Page 128 of Until He Confesses

Angry, I turned around and headed to my room. I sat on the bed and tried to catch my breath. Truly, sometimes I didn't know if these women around me were allies or foes. I had hoped to receive him as poised as possible, but now this would never be the case. Still, it wasn't a big deal, and I couldn't stay here for too long anyway, so I got up and looked at myself in the mirror. I considered changing my outfit, but when I looked in the mirror and at the mess that Anna had caused, I realized that it wasn't too bad. Sighing, I shook my head and headed toward the door.

Before I pulled it open, I heard a knock. I was instantly startled but quickly pulled it open. I was sure it would be my mom or Anna coming to apologize, but what I didn't expect was the man before me. He stared at me while I stared back, and then he asked if he could come in.

"Yeah," I stepped backward, and he walked in. He looked around the slightly messy room, and I was so embarrassed I couldn't help but shut my eyes.

"Anna," I explained. "She's been staying in here with me.”

He looked at me for so long that I almost couldn't hold his gaze anymore. And then he shut the door behind me.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out something and handed it over. I was a bit surprised and reached out to receive it, but when the dark velvet box was placed in my hand, my heart stopped working. I stared at it for the longest time, but I didn't want to get ahead of myself as it could just be a bracelet or a pair of studs for my birthday.

"Thank you," I said. "You didn't have to."

"You don't know what it is," he pointed out, and I stopped.

"Alright," I smiled, my hands shaking slightly as I fumbled with opening the box. Finally, it opened, and I gasped.

I didn't mean to, but how couldn't I at the huge emerald cut diamond lined with diamond studs that were staring back at me? I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and I was confused as well.

I looked at him, and he stared back at me.

"You know I love you," he said. "More than anyone else. But I'm still mad, and I think I'll remain so for a while. But in the meantime, I don't want you to doubt my commitment to you."

Tears filled my eyes, and even though I wanted to hide, I didn't.

I nodded. "I know."

He watched me, and then he lowered himself to his knee. Just then, the door was opened, and at the sight, Anna gasped and shut it immediately.

"I'm so sorry, I thought he went to the bathroom," she called out. My head fell. When I lifted it once again, I saw his smile.

And then his expression softened, and my heart nearly left my chest.

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

In my heart and mind, all our memories together, the good times, and the bad, passed through my mind, and I wondered if it was even possible for me to refuse.

"Yes," I replied, not even waiting for him to get up. I went down with him as well and threw my arms around him.

"Yes," I said all over again and couldn't help but kiss him.

He held onto me, and my tears stained his face, but he didn't mind. I didn't mind either as I kissed him until eventually, I caught myself and pulled away. But I couldn't stop crying as I stared at him. He was the love of my life, the one I had accepted long ago that I'd lost forever, but now he was back, and he was promising me that I was his and that I had always been.

"I love you, Callie," he told me. "I always have, and I always will. Believe this."

"I do," I told him. "With all my heart. Forever."

EPILOGUE

CALLIE

“Callie!”

“Callie!”

“On my way,” I hurried down the stairs, my hands gripping tight onto the railing.

“Slow down,” Lucas called as he came to the bottom of the grand stairs.

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