Chapter 122 Marriage

Chapter 122 Marriage


Thompson did not wake up that morning thinking, Today is the day I propose.

If anything, he woke up thinking about how Amelia had stolen his pillow sometime around 3 a.m. and somehow convinced him, half-asleep, that it was “strategic cuddling.” He lay there staring at the ceiling, listening to her breathe softly beside him, one arm flung dramatically across his chest like she was guarding territory.

He smiled.

This woman had a way of invading his space and his life without ever asking permission, and somehow it had become the best thing that ever happened to him.

Still, proposing hadn’t been on the official agenda.

The plan was simple: a calm day, a casual lunch, maybe a walk, something easy. No pressure. No grand gestures. Thompson had always believed proposals were overrated. Too dramatic. Too staged.

Love, to him, was supposed to be steady.

But Amelia Bright had never been a “steady-only” kind of woman.

She woke up with a stretch and a yawn, blinking at him like she’d just remembered he existed. “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked groggily.

“You stole my pillow,” he replied.

She frowned. “Lies.”

He pointed to the evidence. “It’s under your leg.”

She glanced down, shrugged, and smiled unapologetically. “You didn’t need it.”

“I was using it.”

“You have a shoulder.”

Thompson laughed despite himself. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I know,” she said sweetly, sitting up. “That’s why you love me.”

He paused.

She froze.

Their eyes met.

Amelia narrowed hers slowly. “Why did you hesitate?”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

“It was a micro-hesitation.”

“A hesitation is a hesitation,” she declared. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong,” Thompson said quickly. “You’re just… very sure of yourself.”

She grinned. “Because you are very obvious.”

He shook his head, smiling. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet,” she said, leaning over and kissing his cheek, “here you are.”

That should’ve been the moment he realized he was already lost.

Later that afternoon, Thompson found himself driving with Amelia, who was happily unaware that his palms were sweating against the steering wheel.

“Where are we going again?” she asked, fiddling with the radio.

“You’ll see.”

She squinted at him. “That’s suspicious.”

“It’s not.”

“You only say that when it is.”

He sighed. “Can you just trust me for one afternoon?”

She leaned back dramatically. “Fine. But if this is a prank, I will cry loudly in public.”

“Duly noted.”

They arrived at a familiar spot: the small private garden near the waterfront. It wasn’t flashy. No crowds. Just greenery, soft sunlight, and the quiet sound of water moving nearby.

Amelia’s face softened.

“Oh,” she said. “This place.”

“You like it?” Thompson asked, trying to sound casual.

“I love it,” she replied. “We came here once, remember? When you were stressed and refused to talk.”

“You talked enough for both of us.”

She laughed. “You sat there for forty minutes and said nothing.”

“I was processing.”

“You were sulking.”

“Processing,” he insisted.

Amelia smiled fondly as they walked further in.

What she didn’t notice immediately were the little things.

The fairy lights subtly woven through the trees. The soft instrumental music playing from hidden speakers. The path leading toward the center where a small table sat with flowers, candles, and a ridiculously oversized teddy bear holding a sign that read DON’T PANIC.

Amelia stopped.

“Thompson.”

“Yes?”

“Why is there a bear?”

He swallowed. “Just… keep walking.”

She walked.

Then she saw the sign behind the bear.

THIS IS NOT A TRAP.

She burst out laughing. “Oh my God.”

Thompson rubbed the back of his neck. “I panicked.”

“You panicked and bought a bear?”

“And signs.”

“And lights.”

“And music.”

“Yes.”

Amelia turned to him slowly, amusement fading into something warmer. “Thompson… what’s going on?”

He took a breath.

“I didn’t plan this,” he said honestly. “Not like this. I had a speech in my head, and it was very composed and masculine.”

She smiled. “I already like where this is going.”

“But then this morning you said I loved you like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and I realized something.”

“What?”

“I don’t ever want to wake up without you stealing my pillow.”

Her eyes softened.

“I don’t want to imagine a future where you’re not talking over my silence or arguing with me about nonsense or making my life louder than I ever planned.”

She blinked rapidly. “You’re making me emotional.”

“Good,” he said. “Because I’m terrified.”

He reached into his pocket, fumbling.

Amelia gasped. “Oh my…”

“Don’t panic,” he blurted, gesturing to the sign. “The bear warned you.”

She laughed through forming tears. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I know,” he said, finally pulling out the ring box. “But I’m serious about you.”

He dropped to one knee, nearly wobbling.

“Oh no,” Amelia whispered, covering her mouth. “You’re actually doing it.”

“Amelia,” Thompson said, voice unsteady but sure. “You walked into my life and turned it upside down. You challenged me, annoyed me, loved me, and somehow made me better without trying.”

She was crying now. Fully.

“I don’t want easy if it doesn’t have you,” he continued. “I don’t want quiet if it means losing your laughter. I want us. Arguments, jokes, chaos, love… all of it.”

He opened the box.

The ring caught the light, simple but elegant. Perfectly her.

“Amelia,” he said softly, “will you marry me?”

There was a beat.

Then Amelia laughed through her tears. “You didn’t even let me pretend to think about it.”

He blinked. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes,” she said, voice shaking. “Yes, Thompson. Of course yes.”

He stood up just in time for her to throw herself into his arms.

They nearly fell over.

“Careful,” he laughed. “I just proposed.”

“I don’t care,” she said, kissing him. “You’re stuck with me now.”

“I was already stuck,” he replied, holding her tightly. “This just makes it official.”

She pulled back slightly, eyes shining. “Do you know what this means?”

“What?”

“I get to plan a wedding.”

He groaned. “I take it back.”

She gasped dramatically. “You can’t take it back. There was a bear.”

They laughed together, wrapped in each other, fairy lights glowing softly around them.

As they sat down on the bench, Amelia leaned against him, admiring the ring.

“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “this is very rom-com.”

Thompson smirked. “I told you. I panicked.”

She smiled. “Best panic of my life.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Mine too.”