Page 113 of The Encounter
He sighed. “I know it doesn’t fix all future problems, but I’m hopeful this will show you I want to go to bat for you. All the time.”
Getting Samantha off her back was an enormous relief, but she realized it didn’t just have to do with Samantha. It had to do with the press in general. There would always be someone following behind her with mean words to write.
Kayla’s words rang in her mind again:So then you need to ask yourself if you can live without him. I think that’ll be your answer.
* * *
The lookon Maddie’s face made Jace’s heart clench painfully. In the next few minutes, he would know if she wanted to make it work or if she was done for good, and he wasn’t ready to give her up.
There would be no one else out there who could make him feel as loved and needed as Maddie. And he knew he needed to show her just how serious he was in their life together, even if it meant giving up everything he had ever known.
It didn’t take him long to figure out what to do. To him, the decision was obvious, and he only hoped she still felt the same way for him that he did for her.
Jace dropped to one knee, and her eyes widened a fraction. He fished a small box out of his pocket before opening the lid and showing her a three-carat diamond solitaire ring. It had taken him countless hours to find a ring he liked, and finally had Stephen design one. He even paid the man triple to have it ready in just a few days. It was worth every penny.
She gasped and put a hand to her chest, tearing her eyes from the massive diamond and looking back at him, her eyes round with shock.
“Madelyn, I love you to the moon and back. The stars in the world couldn’t even begin to light up the way you make me feel inside. I need you in my life, always. I will walk away from all of this if it means you’ll be with me. Your pain kills me, and I want nothing in my life to hurt you. Please, give me a second chance and we can move somewhere where no one knows me and begin our lives together. Please do me the honor of marrying me?”
Maddie’s lip quivered, and she took a shaky breath, standing up.
“Stand up, Jace.”
He stood, coming to his full height several inches above her as his heart thundered in his chest. That wasn’t the yes he was praying for. He knew this moment could go one of two ways, and he hoped it would end with her tossing herself in his arms and screaming yes.
She took hold of his hand. “I don’t want you to give everything up for me.”
His heart clenched. “But I—”
She pressed a finger to his lips to silence him.
“No. I won’t let you give up everything you’ve worked for. You told me yourself you aren’t an entitled, rich kid. I won’t stand for you losing everything because of me.”
“I won’t be losing everything if I have you,” he whispered. This felt like a goodbye. It was a goodbye he wasn’t ready for. Nothing mattered except for her, and he wouldn’t lose her all so he could keep some companies, most of which he had no interest in running.
“No,” she said, firmly.
His hand loosened and dropped hers when all he wanted to do was hold her tighter and convince her they were meant for one another. But he wouldn’t force her even if it broke him.
She immediately reached for his hand again. “I said no because I want you to continue doing what you do best. Run your company. Run all of your companies if they make you happy. I will get used to the paparazzi.”
His breath hitched and a little hope crawled its way back into his chest. “You aren’t leaving me?”
“I can’t leave the only man I’ve ever loved,” she whispered. “I think you’re crazy for proposing to me so soon, but maybe I’m crazy too because the answer is yes. Yes, I will marry you.”
Excitement burst out of his chest. He took a quick step toward her, pulled her into his arms, and spun in a circle. She laughed, loudly, the sound awakening him from the nightmare he had been living for the last week.
When he set her down, he immediately pulled the ring from the box and slid it onto her ring finger.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you.”
After several moments, they broke from their embrace. Her smile warmed him from the inside out, and he wiped tears off her face cradling her head in his hands.
“I have a Christmas gift for you,” she said.
Maddie reached down next to her purse and picked up a red present. She hesitated before handing it over to Jace. “It’s not an epic engagement ring, but it’s something I thought you might like.”
