Page 34 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

"What do you think people see when they look at us?"

Tassy's gaze flew up to his in dismay. Why was he asking thatnowof all times?

"Do you think they see a man whoneverbelieved in love—-"

Tassy's lips parted in shock. Had she heard him right? Had he truly said—-

"Until the right one came along?"

Oh God, he truly did.

Tassy did her best to keep her tears in check, but when she suddenly heard what seemed like aliveorchestra playing a very familiar song—-

It was impossible not to cry.

How in the world was this happening?

Everyone around them was clapping, and as the crowd slowly parted, Tassy saw that therewasan entire orchestra positioned at the bank of Foxtown's man-made lake, which was also patterned after the snake-like flow of London's Serpentine River.

Tassy's tears fell faster as Lucius took hold of her hand to help her into one of the glossy-bodied boats with cream leather seats. A female singer had now joined the orchestra, her velvety voice a perfect match as she sang the lyrics to the Carpenters' song that Tassy had found herself listening to on repeat since her breakup.

We've only just begun.

His gaze found hers as he started rowing the boat to the center of the lake, and she didn't even know where or how to begin.

"T-The s-song," she finally managed to stammer.How did he even know—-

"I've heard you humming it more than once."

The answer was so, so simple that Tassy felt like laughing and crying because those words made everything so, so painfully clear. She had been with Xylan for years, but those little things about her had always escaped him. She had always believed that love was directly proportionate to the length of time one knew a person...so why then?

Why was it Lucius, who had known her for less than a day—-

Why was it Lucius who was doing everything right?

"Are you really sure about this?" she choked out. "Because if you keep this up, I'm really going to start thinking of you as mine."

"I'm already yours, Tassy. From the moment I first laid my eyes on you—-I was yours."

Tassy's whole body started to shake as Lucius took out a small box from his pocket. He slowly opened this, and Tassy vaguely heard the people around them bursting into applause and cheering as they saw the diamond ring Lucius was now holding out to her.

"Will you be my wife and forever Valentine?"

She waited for her mind to torture her with fears, doubts, and insecurities. But instead, all she felt was a peace that surpassed all understanding. She had never experienced such peace before, and it would only be much, much later that Tassy would cometo realize it wasHispeace which had enveloped her at that moment.

But for now, all Tassy knew was that the peace in her heart meant one thing.

Lucius Young was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

And because of that, there was also onlyonething left to say.

"Yes, I'll be your wife."

Chapter Ten

STELLA HAD JUST CHANGEDout of her housekeeping uniform and was on her way out of the locker room when her phone started buzzing inside her purse. As soon as she saw Tassy's name on the screen, she answered the call in a hurry—-

"Hello?"

---