Chapter 13

Valerie’s pov.

I blinked in awe as I gazed at the diamond ring, mesmerized by the rainbow reflections and flashes of white dancing within it. The white gold band, adorned with a delicate diamond, led up to the stunning centerpiece that made a bold statement. Reluctantly, I admitted to myself that it was a truly gorgeous ring.

Reality quickly sank in, and I realized where we were and what had just happened. Oliver had just proposed to me.

"Valley, since the day I first laid eyes on you, you've captured my heart. Every moment spent thinking of you, being with you, makes my heart race faster and faster. I consider myself incredibly fortunate that you gave me a chance. But this isn't enough, baby. I want to spend eternity with you," he spoke with such sweetness, though he knew just how cunning he could be.

I began to wonder why he was putting on such a spectacle, and then I heard the commotion of gushing and camera clicking. Oh my goodness, how did the paparazzi find us? That smirk on his lips revealed that he must have orchestrated this. He must have tipped them off, turning me into the envy of the world as the beloved bachelor's chosen partner.

If I declined now, it would undoubtedly end badly for me, and I suspected that he had planned it precisely that way. He wanted me to pull away, to let him win the competition. But then I cleared my throat and summoned the courage to speak.

"I do, Oliver. I do," I said, placing my trembling hand in his and witnessing the surprise in his emerald eyes.

"Aren't you going to put the ring on for me?" I chuckled nervously, and he nodded. With shaky fingers, he slid the ring onto my finger and stepped back. His arms enveloped me, drawing me closer to him, enveloping me in the intoxicating scent of cedarwood. One hand cupped my face gently.

Cheers and applause filled the air, while my family remained stunned and silent. Then something unexpected happened.

Oliver leaned in closer, and my eyes instinctively closed. I let my hands caress his stubbled cheeks, drawing him even nearer as our lips met in a sweet, fleeting kiss that sent shivers down my spine, to the tips of my toes and fingertips. We were kissing, and he seemed to savor every moment. His large hand tenderly caressed the small of my back, his touch against my bare skin sending electric sparks through me.

Suddenly, I remembered who it was that I had just kissed and immediately pulled away. So, that was our first kiss.

Soon, the restaurant staff kicked the paparazzi out, and dinner continued in a somewhat tense atmosphere, now that Oliver was seated at the table. If looks could kill, all my family members would have been murderers. Thankfully, the meal passed by quickly, and after my birthday celebration, I found myself at my grandfather's house. It turned out that all his grandchildren and their spouses were staying there for the night, which meant I would get the chance to meet more family members.

"This can't be happening," Dad exclaimed, pacing back and forth in the room. He seemed even more stressed than I was, and I was the one about to marry Oliver.

"You let him kiss you with his snake mouth?" Jasper sneered.

"Is this a regular occurrence? Is he pressuring you?" Cas asked, his brows furrowing.

"No, it was our first kiss," I squeaked, feeling a strange rush of warmth as I remembered the moment.

"Didn't look like it," Jasper scoffed, casting a judgmental look my way.

"What's that supposed to mean, Jasper?" I narrowed my eyes at him, ready to challenge his remark. But before he could respond, my mother took my hand in hers and admired the ring.

"He went to great lengths to deceive the media," she mused.

"Please, I think he bought the cheapest diamond he could find," I remarked, unimpressed.

"Sweetheart, that's a Devereaux," Dad chimed in, peering over Mom's shoulder, his hand resting on her hip. Their love warmed my heart, but now I began to question if I could have a loving marriage like theirs. Certainly not with Oliver.

"They specialize in the finest and rarest pieces, and this, my daughter, is one of them," Mom pointed out, directing my attention to the gem.

"Okay, fine, he put some thought into it, I guess," I said, pulling my hand away and crossing my arms.

"Before you know it, the media will catch wind of this," Cas interjected, shaking his head.

"He's made sure that if you were to end things, the media would turn on you, blaming you for leaving him," Dad sighed, dropping his face onto Mom's neck.

"I won't allow that arrogant boy to trap my only granddaughter," Theo finally spoke up. He had been silent for far too long, and it worried me. "Valerie, I've made up my mind. You won't marry him. You have a much brighter future ahead, and as much as I love money and my company, you mean more to me than that 33%," he pleaded, looking at me with pleading eyes.

"Grandpa, I won't back down. This is clearly what he wanted, but I'm strong enough to handle it all," I reassured him. But as I uttered the last word, I saw his lips part and tears well up in his eyes. "Oh my god, are you okay? Did—did I do something?" I asked, worriedly.

"No, dear. You just... you called me grandpa for the first time," he sniffled, pulling me into a hug.

"Yeah..." I realized it was official. I had fully embraced them as my family, and now nothing would stop me from making them proud. Even if it meant marrying Oliver Martinez.

"Please, don't put yourself through this," he pleaded, his voice cracking.

"Hey, don't worry about me, okay? Trust me, I won't let you down," I reassured him, gripping his hands tightly.

"You couldn't even if you tried," he said, a smile forming on my face.

I retreated to my room in Grandpa's house and settled on the ottoman by the window. As I gazed at the diamond, its shimmering reflection illuminated by the moonlight, a notification popped up on my phone. I glanced down to read the message.

"Wifey, you looked stunning in that dress and with my ring," Oliver texted.

"Fiancée, not your wife yet," I reminded him.

"Tomato, tomathoe," he teased.

"What do you want, Oliver?" I replied, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"I'll be making a post soon, hope you're okay with that," he sent. The news and photos of our engagement had already spread, and I braced myself for the reactions of his devoted fangirls. However, we hadn't made an official announcement ourselves just yet.

"I'll do the same then. Can't have them questioning us, right?" I decided, letting out a sigh.

"Exactly. Have a good night, fiancée," Oliver texted before ending the conversation.

At that very moment, a notification appeared, indicating that he had shared an image. I quickly opened it and found a photo of us kissing passionately. One of my hands rested on his cheek, showcasing the diamond ring, while my other hand disappeared into his hair. Whoever took the picture did an exceptional job, capturing a moment that almost looked like a genuine engagement.

Inspired by his post, I shared the same photo in black and white. Within minutes, congratulatory messages flooded in. Oh, boy, the whirlwind had just begun.

***

The next evening, I was reluctantly attending a charity auction event, and guess who showed up to pick me up? Oliver. Apparently, people would question why the newly engaged couple was spending so much time apart, so here I was, walking arm in arm with Oliver, surveying the grand hotel floor adorned for the occasion.

We ended up arriving late because Oliver insisted on grabbing some food beforehand, claiming that the event's offerings wouldn't be filling enough. As we made our way through the crowd, I spotted my grandpa and hurried in his direction. But then I noticed Oliver's family nearby, dangerously close to mine. The tension was palpable, and I could sense an impending explosion.

"There they are! Where did you two sneak off to?" Pedro greeted us with hugs. I had met him a few times before, and while he wasn't all that bad, he had a knack for provoking my grandfather.

The night wore on, and both families remained uncomfortably close to each other. Judging by Oliver's expression, he was just as worried and tense as I was. The centerpiece of the evening happened to be an extravagant blue diamond choker.

"Wow," I whispered, captivated by its beauty.

Before I knew it, the auction began, and Pedro swiftly made a bid for the choker, paying an exorbitant price that left everyone stunned. He then turned to me, his eyes first flickering to my grandfather before locking with mine.

"Consider it your 'something blue' for the wedding. It will look lovely on you, Val." Pedro grinned and patted my shoulder. He had done it solely to rile up my grandpa, and it seemed to have worked. The sound of shattered glass caught my attention, and I turned to see my grandfather tipping a champagne glass over the edge.