CHAPTER 31

Sebastian's POV

"It was no accident, father! Naomi pushed Emily down the stairs, and I'm not going to rest until she pays for what she did. Emily could have been permanently injured, or worse! What the hell was Naomi thinking? All of this because I'm not in love with her and won't make her my wife!" I was livid as I explained to my father that Naomi was responsible for Emily's accident.

"Sebastian, I will take care of this; you should be focusing on asking for Emily's hand in marriage. Along with the surprise you're planning for her."

"Thanks, Dad," I replied as I gave him a manly hug before leaving his office.

The following evening, I found Emily on her balcony, reading a book. She had her feet up, and her silk dress was hoisted up, revealing the smooth skin underneath. I cleared my throat loudly to get her attention.

"You know, if you look this good reading a book, I just might want to write a few more 'chapters' with you," I teased her.

"Oh really? What kind of chapters?"

"The hot and steamy ones." By then, I was already at her side, kissing her forehead. Some tiny cuts and bruises were still visible, but they were fading, gradually.

"Get ready. I'm taking you out to dinner," I whispered in her ears and began trailing my tongue on the sensitive parts of her neck.

"Where...are...we...oh my...going?" she managed to ask as she fell deeper and deeper into my charms.

"It's a surprise." I was at her cleavage now.

"Then stop, so I can get ready."

"Turning you on?"

"Yes!" She started moaning when I got between her full breasts.

"Okay," I laughed as I stopped, "Go get ready."

"I swear, you're too much, Sebastian." She got off the chair and went inside to get ready, and I went to my private vehicle to wait there.

After two long hours, Emily arrived.

"What took you so long?" I asked her, looking at my wristwatch.

"A lady needs time to get ready. Especially when doing her makeup and her hair."

"I'll get you a personal makeup artist and hairdresser." I started my Range Rover and drove out of the compound with two bodyguards on my tail. I drove to my restaurant. I thought it would be appropriate to ask for her hand in marriage where we had our very first date.

Two tables were already set as usual. I pulled out a chair for Emily before doing so for myself.

"I really love your restaurant, and it's decorated extra special tonight. What's the occasion?"

"You'll soon see," I simply answered. I hoped she had no clue about what I was planning. I wanted it to take her breath away and to see tears of happiness in her eyes.

"Good evening, Your Highness. For dinner, we'll be serving roasted potatoes on a bed of greens. Pineapple chicken tenders or shrimp prepared in garlic butter sauce and vegetable rice."

"I'll have everything. But can you please put the shrimp separate from everything else? I like shrimp, but I'm not a huge fan. They're more my brother's favorite food," Emily told the server, and his eyes popped when she said she'll take everything. I wasn't surprised. She was eating for two now.

"Of course, ma'am, and for you, sir?"

"I'll have the chicken and the potatoes with the greens. No rice please."

"Certainly," he responded before going to the kitchen.

Emily quenched her thirst with a glass of ginger ale.

"Ginger ale helps me with any upset feeling," she said afterwards.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I was just letting you know."

"I'll get you a few cases then."

"Don't spoil me, Sebastian. Mom and dad did enough of that."

"Good, now it's my turn," I answered.

She blushed beautifully. Then our food arrived, and Emily dug right in. I watched in amusement as she held the jumbo shrimps up with her hand before placing them into her mouth. Before I could complete my meal, she was already finished.

"What's for dessert?" I asked the waiter when he collected our plates.

"Two to choose from tonight. Cheesecake or chocolate ice cream," he answered.

"Is it possible to have cheesecake with a scoop of ice cream. You know, like right on top of the cake?" Emily asked.

"Anything for you, ma'am. And for you, sir?"

"I'm good." This was it. The engagement ring was to be placed in the dessert, and written in chocolate on the plate itself would be the question: "Will You Marry Me?"

I watched anxiously with shaking knees as the server came with the dessert. Step by step, my heartbeat increased.

The plate was set down right before her, and when she took her spoon to drive in, she stopped herself. Her voice was mumbled as she read what was written, and when her eyes caught on the ring, the spoon fell from her hands and she looked up at me. She covered her mouth with her hands, and her eyes filled with tears. Exactly the reaction I wanted.

I got off the chair and dropped to my knee at her side. I took her hands from her face and held them in mine.

"Emily, I know our time had been short, but you make me feel like I've known you all my life. You're everything to me. I can't see myself giving up on you, and the fact that you're carrying my baby makes me love you even more. I love you and our baby, and I want to do right by you. I want us to be a family, so will you marry me and rule by my side?"

"Yes! A thousand times, yes!" she let out as the tears slipped from her eyes. I pulled her in for a kiss.

"I'm so happy you said yes because if you didn't, I would have felt so embarrassed in front of all of them." At that very moment, the doors to the restaurant burst open, and Emily's family piled in with shouts of congratulations.

"Oh my goodness! Evan! EJ! Jasmine! Zenia! Mommy! Dad! Gen!" she greeted as she hugged each of them. "I've missed you guys so much."

"Sebastian, you did this?" she turned to me and asked.

"Yes. I figured you've been away from your family for a bit, so I'd bring them to you. They'll be part of the wedding."

"I love you. I love you so much. I can't wait to get married to you." She planted a passionate kiss on me.

"Hey man, I want to apologize for what I did to you back in high school, but understand that I will do it all over again if you hurt my sister," Evan interrupted. It was nice to see that he hadn't changed and he'd do anything for his sister.

"I love you sister. I'm in love with her. I wouldn't do anything to hurt her," I assured him.

"Ahhh, in that case, welcome to the family, bro! And congratulations." I was pulled into his manly hug with several hard taps on my back.

"Thanks," I responded and watched him walk over to his other brother and take a bottle of wine away from him. The atmosphere had turned into a small party. Music blasted from the speakers, and the servers poured glasses of wine for everyone, except Emily. She was stuck drinking ginger ale, but the bright smile she had on her face as she mingled with the others was a smile I'd do anything to keep.

My father and several others from the palace came to join in the fun as well, and when the old man started dancing, I chocked on my glass of wine. Never had I seen him this down-to-earth around other people.

He had told me that Princess Naomi had been arrested in her country and would pay for her crimes there.

"Dance with me, babe," Emily said, snapping me out of my thoughts and observations.

She pulled to the middle of the dance, and we danced together as if we were already husband and wife.