Page 307 of The Grand Duel

“Don’t open that!” Charlie yells in a panic.

Although Ellis already has the lid popped off, his brow gathering as he fishes out whatever’s inside.

His attention goes to Charlie. “It’s a wedding ring.”

My head whips in the direction of the man on the other side of the room, where he stands with his eyes closed.

I look between the two of them: Ellis, with his ridiculous moustache, who now has the diamond ring on his finger and is holding his hand up, smiling, and Charles, who looks thoroughly defeated.

My heart flips in my chest at the sight of the ring, at where it was and the way it’s been found.

“Lis,” Charlie tries, walking across the room and looking down at me.

I smile in shock. “Is that one ofthoserings?”

He sighs. “Of course it’s one of those rings. I planned to give it to you this weekend… or, ask you.”

I bite my lip, trying to tame my excitement. “Ask me what, Charles?”

His eyes spark as he stares at me, and the look, this moment, it tells me everything I’ll ever need to know.

That he loves me—moustache and all.

“If you’d be my wife.”

The children go bonkers at my back, Ave and Ellis leading the younger children into a frenzy of excitement.

Charlie shakes his head at the chaos, but his eyes don’t leave me. “Baby, I had the best proposal planned for you.” He swipes his thumb over my upper lip.

I smile, my eyes burning as tears well. “Maybe you got it wrong.” I look down when Ralph grabs my leg with his small hands, Luna barking a second later. I chuckle, peering up at the beautiful man in front of me. “Because I’m pretty sure this is exactly how it’s meant to be,” I whisper, my voice betraying me.

He nods, leaning in to kiss my forehead, keeping close and his voice low. “Will you marry me, Lissie girl?”

I anchor my gaze, staring up at him as I nod. “I’d marry you then, now, tomorrow, forever.” A tear slips free as his eyes flick between my own. “Yes, Charles. Of course I’ll?—”

I shriek as I’m lifted, my hands clinching on to his neck as I’m spun, the room becoming a blur of a life I never believed could belong to me. One with love, and promise, and children, and hope.

One with him.

We spend the rest of the night searching the floorboards for my engagement ring, Ellis apologising five thousand times over, and Charles telling him it’sfineand that it’s not his fault whilst looking at me like his world is spinning out of control.

And if that’s not the epitome of us—of all partnerships, maybe. The art of not being fine with that one person, in the presence of your love, because you know that they have you so completely that you can take off the mask and show them.

“Found it!”

Charlie springs up and takes the ring from Ave, coming right back to me the second he has it.

“This stays here for life. You never let these kids touch it again, got it?”

I chuckle, flexing my fingers as I stare down at the ring. “So romantic, Charles.”

“Hey.” He takes my chin and tips my head before leaning down and sealing his lips over mine. He takes my face between his strong hands, deepening the kiss, not letting me go until I’m breathless and filled with his love. He holds me tightly to him as he inches his head back, brushing his nose to mine. “I love you, Lis.” He smiles, then adds, “Well and truly infatuated, baby.”

Charlie

Five years later...

We’re in Bora Bora for our annual holiday with our family, sitting out on the terrace around the dining table.

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