Page 53 of A Billionaire's Secret

“I am certain of it,” I declared proudly, knowing that I’d never do anything to hurt Victoria again.

“Christian,” Leonard glanced at me again with a chilling look. “You have a daughter, right? You probably know how painful it is for a father to watch his daughter suffer. It’s suffocating and sucks the life out of you, doesn’t it?”

“And there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to protect her and put a smile on her face,” I elaborated. “Yes, I know exactly how it feels.”

“Good,” he nodded in agreement and proceeded bluntly, “Don’t you think your age difference will eventually play a part in the demise of your relationship?”

The punch of his words left me gasping for air. But I pushed through. “I think that Victoria is getting the best version of me. Precisely at this stage of my life.”

“Is that so?” Leonard’s brows gathered.

“Yes, Leonard,” I slowed my steps and paused, causing him to stop and look at me. “I have no doubts about who I am, what I want, and what I can give. A man who knows these things is a stable man. My days of playing games, breaking hearts, and messy actions are in the past. So, as I stand before you now, I, Christian Forbes, humbly ask for the hand of your daughter—Victoria Hampton.”

Genuine love and kindness seeped through my eyes. Leonard remained frozen, but the stiffness of his face slowly loosened until his eyes, too, brightened. A very subtle, unnoticeable smile twisted on his lips. He cupped my hand with both of his.

“Christian, a father will never be ready to hand his daughter away to another man,” he spoke softly, his voice choking up. “No matter how great that man is and what he promises. The only reason for my blessing is the smile on Victoria’s face. If you’re the reason behind it, I only ask that you never let it vanish.”

“Leonard, I live for that smile,” I confessed. “It’s a rare and precious jewel that I promise to protect. You have my word.”

He let go of my hand, and we strolled around the loan in silence, my heart beating faster with each step, getting me closer to the moment I’d place the ten-carat diamond nestled in my pocket on Victoria’s ring finger.

***

We gathered around the table, with me sitting at the head, Victoria to my right, and Diana to my left. We all exchanged glances and laughs, our glasses clinking with celebratory elation.

Being around the same age, Diana and Lizzie had become fast friends, their chatter vibrating through the air.

Joanne marveled at the steak's tenderness, deciphering the recipe, while Leonard held a scotch glass to the light, admiring its color.

I slid my hand inside the pocket of my custom-made suit, adrenaline flooding my veins. Victoria’s face beamed joyfully, having everyone she loved gathered around her. I couldn’t quite place it, but something about her was different. Her mood seemed lighter, and her face glowed with a peculiar brightness.

“Thank you for this,” she leaned in to kiss me. “My heart is full.”

“You have no idea,” I smiled, my heart beating faster.

I glanced at Diana and nodded gently. She then glanced at Lizzie, who nodded at Adrian. Joanne noticed the trend and patted her husband’s knee under the table. Diana had instructed everyone about my proposal, making Victoria the only clueless party at the table.

I took one last look at Victoria’s radiant face, giving me courage and blurring out the rest of the room. I squeezed her hand tighter as I left my seat and towered over her. Her curious wide eyes dove into mine, looking for answers. Still holding her hand, I knelt before her on one knee. Curiosity turned to fascination, and her eyes glistened.

“Victoria Hampton,” I began, my voice shaking with the purest emotions. “The pureness of your heart and the dedication with which you take every stride of your life’s journey are intoxicating. Before meeting you, I thought this kind of love was only a mirage. A fake tale they made up to give us false hope and make the burdens of life a little more bearable. But then you came along, showing me that true love doesn’t only exist between humans. The way you love your horses, nature, and even people who have hurt you, is a rare gift that everyone around you is lucky to have.”

I watched warm tears stream down her face and wiped them off. “I would be the luckiest man alive if only you agreed to spend the rest of your life with me. Victoria Hampton, will you marry me?” I asked, sliding a giant flawless diamond ring on her finger.

The room stood still and silent. I didn’t have to courage to look at anyone else. I feared that if I looked away from her, she’d second-guess herself and say ‘no.’ So, I swam in her eyes, gasping for air.

“Yes, Christian! Yes, of course, I’ll marry you!” she exclaimed and held my face in her hands. My eyes watered, and the air I was gasping for returned to my lungs.

I hugged her by the waist, her arms crossing each other over my shoulders. We kissed each other with gentle pecks, our faces wet with tears.

“Oh, you kids are too much,” her mother sobbed, wiping her tears with a napkin. Her father smirked quietly in his seat. Lizzie and Adrian hugged and stared at us, gathering ideas for their own engagement someday. And Diana—she smiled wide, even though the tears streaming down her face.

Victoria pulled away slightly from my embrace, helped me get up, and asked me to sit in my chair again. I squinted my eyes, trying to understand what she had planned.

“Christian, you’re not the only one with surprises up their pockets,” she smiled while everyone held their breath again.

Fuck, I hate surprises.

She slipped her hand in a barely noticeable pocket of her pink dress. My heart stood still while she fished out whatever she had hidden in there.

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