Page 186 of The Tempted

I didn’t forgive Victor for everything he had done but I let it go because in the end, when it mattered, he gave me back all he had taken from me. Tears slid down her cheeks and I couldn’t help but think she was even beautiful when she cried but maybe that was because they were tears of joy and not sadness. The sad look that lived in her eyes was gone and now replaced by hope.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring I had bought all those years ago and heard her sobbing as she watched me

“Don’t cry. I don’t want you to cry anymore,” I said, sincerely. “I will spend the rest of my life making up for all those tears you shed. All you gotta do is say yes. Just say yes.”

She took a breath and giggled. “You didn’t ask me anything yet.”

I squeezed her hand, hiding my grin. “Marry me, Reese’s.”

“Still not a question,” she said, and then whispered the words I used to tell myself I would never hear. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she smiled widely, falling to her knees before me and wrapping her arms around my neck. I closed my eyes and took her body into my arms, holding her close.

“I love you, Adrianna,” I whispered against her ear. “Thank you for fighting for me, even when I made it impossible.”

She pulled back, our eyes meeting before she leaned her forehead against mine. “I’ll always fight for you because nobody will ever love me like you do.”

The End

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