Page 79 of You. Me. Us.

“I know this might seem sudden, and I understand if you need time to process it all,” Julius acknowledged, his tone gentler now. “But I couldn’t let another day go by without telling you that you are the love of my life. You’re it for me. I don’t need another moment to understand that, or another day to pass without looking into your eyes every morning and every evening.”

He reached into his pocket, his fingers brushing against the small velvet box hidden within.Not yet. This isn’t the right time for that.Julius swallowed, pushing away the nerves he was not used to feeling, hoping that small tremble in his hand would vanish.

“I wanted to do something grand, something that would sweep you off your feet,” Julius admitted, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “But then I realized that’s not what you would like. You deserve a moment that’s just about us, about the connection we share.” He took her hands in his, his touch tender and reassuring. “This isn’t about the cameras or the attention. This is about me, standing before you, offering my heart and my future. Because, Hillary, you’re the one I want to share it all with.”

Julius fell silent, his eyes searching hers, his heart laid bare before her. The anticipation hung heavy in the air and his breathing seemed to stop.

She looked up at him with a hint of surprise but also recognition flashing in her eyes as he spoke about love and hearts and futures together. Her lips parted slightly as if to say something but then closed again after thoughtfully thinking it over. Her fingers intertwined gently with his, the chill from her hand seemingly to slip away thanks to the warmth of his hand.

“I’m not asking for right now, not immediately. But the chance to prove to you that I mean what I’ve said.” Dropping to his knee, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, elegant ring box.

With a flick of his wrist, he opened it, revealing a single carat princess-cut diamond ring that sparkled under the lights of the red carpet. Simple and assuming, perfect for Hillary.

“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” Julius plucked the ring from the box, holding it between his fingers. “This ring is a promise, Hillary. A promise that no matter what life throws our way, I will always be by your side. I will love you, support you, and cherish you, forever and always.”

As she stayed silent, Julius’s heart beat like a drum inside his chest. Slick sweat covered his palms and his breath came out in short gasps as he waited for Hillary’s response. He may have read everything all wrong.

He watched her carefully, taking in every nuance of her expression from the surprise flitting across her features followed by recognition that cut straight to his core. When her gaze shifted down, panic settled into his gut in a way he didn’t believe possible.

When she finally looked back into his eyes something shifted into place like clockwork clicking into gear after years upon years stuck on pause. She leaned down, her fingers settling onhis coat lapels before wrapping around them, almost gripping him.

She tugged him up then, by his coat. Her lips met his in a passionate, tender kiss that conveyed more than words ever could. The softness of her lips, the way her body melted into his embrace . It was a moment of pure, unadulterated bliss. Time seemed to stand still, the world around them fading away until only the two of them existed, lost in the depths of their love.

As they slowly parted, Julius gazed into Hillary’s eyes, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within their emerald depths. Tears of joy glistened on her lashes, a beautiful contrast to the radiant smile that graced her features. In that moment, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was his forever, his soulmate, his everything.

“Yes,” Hillary whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “Yes, I will marry you, Julius. But,” She paused, her fingers gently caressing his cheek. “We have a journey ahead of us, a path to walk together.”

Julius nodded, understanding the weight of her words. Their love was not a fleeting infatuation or a Hollywood romance. It was a commitment, a promise to stand by each other through the highs and lows, the triumphs and the challenges. It was a love that would grow and evolve with each passing day, strengthening the unbreakable bond they shared.

“I know,” he replied softly, his thumb wiping away a stray tear from her cheek. “And I’m ready to embark on that journey with you, every step of the way. Through the laughter and the tears, the ups and the downs. I want to experience it all by your side.”

Hillary smiled, her eyes shining with a love so profound it took his breath away. “We’ll take it one day at a time,” she murmured, her fingers intertwining with his once more. “We’lllearn, we’ll grow, and we’ll build a life together that’s filled with love, laughter, and endless adventures.”

Julius couldn’t help but grin, his heart bursting with joy and anticipation for the future that lay ahead of them. “I can’t wait to start this new chapter with you,” he declared, his voice filled with unwavering conviction. “To wake up every morning knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life loving you, cherishing you, and building a future together.”

He leaned in, capturing her lips once more in a kiss that sealed their promise, their commitment to each other. The world around them slowly came back into focus, the distant sounds of the red carpet filtering through their blissful bubble. But for Julius and Hillary, nothing else mattered in that moment.

As they reluctantly parted, Julius took Hillary’s hand in his, a mischievous glint in his eye. “What do you say we make a grand entrance together?” he suggested, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he looked at the most important woman in the world to him.

“I think I’d like that very much,” her hand set in his and he couldn’t help but close his hand over the diamond, feeling the proof that everything was going to be okay.

thirty-five

. . .

Hillary scrutinizedher reflection in the dressing room mirror. The long blue maxi dress was flattering, but seemed too summery and casual for a professional interview. The loose curls framing her face distracted her and was why she almost always pulled it back. At least the makeup was better today—light pink lips, a natural eye and no fake eyelashes meant she felt like herself.

Of all the things she’d had trouble with since this began, making her personal identity into something else for the tour had been the hardest part.

The press tour had been a whirlwind - two weeks of bright lights, probing questions, and a sea of unfamiliar faces that left her stomach in knots each morning. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies that fluttered incessantly in her gut. Three days left and life would become her new normal after she moved into Julius’s sky rise apartment.

“You’ve got this,” she whispered to herself, tucking a stray chestnut curl behind her ear. Her green eyes looked back at her, wide and uncertain and utterly strange without the frames of her glasses partially blocking them. If only she could borrow anounce of the easy confidence that Julius exuded in front of the cameras she’d be a whole new woman.

Lost in thought, Hillary nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the soft click of the door opening behind her. She spun around, heart pounding, only to find Julius himself standing there with a gentle smile on his handsome face.

“Julius! You scared me,” Hillary said, pressing a hand to her chest. “I thought you’d be in makeup by now.”

He chuckled, the sound warm and comforting in the small room. “And miss a chance to check on my favorite co-star? Not a chance.” He crossed the space between them in a few strides, his presence instantly filling the room in a way Hillary still wasn’t quite used to even after almost two years.

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