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I struggle to find words, and tears are spilling. Instead of hugging him, the first thing I do is whack him on the arm.
“How could you leave me hanging like that for five days?”
It doesn’t deter him as he steps up to me, and I’m in his arms in seconds, our faces inches apart.
“It’s my fault,” he murmurs in a voice thick with emotions. “I should’ve made it clear, Sapphire. You’re mine, and I intend to keep you.”
His words ruin me, and tears roll down my cheeks.
“I love that so much, but where were you all this time?” I gasp out.
“The damn trip.” His jaw clenches as his gaze searches mine. “It took longer than I expected. And when I tried to contact you, they told me you were busy. It was killing me not to hear your voice. We’re getting you a phone, so you are never out of reach of me.”
My heart flutters. “Is this real?” I whisper, searching for a hint of mockery on his face, but there’s only genuine admiration for me.
His lips quirk upward. “You can’t imagine how real this is, Sapphire. I thought I had the whole year to slowly win you over, but I’d claimed you in my heart from the moment we met. And I have a bit of making up to do for your panic over the last few days.”
Tears blur my vision, and I nod. “Yes, yes, you do. When you didn’t call me, you shattered me.”
“I know, babe. Coming back to the empty mansion without you felt so fucking wrong. You have no idea how excited I was to see you.” He kisses my tears away.
Casting a glance over my shoulder, to my relief, my dad and stepmother are no longer in the doorway. I appreciate them giving us privacy. Grateful, I twist back around to Hawk, but my heart skips a beat when I watch him lower himself onto one knee.
Shock steals my breath. “Wh-What are you doing?”
His hand finds mine, and our fingers interlace, the warmth of his touch calming me.
“Sapphire,” he begins. “I’ve come to realize there’s a lot about me I want to change, and there’s more in life than wanting to win every deal out there. I lost the deal with Drake, but I couldn’t give a fuck. I’ve been an absolute fool, telling myself I’d never be like my father, and I ended up just like him. So, I’m going to change things, beginning with fixing up some of my mistakes.”
The weight of his words settles heavily on me. “Hawk…”
He places my fingers on his lips and kisses them.
The glint of the sapphire ring in his other hand grabs my eye, the same ring he gave me for our fake engagement.
“You left something at my place,” he murmurs, holding the ring between his fingers. “This time, I want you to wear it for real. I love you, Sapphire.” He studies me, waiting for my reaction, and I’m shaking hard. “If you’ll have me, of course.”
Laughter bubbles up inside me, and tears fall freely.
“Oh my God, I do! I love you too.”
The cool metal slides onto my trembling finger, and it feels like everything’s changed. Unable to hold back my emotions, I throw myself into his arms. We nearly tumble onto the porch, then burst out laughing.
“So, wait,” I whisper. “Did you just propose to me for real? Are we really engaged this time?”
“Yes.” His wicked grin widens, and I swear I see a glint of tears in his eyes. “You’re mine now. But I have something else for you.” From his pocket, he produces a delicate gold necklace, a familiar, heart-shaped pendant hanging from it. My heart thunders in my chest, and I can’t stop crying.
My mom’s necklace.
“I-I thought I lost it.” My chest heaves for breath as I reach for it, every inch of me shaking.
“I found it in the corridor where we first met. The chain was broken, but I had it fixed.”
Gently lifting my hair, he fastens it around my neck, and it suddenly feels like a missing piece has returned to its rightful place. Like somehow, even after all these years, my mom helped bring us together.
I brush my fingers across the pendant, reminded of my mother and how much she loved me.
“It’s back where it belongs,” he whispers, his lips grazing my ear. He draws me closer in his arms, his lips on mine as he says, “And you belong with me.”
