Chapter 14 - THE PROPOSAL WITHOUT AN ARRANGEMENT
Six months later, Vincent invited me to dinner.
Not at a grand hotel.
Not at a private club.
A small restaurant overlooking the river.
I arrived wearing a burgundy dress.
The same color I'd worn the night we met.
Vincent smiled.
“You look beautiful.”
I laughed.
“Thank you.”
We ate dinner.
Talked.
Laughed.
Then Vincent reached into his jacket.
I froze.
He took out a small velvet box.
“Evelyn.”
My heart raced.
He stood.
Then knelt beside the table.
“The first time our mothers suggested we marry, we both thought they were insane.”
I laughed through tears.
Vincent smiled.
“And they were.”
I laughed harder.
He continued.
“But somewhere between chicken sandwiches, family secrets, and you telling me what an idiot I am…”
He looked at me.
“I fell in love with you.”
My eyes filled.
Vincent took a breath.
“Evelyn Hartwell.”
His voice trembled.
“Will you marry me?”
I stared.
For a moment, I remembered the banquet table.
The sandwich.
The tattooed stranger.
The way he'd made me laugh when I wanted to disappear.
Then I looked at the man kneeling before me.
“Yes.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“Yes?”
I laughed.
“Yes, Vincent.”
He stood.
I wrapped my arms around him.
And this time, when he kissed me, there were no mothers arranging our future.
No contracts.
May you like
No secrets.
Just love.
