Florence had never expected that Ernest would speak those words to her, even in her dreams.
She looked at him in a daze, only to feel that her heart was hammering so violently as if it would pop out from her chest.
She couldn’t even find any words to retort him.
In the beginning, if Ernest wanted to use her identity, he indeed didn’t need to sign the fake engagement agreement with her. Otherwise, they would have registered and got married long before Stanford had arrived in City N.
“But…”
Florence’s eyes twinkled. Her mind was in a mess. “You have agreed to call off the engagement at that time.”
After she had overheard Grandma Georgia’s words, Ernest even didn’t explain to her. Hence, she had thought that he acquiesced in agreement.
Ernest heaved a sigh.
He said in a voice with helplessness and regret, “I just didn’t want to trouble you.”
He was reluctant to trouble her and force her. If she had decided to leave, he would rather let go of her, even if he would be touched to the quick. However, if he had known earlier that she did love him, he wouldn’t have let go of her no matter what. They had almost missed.
Florence gaped at Ernest, different feelings surging in her heart. It was such an indescribable feeling.
She had never thought that it was that reason that led her to break with Ernest.
He had chosen to let go of her just because of her attitude.
Also, she had misunderstood that he never liked her but only used her. Hence, she left him decisively.
What a huge misunderstanding!
After Florence was shocked for a little while, the uncontrollable joy surged in her heart. She stared at Ernest, her heart beating faster and faster.
“Do you truly… truly…” Like her?
Florence blushed, short of breath. She stammered but couldn’t utter a complete sentence at all.
Looking at her blushed cheeks with shyness, Ernest finally felt relieved, and his heart jumped back to his chest.
He knew that she understood everything and she still loved him.
Delightfully, he walked up and clung to her with his tall and strong figure. With his palms on her shoulders, he stared at her so solemnly and said as if he was swearing, “Florence Fraser, I like you. I want to marry you.”
Each of his words smashed on Florence’s heart lovingly, breaking down the defense line in her heart gradually.
She couldn’t help but redden her eyes, feeling overjoyed.
Ernest slightly bent down his head, approaching her closer.
Seemingly he was a bit nervous, he asked in a hoarse voice, “Will you marry me?”
Marry him?
Florence was taken aback, feeling waves of excitement. When they were in City N, it seemed that Ernest had asked her so many such questions. He kept asking her to marry him again and again and she had almost got so fed of with it. However, she hadn’t take it to heart.
At this moment, she felt as if she had two small wings on her back. She felt so happy that she almost flew up.
With reddish eyes, she answered with sobs, “Yes, I will.”
She had been having such a will all the time.
For the first time, Ernest got a positive answer from Florence.
He couldn’t tell how joyful he was now, but he felt happier than having gained the whole world.
They both couldn’t help smiling dearly at each other. Even the atmosphere had become so ambiguous.
However, they suddenly heard a snap with coldness and anger.
“I don’t agree!”
With his voice, Stanford rushed upstairs, grabbed Ernest’s collar, and threw a violent punch on his face.
Off guard, Ernest took a few steps back to keep his balance, a trace of blood oozing from his mouth corner.
Obviously, Sanford used a lot of strength on this punch.
However, he hadn’t fully vented his anger yet. With a cold look, he pounced at Ernest aggressively.
With his raised fist, he looked so fierce.
Florence was scared. Without thinking, she rushed to Stanford, opened her arms, and stood in front of Ernest protectively.
She yelled at Stanford excitedly, “Stanford, stop it! Why are you hitting him?”
Looking at the bloodstain on Ernest’s mouth, Florence felt a throbbing pain in her heart.
Stanford looked so fierce. Staring daggers at Ernest, he snapped, “Flory, move aside! I’m gonna beat this bastard to death today!”
Upon hearing his words, Florence didn’t dare to move at all.
Like a hen, she protectively kept Ernest behind her and looked at Stanford determinedly, “You can’t beat him!”
Although Ernest felt the pain on his cheek, he felt warm and happy inwardly.
He hadn’t been so protected by someone else before. Now Florence protected him in this way. It felt not bad at all.
Raising his hand, he wiped away the bloodstain from his mouth. Putting his arm on Florence’s shoulder, he pulled her backward.
Ernest looked at Stanford sharply. He went straight to the point. “What happened?”
Otherwise, Stanford wouldn’t have lost his temper so suddenly and hit him directly.
Seeing them so intimate, Stanford couldn’t hide his anger.
He said furiously, “How can you still ask me what happened so shamelessly? Don’t you know it clearly? Ernest Hawkins, I thought that you like Flory truly so you’ve chased after her through thousands of miles? I’ve never expected that you’ve done it for your family interests and your right of succession in the Turner family!”
Ernest frowned, realizing something bad had happened.
He asked in a deep voice, “Make it clear. I came here for Florence. What does it have to do with the right of the succession of the Turner family?”
“Ho! You are still playing dumb, aren’t you? Okay. You can blame me for making it clear in Flory’s presence.”
Stanford cast a concerned glance at Florence and continued furiously, “Just short after Ernest arrived, Benjamin Turner from the Turner family also arrived. He said he’s visiting us. In fact, the purpose of their both visits are the same – they are competing for you.”
Florence gaped, feeling so incredible.
How come Benjamin also found here?
She wondered what happened. According to Ernest’s personality, he should have seen Benjamin as his rival in love. He wouldn’t have shared the location with Benjamin.
Florence asked in surprise, “Were you followed?”
Ernest frowned, his eyes darkened. He shook his head.
Stanford sneered. He said ironically, “He wasn’t followed. They were leaving together. I was wondering how could Ernest Hawkins find our location since it’s so hidden. It turned out the master of the Turner family has exposed the location to them, so they could come here.
“He told them both to come here and compete for becoming the son-in-law of our Fraser family.”
Stanford stared daggers at Ernest, “Mr. Hawkins, has your grandfather announced that only after Benjamin Turner or you have married Florence could either of you become the next master of the Turner family?”
Although he was asking a question, he sounded quite affirmative.
Stanford’s words struck Florence like the lightning.
Her face turned pale with a confused look, staring at Ernest in disbelief.