Chapter 163: Mrs Sterling soon

Emma's POV

The cameras zoom in and I can actually feel my face burning.

"I've always kept my private life private because I thought protecting it meant hiding it." He laughs softly to himself. "I was wrong."

His fingers tighten around mine. "This beautiful woman is Emma." The arena applauds.

"And the little girl who just yelled 'Dada' loud enough for half the building to hear..." Laughter rolls through the crowd. "...is our daughter."

The applause somehow grows even louder.

"I love them more than I know how to explain."

His thumb strokes absentmindedly across my knuckles.

"A little over a year ago... I bought a ring."

My breath catches.

"I was supposed to give it to her that night."

His voice grows quieter.

"The night everything fell apart instead."

Silence falls across the arena.

"I had every reason to throw that ring away." He smiles at me. "But I never could. Maybe because somewhere deep down… I never stopped believing there would still be an us."

The tears I've been holding back finally spill over.

"My actions didn't always show it. I made mistakes. I hurt you. I let fear make decisions that love should've made." He laughs quietly, almost at himself. "I'm still learning." The crowd laughs with him. "I'll probably always be learning."

Then he glances around the arena.

"I know this probably isn't the proposal you imagined." He gestures dramatically. "I should've arranged flowers."

The audience laughs.

"Maybe some doves."

More laughter.

"I definitely should've prepared a slideshow."

Even I can't stop myself from laughing through my tears.

"But after winning tonight..."

His smile softens.

"...I realized I don't want to celebrate another victory without knowing you'll be beside me for every victory that comes after it."

Then...

He kneels.

The entire arena gasps.

He opens a dark navy with a silver exterior ring box.

"Emma Rose Carter..." His voice shakes now. "I don't have a perfect speech. I'm nervous. My teammates are probably laughing at me right now."

Somewhere behind him, someone whistles.

The crowd laughs again.

"But here's what I do know. I know I want to grow old with you. I know I want to watch Dawn grow into an incredible woman with you. I want more birthdays. More Sunday mornings. More burnt pancakes. More arguments over what movie we're watching. More ordinary days that somehow become my favourite memories simply because you're there."

He takes a shaky breath.

"I found my home a long time ago and it was always you." He lifts the ring. "So now that I've found you again, will you stay with me forever?"

His eyes glisten. “Will you do me the greatest honour of my life?”

“Dylan…”

"Please, marry me. Let's build the beautiful little world we've always dreamed about and finally call it home."

The arena falls completely silent. Thousands of people and not a single voice.

I can't even speak. I can't even breathe. All I can do is cry. Not pretty tears. Not the kind you see in movies.

These are ugly, uncontrollable tears that blur my vision until I can barely see the man kneeling in front of me.

The man I've loved through heartbreak, anger, distance, forgiveness...

...and somehow found my way back to.

My chest hurts from trying to hold everything inside.

Finally, I manage to nod.

"Yes." My voice breaks so badly I barely recognize it. "Yes."

I hold out my left hand, laughing through my tears. "Yes, Dylan. I'll marry you."

The arena explodes. The sound crashes over us like a wave. People are screaming. Clapping. Whistling.

Somewhere in the crowd, I swear I hear someone crying louder than I am.

Dylan laughs, looking like he might cry himself, as he carefully takes my hand. His fingers tremble while he reaches for the ring...

...then confidently slides it onto the wrong finger.

I stare at him for a second before another laugh escapes me.

"The other hand," I whisper.

He blinks. "What?"

"The other finger, idiot."

His eyes go wide.

"Oh!"

The entire arena bursts into laughter.

"I'm sorry!" he blurts, looking adorably horrified. "I've never done this before!"

I can't stop laughing.

I point to my left hand, ring finger. "There."

"Right. Right."

Still shaking, he gently takes the correct hand this time and slowly slides the ring into place.

It fits perfectly.

For a second, neither of us says anything. We just stare at it. Then Dylan looks back up at me. He stands, cups my face in both hands, and kisses me.

The crowd absolutely loses its mind.

Cheers echo through the arena, cameras flash from every direction, and somewhere above us fireworks explode across the giant screen.

When we finally pull apart, we're both smiling so hard it almost hurts.

"So..." He scratches the back of his neck, suddenly looking shy again. "Rate me."

I laugh, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "Ten out of ten."

He lets out the biggest sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God."

Another laugh escapes me.

"I was so nervous."

"I could tell."

He smiles. "That's exactly why I love you."

"Dada!"

We both turn at the same time.

Dawn is bouncing excitedly in the staff member's arms, reaching toward Dylan with both tiny hands.

He laughs immediately. "Oh, right."

He scoops her into his arms like she weighs nothing, kissing her chubby little cheek until she squeals with delight.

"There she is."

I stand there watching them.

My fiancé.

My daughter.

Our little family.

The future I spent months convincing myself I'd lost forever is standing right in front of me. Somehow, unbelievably, it's real.

Dylan looks up at me at the exact same moment I look at him. Neither of us says anything for a second.

Then, completely at the same time—

"Thank you."

We both stop.

Blink.

Then burst into laughter all over again.

He wraps one arm around me while the other holds Dawn against his chest, and I bury my face against his shoulder as the arena continues cheering around us.