Claim Me Captain! I'm Addicted to You!-Chapter 405: Infuriating Bully (2)

Ella’s POV

Tears were already spilling down my cheeks, slow, embarrassing, traitorous, by the time the man guiding me finally stopped and positioned me right in front of Liam. I was so overwhelmed, I don’t know how to react.

I stole a quick glance toward the house.

Everyone was already behind me.

All of them, in front of the tree, of Liam and me.

Smiling like they knew something I didn’t. Which was... great. Exactly what my anxiety needed.

When I looked back at Liam, my breath caught.

He looked terrified. Like pale, sweaty, I-might-pass-out-any-second terrified.

Honestly, if someone brought out a stretcher right then, I wouldn’t have been surprised.

He stepped closer, gently took my right hand, and cupped my left cheek. His thumb brushed away a tear that immediately got replaced by another one.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "For making you worry. For making you doubt me. That part is my fault, too."

His voice trembled. I felt mine would snap in half if I tried to use it.

"I know I don’t say how much you mean to me," he continued softly. "I grew up in a household where feelings... weren’t a thing. Affection wasn’t shared. Not out loud. Not by words."

He turned slightly, glancing at Benjamin.

"No offense, Dad. I’m just explaining myself to clear all these misunderstandings."

Everyone chuckled, including Benjamin, who waved a hand like he was granting royal permission.

"None taken. Please continue, I am enjoying this, don’t put it on hold," he said with a proud smile.

Everyone chuckled, and some were wiping their faces, also crying like me.

Liam groaned under his breath, but his lips twitched, just a little, before he looked back into my eyes.

And my heart just... dropped and soared at the same time.

"My mom was always busy with everyone else except me. You probably figured that out by now," Liam continued, voice shaking just a little. "I barely heard her say she loves me. I’m not blaming her for how I turned out, but... I guess I just want you to understand why I am like this. Why I struggle saying things out loud. But I swear, I’m trying. For you."

He exhaled, shoulders dropping.

"And the truth is... I may have never said it, not once. But I love you. I really, really love you, Ella." He pointed dramatically at Darla. "And I am absolutely not having an affair with her."

Everyone burst into laughter, Darla included. I, meanwhile, was either crying harder or losing oxygen while laughing at the same time. Hard to tell.

Liam rubbed the back of his neck. "I’m so nervous right now. Especially after you said you didn’t trust me anymore. But hell, I’m not letting you go. You’re it for me. The woman I see myself growing old with. So I’m taking my chances today, even if your trust meter is currently at zero and even if this whole thing was supposed to be ten times more romantic in my original plan before a certain someone ruined it."

He shot a glare at Vicky.

Vicky slapped her palms together in a pleading gesture, mouthing, I’m so sorry, which only triggered another round of laughter from everyone.

Then, before I could breathe, Liam dropped to one knee.

I froze. My brain shut down. My lungs malfunctioned.

He pulled out a small velvet box and looked up at me like I was the rest of his life.

"I love you so much, Isabella Collins. Will you marry me... and spend the rest of your life with me?"

My knees gave out before he even opened the box.

He reached to catch me, but nope, I was already ugly-crying on the grass and rose petals in front of him, hands covering my face like a dramatic telenovela heroine.

"Ella... hey, hey," he whispered, trying to hold my hands.

I slapped them away.

He blinked. "Please say something, anything, before I actually faint and hear your answer."

I glared at him through my tears and hit his shoulder. Then his arm. Then his chest. "Why did you put me through all that heartache if you were going to propose?! You could’ve just told me earlier instead of making me think you were dating Darla! I cried my eyes out in front of Georgia and Vicky!

I thought you were leaving me for another woman, or worse, had a secret child you were going to introduce to the family! You’re such a jerk for making me wait like that!"

Liam bit his lip, trying not to smile, which only made me smack him harder. Others were already laughing at me or at Liam, I’m not sure, maybe for both of us.

I couldn’t stop crying. Relief, happiness, all the fear I’d swallowed earlier, it all just burst out in messy, soggy waves.

He pulled me into his arms and whispered against my hair, "You still haven’t answered me. Is it a yes? Will you marry me?"

The audacity of this man.

I shoved him, making him wobble and fall back onto the grass beside me. "What do you think? Of course it’s a YES! You infuriating bully!"

Everyone erupted into cheers as I snatched the velvet box from his hand like a gremlin guarding treasure.

I opened it, and a smile crept on my face while still crying.

Liam gently took the ring from the box and reached for my hand with trembling hands.

As Liam placed the ring on my hand, I could hear Georgia and Vicky squealing like teenagers.

Benjamin was so proud that he couldn’t keep his happiness to himself; from my peripheral vision, I saw him dancing and pulling Prudence left and right.

The others were clapping their hands and cheering us, congratulating us.

And for the first time all day, my tears felt light. Soft. Happy.

Because he wasn’t leaving.

He was choosing me.

Forever...

*******

As I promised last month, here’s the free 10 FastPass (FP). First-come, first-served. 10 people could avail it. Comment below if you have claimed it, so I can count. Thanks and enjoy!

Your code number is <ABDHYW98UU8BR8MPB> and you can find the redeem center at Profile>Redeem.