Page 157 of Bastian

I snort, “Do you see a ring on this finger, Sebastian? Cause I sure don’t.” I tease, smiling up at him.

“Well… I guess we need to rectify that. Don’t we, darling?” His grin transforms into a full-blown ear-to-ear smile as he drops down to his knees in front of me and everyone who came out tonight to support him.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest when I see him reach into his suit pocket and pull a small black box. Opening it, he reveals a one-of-a-kind emerald-cut diamond ring with several smaller diamonds around the silver band. Oh, my… It’s perfect.

Our audience becomes louder, cheering and roaring, but it is all background noise as I stare down at the man that stole the heart I had so carefully locked inside my chest, making it almost impossible to reach, but he did.

He not only broke down my walls but stole my heart as well.

“Sebastian…” I breathe out when he takes my left hand in his and slips the stunning ring on my left finger. I don’t miss how the promise ring he gifted me not long ago fits perfectly with the diamond ring, as if it’s part of it.

A perfect fit.

I also don’t miss how the smaller diamonds around the bigger one are lavender. How did he know? Once, I thought my world was black and white…a bit gray too, but then he came along and painted it.

Lavender.

The color he chose for the ring.

“There’s so much I could say to express just how much I love you, darling, but I am afraid this lifetime would not be enough. The list of all the reasons why I love you is endless, but all I can say is that I love you more than I did yesterday and a little bit less than I will love you tomorrow. Both of you.” He kisses my belly with a soft smile on his face and looks back up at me with so much love and joy reflecting in his blue-gray eyes. “There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do to make you happy. I would move heaven and earth for you. I promise you that I will always be loyal, honest, and true to you. I will always fight for you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Only you. Always and forever. Marry me, Arianna Parisi. Marry me, and I guarantee you,” he says softly. “That I won’t ever leave you, and I won’t ever do anything that will hurt you. Never again. I will always protect you. Care for you. Live and die for you if that’s what you need from me. That, I swear to you,” That part he says a little louder since the crowd around us is screaming louder.

I swallow hard because the lump in my throat is so big I can’t speak.

And as if Baby Kenton senses the attention he or she makes their presence known by kicking up a storm inside of me.

Behave, little tyrant. It’s my moment.

“I have one condition…” I fake seriousness, enjoying the way Sebastian’s eyes narrow up at me in suspicion.

“I won’t share you with anyone but our kids. I am telling you this now.” He snaps. Of course, his mind would go there.

Rolling my eyes, “That I know, Sebastian.” I tease him and offer him a crooked smile.

He sighs as if he’s annoyed, but his eyes tell a different story. He is amused. “Go on then. What’s your condition?”

I tell him the one thing I was afraid to admit to myself. “I want more kids.” I do. Before, I did not even like plants, let alone children, but after Ellaiza… I realized that I wanted a baseball team of kids, if possible.

A big family to love and for them to love me unconditionally.

Kids that would paint my life with different colors and bring magic to every single day of the year.

Like Benjamin told me once…

I want to create the family I didn’t have growing up. Be the mother I never had. Give my children a father who would love them and protect them above all else.

I want all of that with Sebastian.

Only Sebastian.

The eyes of the man I love turn soft when he gives me a crooked smile, “I don’t mind one more kid.”

Shaking my head, I say. “I want four.” I clear my throat, then say. “Perhaps more than that. We’ll see.” I make myself clear.

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