Chapter 71 Chapter 70:
Arya:
A week later,
Devon is so full of surprises, who knew the vacation he had in mind was the cruise ship that we met. He even booked the whole cruise ship. Devon told me to settle in the en suite and make myself comfortable. I roll my luggage into the en suite, closing the door behind me.
The air inside is cool with the faint scent of lavender and sea salt. Damn, this place is exactly like months ago, well except I didn’t get an en suite, just a normal room. The suite is to die for. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the endless ocean, the sun is already starting to set, casting an orange glow in the room. The king-sized bed, all black sheets, looks soft as hell.
A bottle of champagne rests in a bucket of ice on the glass table. I roll the suitcase over the glossy black tile and let it rest against the wall; to the left is the bathroom. I run my hands through my hair, feeling the calmness of the vacation already starting to rush at me. Devon was right, I really did need this rest. I kick off my heels and collapse on the bed. “Damn!”
I pull out my laptop from my backpack and hit FaceTime.
Within seconds, four faces fills the screen- Nicole, dressed in a suit and still in her office (she’s never caught unfresh in a video call), Emma mid-bite of a croissant, Emily in her usual oversized hoodie while holding a romance novel and finally Wanda, sprawled on the bed like me.
“Finally!” Wanda shrieks, trying to stare into the screen. Her whole face fills the screen. “How’s everything over there?”
Of course, amalfi coast, Italy is the perfect place for a vacation
“Are you all alone in the room?” Emily asks, looking around. “Where’s Mr. Billionaire?”
I roll my eyes, pretending to be offended. “I don’t know, he said he was taking care of something.”
“He better not be answering any work calls.” Emma frowns. “I pray.”
“What’s wrong with taking work calls during vacation?” Nicole asks, her face serious as always.
“Yeah, yeah. We know that you will be working on the day of your own wedding.” Emma rolls her eyes and Nicole looks offended but we all know she’s holding back her laughter; she raises her hand, signalling her cousin, Emily to help her out but Emily just shrugs and mouths ‘sorry.’ We all burst out in laughter.
I end up talking with my girls for so long, Nicole is the first to log out, saying she wants to leave the office, as soon as she logs out, Emma leaves to go make dinner, then Emily and soon enough, Wanda and I are the only one left on face time.
“You seem happy; your face is all glowing. I am really happy for you.” Wanda says, smiling at me. I smile back, because Wanda is one of the reasons all of these beautiful things happened in my life. When Kevin cheated on me with Anna, she was the one who said ‘Screw him, Arya. Go off to that vacation, it’s already paid for and Emma seems to be free these days. Go enjoy your life!’ she didn’t know it but she gave me that boost that I needed.
“Thanks, Wanda.” I smile, adjusting on the bed.
From the screen, I see the door of Wanda’s bedroom opening and the padding of feet on the tile floor. Liam appears on the screen, his face scrunched up with smiles, he kisses Wanda’s cheeks and waves at me. “What’s up, Arya? How is the vacation going?”
“Aren’t you guys supposed to be watching my daughter?” I glare at them. Liam and Wanda begged us to leave Vera with them saying they wanted to experience the parenting journey even though it was only for a few days.
“She’s alright. She has been glued to her Ipad ever since.” Liam says cheekily. “Anyways, you have been talking with my girlfriend for a very long time, Arya. Leave her for a little while, huh?”
Liam and I pretend to glare at each other for a while before smiling wide. “Okay, fine.”
“Thank you.” Liam says and attempts to end the call but Wanda screeches.
“Wait!” she says, “Arya, you better keep your promise and not work at all. I will handle everything from here, okay?” We opened our designer house yesterday, ‘A and W collectives’ and it has been really busy, we have heard a lot of orders coming in, even some models are demanding specially designed dresses and just the thought of being the one to design these clothes for celebrities makes me giddy. Though, I don’t think it’s right to take a vacation the day after our opening.
“Promise.” I say and Wanda ends the call. It’s already so dark, there’s just a text from Devon and all it reads it ‘come outside,’
Knowing Devon, I am sure he has planned a surprise dinner or something and thankfully, it’s the right timing because I am starving. I change into a dazzling red dress and step out in the cold night air. The deck is empty, except for the sound of the ocean waves. I step closer to the railing, my eyes scanning the endless stretch of water. I am reminded of months ago when I was here, nursing a broken heart and a mysterious billionaire just came and swept me off my feet.
Where is Devon? I keep waiting and then I hear a loud boom in the sky. A soft crack of light explodes pulling my gaze upward. Another firework, and another, colours of silver, red and gold paints the sky. The night glows with colours and my chest tightens as the words bloom across the stars.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
Oh my God. I freeze immediately, my hands covering my mouth. Is this a dream? Am I imagining all of this? Slowly, I turn, my heart beating wildly.
And there he is. My Devon walking towards me across the deck, dressed in a white shirt with a few buttons undone and palazzo pants, there’s a look of absolute joy across his face.
I blink, my eyes stinging with tears. “Devon....” Whenever I watched movies or even read novels or even witnessed a proposal and the women were crying while saying yes. I always thought it was such a cliché act but now I understand, it’s very overwhelming, like all the love, fun, memories, fears, hopes that we have shared comes rushing in all at once.
He stands in front of me, staring at me so softly. “Hey you.”
“You remembered.” I say, sniffling. When the reporter asked me my dream proposal months ago, I just said I wanted it to be special like perhaps in the same cruise ship that we met with a bunch of fireworks in the sky spelling out ‘Will you marry me?’ and I had no idea that Devon was planning all of this. “I love it.”
His thumb brushes against my cheek. “Don’t cry, I still actually have the real proposal to do. Did you really think I was going to ask you to marry me with just a bunch of fireworks? Not a chance.” Devon brings out a velvet box from his pocket with the label of Tom Ford.
He gets on one knee and I gasp like a high school teenager.
“Arya...did you remember the first night we met on this cruise ship? You were standing at the railing? I had never been so smitten before, all I was thinking was that ‘She’s so freaking beautiful.’ And then I approached you and now, here we are. Every decision I made that day, I don’t regret it. you flipped my whole world upside down in the best way possible and turned the dull stuff into the most beautiful things...”
A tear slides down my cheek.
“I used to think feelings were a weakness. That needing someone was dangerous. That love was a trap. And maybe it is, but I want to walk into it. You make me want things I never thought I deserve, mornings beside you, fights I don’t walk away from, family time with you and Vera. Marry me, Arya, not for the title, not for the ring but because I don’t know how to breathe without you anymore and I don’t want to try.” He opens the box, revealing the sparkling ring. Tears are already sliding down my face.
My throat tightens as I stare at the man I once thought was the most dangerous thing that had ever happened to me now that same man feels like home. “You’ve scared me since the first day we met, not because of who you are, but because of what you made me feel.” To be honest, I have never felt that kind of spark with anybody before, even Kevin and damn it, I almost married that bastard.
“Yes. A thousand times- yes.” I pull Devon up, grinning like a teenager who just asked out by her crush. Devon presses his forehead to mine as he slips the ring into my finger.
“I love you, Arya Morris.” He says, kissing the edge of my temple.
“I love you more.” I say. “Thank you for completing me.”
He cradles my face, thumbs brushing away the tears as his mouth claims here- it’s raw and aching and it says so many words. It is a kiss that says so much at once like ‘Finally’ and ‘Thank you for loving me’ and ‘I am yours. God, I’m yours’
I melt into him, my back pressing against the railing, I thread my fingers through his hair and kiss him back with every sane emotion in me, because if this is our happy ever after? Then, we both deserve this.
\--
A month later,
My car halts in front of Clara’s house and I come out, removing my sunglasses, I grab my bag from the other leather seat and walk slowly towards the door. I ring the doorbell once, there’s no response. Gosh, did I come at the wrong time?
As I attempt to ring again, the door opens revealing Clara wearing sweatpants with a bowl of ice-cream. “Oh hey, Arya.” She seems surprised to see me standing there. I offer her a bright smile and then she registers. “Oh shit, sorry. Pardon my manners, do come in, please.”
I step into the house; Clara’s house feels like a warm hug, framed photos lined the hallway, of her and Axel, her and her sisters. Damn, the Hilton triplets are so identical.
She leads me into the living room. “What brings you by?”
I smile, “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She admits. “It’s hard with Anna gone, you know because I have known her for so long, it is so strange. She was always controlling my life, but now it feels like I have everything in my hands.”
A cat sneaks out from the corner of the couch, waltzes towards us. Clara picks it up, petting it while it purrs.
“Mr. Whiskers? Axel’s cat?” Thinking he’s here, I try peering in the direction of the kitchen.
“Oh no, actually he left for a meeting in Spain today so I am watching his cat, Mr. Whiskers is so angelic.” Clara smiles, dropping it on the couch. “We actually plan on moving in together next week.”
“I am proud of you.” I say kindly.
“Thank you.” She mouths, “A and W collectives are doing absolutely well, you even have an interview lined up and your dresses, wow! They are so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I say.
“Where are my manners?” Clara asks me, but it’s more like she is scolding herself. “Do you want me to prepare a pot of tea? I swear it won’t take long and we can have it with some English muffins.”
“No worries.” I open my bag and pull out an envelope. “Devon and I plan on announcing our engagement to the whole world.” Clara squeals in excitement. “And I want you and Axel to come, not only that. I want you to be one of my bridesmaids.”
“What?” Clara freezes. “You want me to be your bridesmaid?” she asks in disbelief.
“Yes.” I offer her a smile. “And also, you are a really great designer so I was thinking, why don’t we work on my wedding dress together?”
“This is all too much for me. I feel overwhelmed.” She says, tears stinging her eyes. “You are just so kind to me and all.”
“You deserve it and maybe Axel can help with Devon’s wedding suit?” I ask and Clara nods so happily.
“He would love to! I’ll FaceTime him when you leave.”
“Alright.” I open her palm and give her the envelope. “Have a nice day, Clara.”
Her smile is so bright and full. “You too, Arya.”