Evelyn
Jacob’s body froze at my question, his green eyes flickering with a strange realization. Slowly, his grip on me loosened, and he stepped away, leaving my skin cold and my heart sinking. The warmth that had just wrapped around me like a safety net faded, replaced by the icy tendrils of doubt.
I couldn’t read his expression. It was unreadable, distant, and yet somehow heavy, as though my words had triggered something deep within him.
Had I crossed a line?
Did I say it too soon?
We had only just recovered from everything-every wound, every misunderstanding, every piece of shattered trust. Maybe he thought it was too soon for something this monumental.
I opened my mouth to say something, but the words caught in my throat as he turned abruptly and walked into the room, leaving me standing there in silence.
I followed, confusion and regret tangling in my chest.
This was a mistake.
But as I entered the room, I stopped. Jacob stood with his back to me, his broad frame illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window. It painted him in soft hues of silver, making his skin almost glow, his shoulders rising and falling with each slow breath he took.
“Jacob, I’m-” I started, but my apology was cut short when he turned to face me.
This time, his expression was unmistakable. The corner of his lips quirked upward in a faint, almost mischievous smile. The warmth in that look melted the cold inside me, thawing the chill that had settled into my bones and making my heart stutter in response. It was a smile that made everything inside me surge-hope, desire, longing.
He took a step closer, and I noticed for the first time that something was in his hand. But my attention was locked on his face, on the way his emerald eyes held mine as if he could see straight into my soul.
My breath caught in my throat as his hand reached out, something in it that I couldn’t yet make sense of. I was consumed by him-his presence, his touch, the way he moved toward me like gravity pulling us together. I didn’t know why my heart raced so violently, why every inch of my skin tingled with anticipation. But I felt it all-electricity, tension, warmth.
When he stood before me, his green eyes locking with mine, the world felt like it had tilted on its axis.
“You shouldn’t have ruined my surprise, Evelyn,” Jacob whispered. His thumb brushed gently over my cheek, sending a shiver through me. He stepped closer, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. The air seemed to thicken with every second, the tension so palpable I could almost taste it. “I had this whole thing planned, baby. Bookings, speeches, everything. Bianca and I worked together on this for you-just so I could make it perfect. And even though every part of me was dying to bring the moment forward, change the course of time, to hold you and tell you sooner… I held back. I held back for you.”
His voice shook, his hands trembling slightly, betraying the raw emotion behind every word. “But you had to ask, didn’t you?” he breathed, his voice breaking just slightly. “With that sweet mouth of yours… I couldn’t hold back anymore.”
I felt his fingers curl around mine, the warmth of his touch searing through me, and my gaze shifted down to where our hands were intertwined. That’s when I saw it-a velvet box nestled in his palm.
My breath caught, and my heart faltered. My eyes flickered between him and the box, confusion and disbelief flickering across my face.
“Are you…?” I whispered, the question barely leaving my lips before my heart began to race in anticipation.
And then, with a soft smile, he sank to the floor, both knees pressing into the ground. My chest tightened at the sight of him kneeling, and a tear threatened to spill from the corner of my eye as he looked up at me with a gaze that told me-he’d tear down this whole world for me if needed.
“You might think I’m being silly, getting down on both knees,” he said with a grin, “but this is how I want to do this. For you. For the woman I love more than my own life.”
His words were a pledge, a promise, a vow. His fingers brushed my hand tenderly, the heat of his touch sending waves of warmth through my entire body. It was as if my soul had been cold for so long, and now, in his presence, he was pouring light into every corner of me, igniting something I didn’t know I was missing.
God…
What did I do to deserve to feel so alive?
“I’m no fancy man, Evelyn,” he continued, his eyes glistening and a small smile on his face that warmed my heart. “But for you, I’d kneel, beg, and even prostrate myself if I had to. Because you’re worth every bit of it.”
His hand, still holding mine, trembled, his eyes shining with raw emotion. It was as if everything in me had been incomplete-fragmented-and now, here he was, offering me the missing piece, the promise of forever.
Forever… with him.
“Evelyn Fernandez,” he said, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and affection, “you’ve royally screwed me over.”
A small chuckle escaped his lips and I sniffled. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, couldn’t find the strength to speak.
“I think about you, no matter where I am. Whether I’m sleeping, drinking, laughing, talking-hell, no matter what I do-you’re always there. Hours, days, nights-nothing’s enough for me. I want you, Evelyn. For every moment I breathe, for every heartbeat, every breath I take. I want to feel your warmth against my skin, taste your scent on my tongue, hear your voice that heals every part of me. I want you, not just today, but for as long as I’m alive. And even after that, when I take my last breath, I want you there. By my side. In my arms. Your sweet smile lighting up my days, your beautiful eyes being the most stunning sight in this world. I want you, just as you are. My Evelyn. The one who makes my life brighter.”
His words hit me like a wave, washing over me in waves of beauty, tenderness, warmth-things I couldn’t fully explain but could only feel. This moment had everything.
“Without you, I’m lost, baby,” he whispered, his voice raw. “And if you don’t accept me now, I’ll have no choice but to kidnap you for the rest of my life.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that, a soft, nervous sound, before I dropped to my knees in front of him, matching his level. I cupped his face, resting my forehead against his, inhaling his familiar scent.
“You know that won’t happen,” I whispered.
“Better safe than sorry,” he teased, brushing his lips across the corner of my mouth. “I already have a backup plan. But the decision? It’s yours, baby.” His eyes locked onto mine, and my heart raced, blood pounding in my ears. Tears began to fall, slipping down my cheeks. He wiped them away gently with his thumbs before pulling out a small box.
“This is for a lifetime, baby,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “Think it through, because this decision-well, it’s bigger than anything else. Because if it’s a no then you have to spend the rest of your life as my captive. So, now, I am going to ask the question …. okay? It’s time for you to make your choice.”
And a soft chuckle slipped past my lips as I looked at him, my mind already made up. He knew me better than I knew myself. The question, when it came, wouldn’t be something I’d hesitate over. Not for a second.
His eyes glistened as he held the ring up, his voice low with emotion. “Will you be my wife, Evelyn?”
I drew in a shaky breath, my sobs caught in my throat. I slid my hand to his cheek, pulling him closer.
“Yes,” I whispered, tears spilling freely down my face. “I’ll be your wife, Jacob. Marry me.”
He smiled through his tears and then slowly, he slid the ring onto my finger.