Page 189 of Delilah In Discretion

“How did you—” he began.

Delilah turned in his arms. “I packed a pair of socks in your bag, and I wanted to wear them earlier, so I went to check inside your bag to find them, and then... yeah... The only reason I took the ring was because... I was angry,” she said softly, and worry quickly set in Archer’s facial features.

“Angry? Why were you angry, Princess?” he asked as he pulled her closer.

She sighed. “I said, ‘I love you’ first… even though I knew you loved me first. I wanted to be the one to ask you to marry me… because I knew you’d want to ask when I was ready. Otherwise, you’d marry me in a heartbeat, no question,” she responded, feeling a bit upset.

Archer smirked as he picked her up off of the sand, causing her to squeal softly, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around her neck.

“And my princess is upset because she didn’t get to propose first?” he asked, pouting, and she sighed.

“It’s not fair,” she muttered, and he hummed in understanding as he walked toward the sea, his feet slowly going into the water.

“Archer, what are you doing?” she asked, confused.

He looked at her lovingly. “Giving you an ultimatum,” he muttered.

She furrowed her eyebrows.

“Either you propose to me now... or I throw you into the ocean, save you, and propose on the sand when we’re done.”

She smiled. “And who’s to say I don’t want you to save me?” she asked playfully.

He smiled softly as he remained silent, enjoying the view of his one true love.

Delilah tilted her head to the side as she gazed at him the same way, and she couldn’t help but feel tears of joy gather in her eyes.

“Archer... will you marry me?” she whispered happily.

He wiped away one of her unshed tears.

“Of course I will, Princess,” he answered wholeheartedly, and she happily placed a loving kiss on his lips as he pulled her in closer.

They heard hands clapping from behind, and they turned to see Kimiko and Sterling watching happily.

“How long have you guys been there?” Archer asked, annoyed.

Sterling rolled his eyes. “Long enough to know you threatened her with her life and offered to be her savior if she didn’t propose to you.”

Kimiko gave him a small slap for his harshness, and Delilah laughed as Archer laid his head on her shoulder, aggravated but happy and content at the same time. And in that moment, everything seemed to be perfect.

...Until it wasn’t.

Ivory sat at the edge of the bench as she watched Jin gaze at the map they were supposedly following in the small forest on the island.

“I think we’re lost,” he muttered.

Ivory looked over her shoulder to see her brother Zachary sitting on the porch of their beach house on his laptop in the distance.

“Jinny... we’re not as far as you think,” she replied.

He looked in her direction only to groan in defeat.

“This exotic flower garden is impossible to find,” he sighed, trying to rearrange the map.

She tilted her head as she glanced at her own map. “We could split up. Our phone service works all over the island, so I can let you know if I find it.”

“And what if I lose you?” he muttered, leaning down to her height slightly.

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