Page 92 of Don’t Forget Me

“You know my answer. Yes, of course. Of course I’ll marry you.”

Ezra stood up, enveloping me completely. His lips found mine, and it was like the key was set in its place. The darkest parts of myself were now seared away by his sunshine, by the light and radiance of his love.

He let me go, allowing me a moment to breathe. Then he pulled the ring from its cushion, his beaming expression being a mirror to mine.

“This belongs to you,” he muttered, pushing the diamond onto my finger.

I examined it. It was a perfect fit. Just like he was for me.

forty one

LYSANDRA

2 MONTHS LATER

Lights flashed at almost every blink of my eyes. How did Ezra even live like this? There had been cameras with bright flashes shoved in our faces. The only barrier between the paparazzi and us had been the metal barricade, which I didn’t think was strong enough to support the heavy men behind it.

I believed he felt my pulse quickening when he squeezed my hand. “It’s okay. They won’t near us; our guards are right there.”

“I refuse to put my confidence in men,” I whispered with gritted teeth.

Ezra’s body shook, he was been laughing.

“I don’t find my anxiety for my safety funny,” I muttered as I sent him a glare.

“They’re snapping pictures, love. You do realize these photos will live on the Internet forever?”

“You’re right,” I muttered.

I felt myself losing my patience on the red carpet. I couldn’t imagine the way Ezra had to tighten his smile when the paparazzi were around him entire life. Especially having the eerie feeling that he was being watched whenever he’d decided to walk freely across the streets of Europe.

I’d been wearing a black gown, a corset fitted around my waist, and sleeves made of tulle. The same linen clothed the seams of the dress. Simple, dark, vintage. Just to my liking.

“How can you do this every day?” I asked through my teeth.

“I’m used to it,” he responded before flashing the camera another smirk.

“Get me out of here,” I said before beaming at another photographer.

“We’re almost to the other side, love.”

“Can’t the movie start anytime sooner?” I questioned.

Autographs were scheduled after the pictures. Although I enjoyed speaking with my readers and seeing the smiles on their faces, I knew that more cameras would be involved. I didn’t particularly think I was a photogenic person.

“Patience, darling.”

The paparazzi on the other side of the fence yelled out commands for me to continue posing. They’d also given several orders to Ezra, yet he ignored them as he leaned and kissed my cheek.

We had agreed that our movie premiere would be the day we revealed the truth about our engagement. I lifted my hand, a pear-shaped diamond on my ring finger. The attention was excruciating. I wished to run down the carpet without having to hear any more orders from the people behind the flashes. But my torture before the spectators would have to be silenced because this was a decision we had both made. On the other hand, I didn’t wish to have an engagement photoshoot so these pictures would have to suffice. Our best photos would be taken on our wedding day; I gave Ezra the green light to hire as many photographers and videographers as he wished.

We needed pictures for our grandchildren, right?

“You are terrible,” Ezra whispered.

“Isn’t that my best quality?”

He shook his head with a chuckle. Moments later, we made it past the red carpet. I felt like I could breathe again. Up until our bodyguard guided us to the long barricades where our readers had been waiting.