AllFreeNovel
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As he slides into the driver's seat, I steel myself. He glances at me, but I stay facing forward, frozen in terror as he looks me over. Can he see the truth?
“Ready?” he asks, turning over the engine.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “As ready as I'll ever be.” I think we both know our lives are about to change forever.
And with that, we're off, speeding into the daylight. Fredrick's hands are steady on the wheel, but I notice a tension in his jaw I've never seen before. The familiar road tells me his plans; we’re going to the clear, blue lake of our shared memories.
“You’re quiet,” he says, breaking the silence.
I nod, my fingers twisting the hem of my shirt. “So are you.” My gaze drifts outside, where the trees blur into green streaks as we pass.
“I guess you’re right.” With that, he goes quiet again.
We reach the parking spot, and he grabs a pack before we leave the car behind. We walk side by side, gravel crunching beneath our feet. I steal glances at him, trying to figure out the best way to tell him the truth.
When we finally reach the lake, the surface mirrors the cloudless sky, undisturbed.
“Beautiful day,” he says, and I can only respond with a tight-lipped smile.
When we reach our picnic table, he turns and faces me, his expression open and honest. “Lila, I’ve been thinking. I want to try to fix what I broke.” His hand reaches out, hovering in the air but not touching me. I tense up.
“And I thought that maybe, working for you, unpaid, until you believe I’ve made amends... will that work?”
I’m stunned. This wasn’t the direction I expected things to go today. His gesture is generous, selfless, and so unlike the Fredrick Tecker I thought I knew.
“I... like the idea,” I say, wondering how to make all of the things work.
Relief floods his features, and he steps closer, closing the gap between us. Then, without warning, he sinks to one knee, his hands finding mine.
I want to pull away and back up a step. “Fredrick, what are you—”
“Just listen, please.” His eyes search mine, and I'm rooted in place. “Lila, I’ve been a storm in your life, but now, I want to be your harbor. Your strength. I want to build a future, a family with you. Marry me.” A slight smile crosses his lips. “For real, this time.”
His words hang in the air, and I'm stunned, speechless, my mind a whirlwind of emotions I can't seem to grasp. All I can do is stare at him, at the man who tore me to pieces, who is now offering me a lifetime of tomorrows and a desire to rebuild.
“Fredrick...” But no more words come. Only the beat of my heart, loud in my ears, and the shimmer of hope in his eyes as he waits for an answer.
He reaches into his pocket, and the world tilts on its axis as he pulls out a small velvet box. The lid opens with a soft click, revealing the ring nestled inside. Rose stems twist into a delicate band, leaves unfurling around a bloom-shaped diamond and halo that catches the light and glitters blindingly.
“It's beautiful,” I whisper, touched that this ring almost looks like it was made for me, based on my love of flowers and their importance in my life.
“Like you,” Fredrick says softly.
But I can’t speak.
All the words I try to force out stick in my throat. Yes should be easy, rolling off my tongue to seal our fate. No would promise me that I’m always in charge of my life. Yet, neither word comes.
I'm frozen, caught between the life growing inside me and the future he offers—a future I never actually dared to dream of.
“Lila?” His voice is filled with concern and his brow furrows.
I look up from the ring to meet his gaze, his eyes searching mine for an answer I can’t give.
“Hey,” he says in a gentle tone, “if you're worried about the inheritance... I know that threw us both for a loop.” He chuckles nervously, his fingers tilting the box a fraction of an inch. “The only thing I care about is what'll happen to my mom.”
“Fredrick, I—”
“But I’ll worry about that.” He sounds flustered. “You deserve every last cent more than I do. I just want to take care of her, too.”
