Chapter 31
General POV
"I have a surprise for you, Spitfire."
It's been six days since Danielle's baby shower and as soon as Ethan gets back from work, he heads straight to Elizabeth's room.
Elizabeth rolls her eyes upon hearing Ethan's words.
"What's the surprise? I hope you're not playing tricks on me." She glares at him as he pulls her out of the bedroom.
Ethan snickers. When they step in the hallway, Elizabeth sees Alexa and Moana standing outside the room beside hers, beaming with smiles.
Elizabeth's brows furrow thoughtfully, 'since they're smiling, it means it's a good surprise.'
She relaxes her muscles a bit.
Alexa opens the door immediately Elizabeth and Ethan reach the door. At this time, Ethan releases his grip on Elizabeth and observes her as she hesitantly but curiously takes her steps inside the room.
Upon entering, Elizabeth's mouth flings wide open at the sight she meets.
The empty room has been completely transformed into a beautiful tailoring workshop.
She couldn't help but gawk at everything, from the tools to the two industrial sewing machines…
The room is meticulously arranged, a haven for any tailor. Every tool and supply essential to the craft lies at hand: measuring tapes, scissors, pins, needles, seam rippers, fabric markers, industrial sewing machines, an iron and ironing board, pattern making tools, fabric shears, threads in a rainbow of hues, thimbles, tailor's hams, sleeve rolls, mannequins draped in luxurious fabrics, tracing papers and wheels, bias tape makers, embellishment tools, fusible interfacing, buttonhole cutters, draping implements…
It is an overwhelming sight, leaving Elizabeth momentarily stunned.
"Wait, you got me all of these?" Her words come out as a whisper, her gaze transfixed on Ethan.
"You like?" He asks, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"It's beautiful, right, Ma'am?" Alexa piped from the doorway, her eyes twinkling.
Elizabeth's eyes get watery as she continued gazing at the man standing beside her.
'How did he find out I'm a fashion designer?' Without warning, she wraps her arms tightly around Ethan's neck wordlessly.
Seeing this, Alexa and Moana quickly look away from the couple. Clearing their throats uneasily, they bob politely and hastily take their leave.
Ethan's stunned as he stills completely in Elizabeth's warmth. It takes a while before she finally breaks away from him.
When he looks at her face, Ethan catches sight of tears falling freely from her eyes. He's left completely speechless.
"What's wrong?" Concern is written all over his face as he smears her tears away with his palms.
Sniffling, Elizabeth pouts, "when did you do all this? I had no idea." She glances around for the umpteenth time, marveling at the sight.
Ethan's smile widens, 'little things like this get to her?...'
He's surprised to see she's crying when she didn't even tear up when he first kidnapped her and brought her here two weeks ago.
"I'm not a bully-husband. You can work from home, make beautiful designs... I know it's boring being at home all day long everyday, doing nothing. Now your work will keep you company."
Elizabeth sniffles for the umpteenth time, "thank you," and mutters softly.
"Huh? What did you say-I can't hear you." Ethan inches his ear close to her mouth.
She knows he's teasing her so she glares at him hard before leaving his side. Elizabeth runs her hand over everything in sight as she saunters around the workshop-her new workshop.
Ethan simply remains on the same spot, observing her from behind. After a couple of seconds, he reaches into his pocket and brings out a crystal ring case. Blowing out gusty air through his mouth, he lowers to the ground on a knee.
"Isn't it too much money? You got two machines-well, you're rich." Elizabeth clicks her tongue, chattering as she observes every detail.
"Rich man, rich man," When she notices he's not responding, she turns to look at him.
Upon turning, she freezes momentarily at the sight of Ethan kneeling.
In his hand is a diamond ring sitting in a transparent box, its facets dancing in the soft light like stars in the night sky.
Elizabeth gasps at the brilliance of the ring and remains rooted to the ground for a moment before slowly making her way to Ethan.
When she finds her voice, she swallows hard before speaking, "what's this?"
Ethan chuckles, "an engagement ring,"
"I know it's a ring, stupid." Elizabeth snaps, "I mean, why... what..." She finds it hard to find the right words to say.
"I'm proposing to you. Your pretty finger needs a delicate ring to match if we're to successfully convince my family that we're truly together." As he says this, Ethan carefully takes the ring out of its case. "Now, stretch out your hand for me, my darling."
Elizabeth seems tongue-tied for a while, "but isn't this a bit too much? For a fake-"
Ethan doesn't let her finish when he stands up, takes her hand and slips the ring on her finger. "There. Beautiful."
His lips gently brush against the back of her hand, and a jolt of electricity seems to surge between them, igniting a spark that dances along their skin. Elizabeth immediately retracts her hand from him.
"Excuse me." She walks past Ethan and heads straight to her room at once.
"Night, Spitfire," Ethan has a smug look when he steps in the hallway and watches as scurries off.
'This isn't fake, Spitfire. You're mine already, you just don't know it yet.' He pockets his hand and strides off in the opposite direction.
***
Elizabeth's POV
It's been two days since Ethan fake-proposed and here I am in bed, gazing intently on this gorgeous ring sitting on my fourth finger for the umpteenth time.
I still can't believe it. This ring is super expensive. I looked it up online with google lens… It's custom made! And he gave it to me?
The ringing of my phone pulls me out of my reverie and I pick it up to answer.
"Oh, okay. I'll be down in a minute." I hang up, slip on my slippers and head downstairs.