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“Have you proposed yet?”
Thank God, I wasn’t eating or I would have choked. My heart stuttered to a stop and then started again. Faster and harder against my ribcage.
What was she doing?
I sent her a warning glare before my gaze moved to Alessio.
His spoon was paused in mid-air.
He was frozen in his seat. My throat went dry, and I wanted to smack my head on the table.
Maddie! This girl!
Alessio placed his spoon down slowly and cleared his throat. “What?”
“I was just wondering if you’ve proposed yet?” Maddie asked again.
“Why do I have to propose?” Alessio asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
Viktor and Phoenix looked like they were hiding their laughter behind their fists. Even Nikolay looked like he was smiling.
Lyov and Isaak just shook their heads and carried on eating.
“You said so yourself a few days ago. Ayla was an Ivanshov. But did you propose?”
Alessio spared me a glance before looking at Maddie again. “Was I supposed to propose?”
Maddie’s face turned red, her eyes bulging out. She held her fork and knife tighter and speared Alessio with a glare.
I had a feeling she was plotting his murder.
“Did you even ask her if she wanted to marry you?” Maddie hissed.
Alessio looked completely confused and oblivious.
I could feel my cheeks heating up, and I looked down at my plate.
“Ayla, do you want to get married?”
What? WHAT?
Alessio’s questioned was imprinted in my brain. Did he really just ask that? In front of everyone?
I looked at Maddie again. She was about to have a heart attack. But she was going to kill Alessio first.
I turned to Alessio. “Emm…”
He looked at me expectantly, waiting for my answer. Actually, everyone was waiting for my answer.
Feeling flustered, I played with the hem of my dress nervously.
“Yes?” I answered hesitantly.
No wasn’t an option. It was never an option.
Alessio nodded, looking proud of himself. “Okay. We’re getting married then.”
If it wasn’t for Phoenix holding her down, Maddie would have leaped over the table. “That was hardly a proposal,” she hissed with a tight smile.
Alessio looked confused again. “I asked, and she said yes. We’re getting married.”
My shoulders sagged. That was it?
Alessio went back to eating. Viktor chuckled and coughed, hiding his amusement. Phoenix did the same before they continued eating too.
A few seconds later, I picked up my fork too. Maddie was still glaring holes in Alessio’s forehead, but her shoulders went down in defeat.
When our plates were almost cleared, Alessio leaned closer. “I love you, Angel. I don’t care about getting married. It doesn’t change anything. But I will give you my name. You will be Ayla Ivanshov. That’s my promise to you.”
His words were low enough for only me to hear, and they made their way straight to my heart. I turned to him, my lips stretched in a smile. It was impossible not to smile.
Alessio smiled back, his eyes filled with so much love for me.
“Okay,” I agreed.
I guessed I didn’t need a proposal after all. Just being with Alessio…it was enough to make me the happiest woman alive.
Later that night, after playing the piano, I settled on Alessio’s lap. We stayed like that for some time, both of us refusing to move.
He played with my hair, my head laid against his shoulder. I placed a kiss there, and he held me tighter.
“What do you need, Ayla? What do you need from me? I want to be the man you deserve,” he said, breaking the silence.
I brought my head up and looked at him. He looked a little lost.
Holding his face in my hands, I brought our lips together. I kissed him softly, pouring all my love into the kiss.
“Only you. I just need you,” I whispered against his lips.
Alessio’s eyes held mine. Blue to green.
He kissed the tip of my nose and hugged me to him.
Chapter 28
1 week later
Maddie held my arms as we descended the stairs. “I can’t wait for you to meet her!” she said excitedly.
I laughed. She was so cute. “I can’t wait to meet her either.”
Maddie’s friend was coming over. More than a friend, actually. They’d been best friends since they were kids. It was almost like they were sisters. She used to live here too, in the estate, until she moved away four years ago.
Maddie didn’t have a chance to tell me a lot. She only got a call an hour ago and came banging at my door.
When we reached the bottom, Maddie was practically bouncing on her toes. She was glowing. “I have missed her so much,” she pouted. “That little bitch. I hate that she moved away.”
We walked toward the door, getting ready to meet her friend. I was excited too.
“Is she like you?” I teased with a wink.
Maddie laughed. “Ha. She’s worse!”
My eyes widened. “You mean crazier than you?”
She nodded. “She is insane! But you’re going to love her, Ayla.”
