Chapter 243: Alexander's True Proposal
Chapter 243: Alexander's True Proposal
Nora’s POV
"Alexander?" The name escaped my lips in barely a whisper. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in Kingsley working on the merger?"
He stood there looking devastatingly handsome in his perfectly tailored charcoal suit, those piercing green eyes studying me with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. Something flickered across his face—relief mixed with nervous anticipation.
"You really had no idea, did you?" he asked, taking a deliberate step closer.
"No idea about what?" I glanced around the rooftop restaurant, taking in the romantic candlelit setup with growing bewilderment. "Wait—was all this... did you orchestrate everything today? The designer clothes, the jewelry, those ridiculous cartoon characters?"
Before Alexander could respond, I felt something delicate being placed on my head. I spun around to find Daisy behind me, her face glowing with mischief as she adjusted what felt like a gossamer veil.
"Surprise," she whispered, barely containing her grin.
That's when I noticed we weren't alone. As I turned in a slow circle, I saw them—everyone—emerging from behind strategically placed floral arrangements: Daisy and Liam, Dad and Mom, Camilla, even James Claflin, and Aiden perched on Liam's shoulders, practically vibrating with excitement.
"You're all here," I breathed, my voice cracking as the pieces clicked into place. "All those 'coincidences' today... they weren't coincidences at all, were they?"
Alexander stepped forward, taking both my hands in his warm grasp. "Today marks five years, Nora."
"Five years since...?" I blinked, momentarily confused before the memory crashed over me like a wave. Five years ago today, I had married Alexander Claflin in what I'd believed was a cold business transaction—a marriage to a man I thought was comatose, sold off by my adoptive parents for Claflin money.
"I know," Alexander continued, his voice unusually unsteady. "The wedding we had... that day wasn't what either of us wanted. It wasn't a celebration. It was a contract signing."
Tears pricked my eyes as the weight of his words settled in. He was absolutely right—our wedding day had been sterile, clinical, devoid of any warmth. Just my adoptive parents trading me for a hefty check.
Alexander drew a shaky breath, and for the first time since I'd known him, the powerful, intimidating billionaire looked genuinely vulnerable. "I wanted to give you the proposal you deserved, the celebration you never got to have."
His voice cracked slightly, and I squeezed his hands encouragingly. "Take your time," I whispered.
Behind us, our makeshift family burst into supportive applause. Liam let out a bark of laughter. "Come on, man, you rehearsed this speech in front of the mirror like a hundred times!"
"Shut it, Traynor," Alexander muttered, but I caught the smile tugging at his lips.
"We have all the time in the world," I told him softly. "No pressure."
He nodded, straightening his shoulders with renewed determination. When he spoke again, his voice rang clear and strong.
"Nora, when we first truly met—really met—I was cold to you. Cruel, even. I had my reasons, but nothing excuses how I treated you." His green eyes locked onto mine without wavering. "You challenged me, infuriated me, captivated me. You never backed down, never cowered, even when you had every reason to run."
My heart hammered against my ribs as he continued.
"I need to thank you—for giving Aiden a father, for bringing light back into my life, for showing me what it means to love someone more than yourself." His voice deepened with raw emotion. "And I need to apologize—for every harsh word, every cold shoulder, every moment I made you feel like you didn't belong."
He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a small midnight-blue velvet box. "From this moment forward, I swear to you—I will never let anyone hurt you again. Especially not me."
When he opened the box, I gasped so loudly that Aiden giggled from his perch. Inside nestled the most exquisite pink diamond ring I'd ever seen.
"You kept it!" I exclaimed, my hand flying to my chest. "All this time!"
Alexander's smile transformed his entire face, making him look years younger. "I bought this five years ago," he admitted quietly. "It was supposed to be your real wedding ring—the one I'd give you and we could start over properly. But then..."
"But then you forgot," I finished softly, understanding flooding through me. The accident. The memory loss. Everything about me—erased.
"I never forgot the ring, though," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Something deep down told me it was important."
He lowered himself to one knee, and my hands flew to cover my mouth. Behind us, I heard Camilla's soft gasp and Daisy's barely contained squeal of excitement.
"Nora Traynor," Alexander said, his voice steady and sure as he held the ring up to catch the candlelight, "will you marry me—again? This time for real, for us, for love?"
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I nodded frantically. "Yes," I managed through the emotion clogging my throat. "Yes, Alexander. In this life and every life after, I could never love anyone but you."
His hands trembled as he slid the ring onto my finger. It fit like it was made for me, the pink diamond catching the flickering candles and throwing rainbows across my skin.
"It's perfect," I whispered, admiring how it sparkled. "Absolutely perfect."
Our family erupted in cheers and applause. Someone—definitely Liam—started chanting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" and soon everyone joined the chorus.
Alexander rose and pulled me close, one hand at my waist, the other gently cupping my face. "I love you, Nora Claflin," he murmured.
"I love that name," I breathed just before our lips met.
As we kissed, the night sky behind us suddenly exploded with color. I pulled back in amazement to see fireworks blooming over Highcrest City, painting the darkness with brilliant bursts of gold, silver, and rose.
"Dad got fireworks for Mom!" Aiden shouted excitedly. I noticed Liam had strategically turned him away during our kiss, which prompted indignant protests from my son. "I wanna see the kissing! Uncle Liam, let me see!"
I laughed through my tears as Alexander kept one arm firmly around my waist, both of us watching the spectacular display.
"When did you even get to town?" I asked him.
"I've been in Highcrest since the day after you arrived," he admitted with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"What? Impossible! I would have spotted you!"
"Actually," he said, looking adorably embarrassed, "you did. Remember Captain Courageous at the mall today?"
My jaw dropped. "That was YOU? In that ridiculous furry costume?" I smacked his arm playfully. "You hate those characters!"
"I knew you loved them as a kid," he shrugged. "Daisy filled me in on all your childhood favorites."
I turned to look at our friends and family, all beaming at us with knowing smiles. "You were all conspirators!"
Alexander nodded. "It wasn't just me planning this—so many people love you, Nora. More than you realize."
Overwhelmed with emotion, I pulled him down for another kiss. "I love you," I whispered against his lips. "I love you so much, Alexander Claflin. Only you, always you."
"Until forever runs out," he promised. "Until there's no more love left in this universe."
Aiden, finally freed from Liam's protective hands, bounded over to us like an excited puppy. "Was it a good surprise, Mommy? I didn't tell you anything! Not even when you asked about the pretty dress!"
I laughed and scooped him up, bringing him into our embrace. "The best surprise in the history of surprises, baby."
Alexander kissed our son's forehead, then mine. "I promise there will be many more surprises," he murmured, his voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear. "Including, perhaps, a little brother or sister for Aiden."
My cheeks flushed crimson as he winked suggestively, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Is that a promise, Mr. Claflin?"
"It's a guarantee, Mrs. Claflin."