Chapter 16N
My body had almost recovered. Shawn was afraid that I would be bored, so he gave me a branch company to manage. Having worked to keep me busy really helped take my mind off things and lifted my spirits.N
I was ready to clock out one evening when Shawn called to say he was coming to pick me up and had something important to tell me. I agreed without thinking twice.N
I didn’t expect him to drive for nearly fifty minutes with me in the car. The scenery along the way was stunning and I found myself unusually relaxed. “Where are we?” I asked as the car came to a stop, gazing at the breathtaking sunset and the picturesque surroundings.
Shawn grabbed my wrist, a mysterious smile on his face. His gaze locked onto mine and for a moment, I swore I saw stars shimmering in his eyes. “You’ll see,” he said. “Come with me.“N
Curious but holding back my questions, I followed him. He led me to the entrance of a courtyard, pulled out a key from his pocket and unlocked the gate.N
The moment the gate swung open, my eyes widened in surprise. Inside was a charming little villa, fronted by a sprawling garden that must have been hundreds of square feet and filled with sunflowers.)
A sea of golden yellow, glowing under the sunset, like a painting brought to life. Just as I was lost in the beauty of it all, Shawn suddenly dropped to one knee. From somewhere, he pulled out a ring. When he looked up at me, his eyes were filled with tenderness. “Sierra, marry me.”
“Sierra, I love you. I swear, for the rest of my life, I will only love you. My love for you will never end.”
He continued, “Sierra, I love you so, so much. I love the timid little girl I met for the first time, nervous and unsure. I love the kind, adorable and pure–hearted you that I got to know day by day. No matter if you’re Sierra or Evelyn, the one I love has always been you. As long as it’s you, that’s all that matters.”
Tears streamed down my face. Happiness filled me so completely that my body didn’t even know how to react.M
“Sierra, sunflowers are your favorite flowers. I bought this land years ago, built this villa and planted all these sunflowers just for you. It was supposed to be a gift for your twentieth birthday, but then birthdays here alone. I never imagined I’d get another chance to bring you here.”
you married someone else. For the past few years, I’ve spent your
“I’ve dreamed of this proposal countless times. I really, really love you. Sierra, it’s okay. Even if you reject me, it’s okay. Just being able to say these words to you–I’m already happy.” His eyes were brimming with tears.
I bit my lower lip, my tongue trembling slightly. I took a deep breath, then another. It took me a while to find my voice. With the golden light of the sunset and the sea of sunflowers in my eyes, my voice shook a