Page 85 of Keeping My Captive

And when Selina turns her back on us and whips that bouquet in the air, I go for that thing like my life depends on it. I almost take a nosedive but save myself at the last second and hoist the bouquet up in the air as people around me applaud my valiant effort. The twelve-year-old beside me huffs in disappointment, and that makes it all worth it.

The DJ announces, “Looks like the sister of the groom will be the next one getting married!”

Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I stare down at the bouquet. I just wanted to catch the damn thing. I didn’t even think about the meaning behind it all.

Mateo hasn’t even proposed yet, and I don’t know if he ever will. Not that I even expect him to or want him to. Everything has been perfect the past several months. And if nothing changes, I would still be as happy as I am right now.

“That was amazing,” Mateo says with a grin when I approach him. “I thought you were going to tackle that little girl and make her cry.”

“I would have if she would’ve gotten in my way,” I declare.

That earns me a dark chuckle. “Savage,” he says.

When I set the flowers down, I notice that Lucy has a small box in her hands she’s fumbling with. “What is that?” I ask.

“Open it and see,” Mateo says cryptically.

Taking the small box, I open it and stare at the diamond ring inside. It’s beautiful with a huge diamond in the middle surrounded by tiny little diamonds on the gold band. My eyes shift from the ring up to Mateo’s gaze. “Are you doing this because I caught the bouquet?” I question.

A smile twitches on his lips. “No, it’s not because you caught the bouquet,mi corazón. I’ve had that ring for months. I was going to wait until the perfect moment…but the timing just hasn’t been right.”

“Now is perfect,” I inform him.

“Yeah?” he asks with a cocked brow.

I nod my head.

He slips the ring out of the box with his free hand and holds it out. “Will you marry me, Aria? Will you be mine forever?”

I watch as he slips the ring onto my finger. Tears fill my eyes as I blink up at him. “Yes and yes.”

He leans down, and we hold Lucy between us as our lips meet in a heated kiss. She begins to squirm, and we laugh, breaking our embrace. I look up at him and then down to our daughter.Our little family.

“I love you,” I tell him, meeting his dark eyes once again.

“I love you, too.” He cradles Lucy in his arms and stares down at her with such adoration that it almost takes my breath away.

“I wouldn’t change a thing, just so you know,” I confess.

His eyes meet mine. “Me either,” he agrees.

We exchange a knowing look with one another. Even though our relationship started off tumultuous and unconventional, it all led us to this very moment. Who knew that being kidnapped and sold at an auction to the highest bidder would turn into this? Just when I thought my entire world was coming to an end, it was actually just beginning. Mateo turned my life upside down for the better. And I can’t imagine going on this crazy journey called life without him by my side.

THE END

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