately got replaced by another one.
"I’m sorry," he whispered. "For making you worry. For making you doubt . That part is my fault, too."
His voice trembled. I felt mine would snap in half if I tried to use it.
"I know I don’t say how much you an to ," he continued softly. "I grew up in a household where feelings... weren’t a thing. Affection wasn’t shared. Not out loud. Not by words."
He turned slightly, glancing at Benjamin.
"No offense, Dad. I’m just explaining myself to clear all these misunderstandings."
Everyone chuckled, including Benjamin, who waved a hand like he was granting royal permission.
"None taken. Please continue, I am enjoying this, don’t put it on hold," he said with a proud smile.
Everyone chuckled, and so were wiping their faces, also crying like .
Liam groaned under his breath, but his lips twitched, just a little, before he looked back into my eyes.
And my heart just... dropped and soared at the sa ti.
"My mom was always busy with everyone else except . You probably figured that out by now," Liam continued, voice shaking just a little. "I barely heard her say she loves . I’m not blaming her for how I turned out, but... I guess I just want you to understand why I am like this. Why I struggle saying things out loud. But I swear, I’m trying. For you."
He exhaled, shoulders dropping.
"And the truth is... I may have never said it, not once. But I love you. I really, really love you, Ella." He pointed dramatically at Darla. "And I am absolutely not having an affair with her."
Everyone burst into laughter, Darla included. I, anwhile, was either crying harder or losing oxygen while laughing at the sa ti. Hard to tell.
Liam rubbed the back of his neck. "I’m so nervous right now. Especially after you said you didn’t trust anymore. But hell, I’m not letting you go. You’re it for . The woman I see myself growing old with. So I’m taking my chances today, even if your trust ter is currently at zero and even if this whole thing was supposed to be ten tis more romantic in my original plan before a certain soone ruined it."
He shot a glare at Vicky.
Vicky slapped her palms together in a pleading gesture, mouthing, I’m so sorry, which only triggered another round of laughter from everyone.
Then, before I could breathe, Liam dropped to one knee.
I froze. My brain shut down. My lungs malfunctioned.
He pulled out a small velvet box and looked up at like I was the rest of his life.
"I love you so much, Isabella Collins. Will you marry ... and spend the rest of your life with ?"
My knees gave out before he even opened the box.
He reached to catch , but nope, I was already ugly-crying on the grass and rose petals in front of him, hands covering my face like a dramatic telenovela heroine.
"Ella... hey, hey," he whispered, trying to hold my hands.
I slapped them away.
He blinked. "Please say sothing, anything, before I actually faint and hear your answer."
I glared at him through my tears and hit his shoulder. Then his arm. Then his chest. "Why did you put through all that heartache if you were going to propose?! You could’ve just told earlier instead of making think you were dating Darla! I cried my eyes out in front of Georgia and Vicky!
I thought you were leaving for another woman, or worse, had a secret child you were going to introduce to the family! You’re such a jerk for making wait like that!"
Liam bit his lip, trying not to smile, which only made smack him harder. Others were already laughing at or at Liam, I’m not sure, maybe for both of us.
I couldn’t stop crying. Relief, happiness, all the fear I’d swallowed earlier, it all just burst out in ssy, soggy waves.
He pulled into his arms and whispered against my hair, "You still haven’t answered . Is it a yes? Will you marry ?"
The audacity of this man.
I shoved him, making him wobble and fall back onto the grass beside . "What do you think? Of course it’s a YES! You infuriating bully!"
Everyone erupted into cheers as I snatched the velvet box from his hand like a gremlin guarding treasure.
I opened it, and a smile crept on my face while still crying.
Liam gently took the ring from the box and reached for my hand with trembling hands.
As Liam placed the ring on my hand, I could hear Georgia and Vicky squealing like teenagers.
Benjamin was so proud that he couldn’t keep his happiness to himself; from my peripheral vision, I saw him dancing and pulling Prudence left and right.
The others were clapping their hands and cheering us, congratulating us.
And for the first ti all day, my tears felt light. Soft. Happy.
Because he wasn’t leaving.
He was choosing .
Forever...
*******
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