CHAPTER NINETY–SIX
LIANA’S POV
Killian suddenly dropped down on one knee in front of me, right in the middle of the restaurant, and before I could even blink or figure out what was going on, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box.
I just froze.
What the actual hell was happening?
My breath hitched as I stood there, completely shocked and overwhelmed, because I had no idea this was coming, and neither did anyone else. But in seconds, people around us started gasping and smiling and shouting, “Say yes!” and I heard a few of them squealing “Awwwnnn!” like this was the most romantic thing they’d seen in forever. Phones came out immediately, lights flashed as cameras started recording, and everyone just surrounded us with excitement.
I was still in shock while he slowly opened the box, and right there, sitting like it belonged to royalty was the most beautiful, jaw–droppingly expensive diamond ring I had ever seen. It wasn’t just big, it sparkled like a whole galaxy had been trapped inside it. The center diamond was cushion–cut, clear as water and about the size of my fingernail, surrounded by a halo of tiny flawless diamonds and set on a band that shimmered with even more perfectly set stones. It looked custom–made, like something you’d only see on a billionaire heiress’s finger.
My hand flew to my chest as I gasped, my heart racing out of control. I couldn’t even breathe.
Killian looked up at me, his eyes softer than I’d ever seen them. “I never expected today would be the day I’d propose,” he said, his voice deep and a little shaky, like even he couldn’t believe what he was doing. “I’ve always had this ring with me, waiting for the right time… but with you, baby, every day is the right time. There’s never a wrong time when I’m with you. Never.”
The crowd just lost it. More awwwnnns filled the air, phones were lifted even higher, and I could see people smiling, wiping fake tears like they were watching a real–life love movie.
Killian kept going, never breaking eye contact. “I love you, Liana. I love everything about you. Your stubbornness. Your soft heart, even when you try to hide it. I love how you fight for the people you care about. I love how you’ve been through so much but still manage to stand strong every single day. I love to hear you talk and get lost in your eyes.”
I let out a shaky breath, wiping the tears that had already started falling down my cheeks. My hand was still over my chest, my fingers trembling slightly.
“I love how your nose crinkles when you’re annoyed, how you bite your lip when you’re trying not to cry, and how your eyes turn sharp as hell when someone pisses you off. I love the way your laugh hits me like a shot to the chest. God, I’d do anything just to hear it again and again.”
I laughed through my tears, covering my mouth as I stared down at him like I couldn’t believe this was real.
“I love how you make me feel like I can breathe again… like I’m not completely broken. With you baby, everything just makes sense. You calm the war in me, even when you’re yelling at me.” He chuckled, and I saw the nerves flicker across his face, but he quickly masked it with a crooked grin.
“You’re my peace, baby, my chaos, my punishment, my salvation. My all in one package.
I love the way you hate me sometimes. The way you make me work for your love. The way you never make it easy.
1/2
96
+25 BONUS
And I swear, I wouldn’t want it any other way, because you’re not easy. You’re fucking extraordinary.”
I bit down hard on my bottom lip as a sob caught in my throat. I could see the shimmer of tears building in his own eyes now, and it made my heart ache in the most beautiful way.
“I love the nights I held you. I hate the mornings I woke up without you. I love the memory of your smile, even when it kills me. And if I had to die a thousand deaths to see it again, I would. Gladly.”
My knees felt weak, and I had to blink fast to keep my tears from completely blinding me.
“You don’t even understand what you’ve done to me. You ruined me for anyone else. You own me, Liana. Every part of me, my heart, my body, my soul, whatever’s left. You own it all.”
I sniffled loudly and let out a small shaky laugh while my whole chest tightened with emotion. I wanted to drop to my knees and hold him right there, but he wasn’t done.
“I’ve made mistakes. So many. I’ve hurt you. I’ve broken you. But even when I didn’t deserve it, you still… loved me. You stayed. You forgave me. You made me a better man, Liana. You gave me a reason to live. You gave me a family. You gave me hope.”
He took a breath, and the words that followed hit me like a warm punch to the heart. “I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, being yours… waking up beside you, fighting with you, laughing with you, raising Ryan with you. Just… you. All of you. Will you marry me, Liana?”
The entire restaurant erupted into a massive cheer. “Say yes!” people shouted. Some were banging on tables, some clapping, some even standing up. All I could hear was, “Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!”
I was already crying. Like full–on ugly crying. But I couldn’t stop smiling.
I nodded quickly, my hands trembling as I whispered through the tears, “Yes… yes, Killian, I will!”
The whole place went wild. Everyone clapped and cheered so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. The moment he slipped the ring onto my finger, it was as if a fairytale just burst into reality. Soft romantic music filled the air, beautiful saxophone notes started playing from the far corner of the room, and all around us, there were lights and sparkles and floating rose petals that looked like they had been released from the ceiling. I realized then that some of the Darkmoon pack members working there must’ve helped plan this. Everything was so perfectly timed.
Then Killian stood up slowly and didn’t waste a second before pulling me into his arms. He didn’t say a word. He just cupped my face and leaned in, kissing me deeply, sweetly, as if he was pouring every single ounce of love he had into that kiss.
And I kissed him back with absolutely no idea what was being planned for us…
