Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“But…” She shakes her head. “…don’t you see?” I just stare at her. “I won. Look at me. I have a beautiful daughter, who is healthy and filled with so much love. I have a man, who I like on some days and adore on most days. I have his family, who have accepted me with open arms, treating me like I’m one of their own. Never not once did your family ever make me feel that I’m not part of the family. I have the best job a girl can ask for.” She puts the paper down in her lap. “Stefano, I won.” She puts her hands on my face. “We won.”
“We did win,” I agree, reaching into my pocket, taking out the ring box. “Today they asked me who I was.” I move out of her touch, her hands falling to her lap, getting on one knee. “I told them you were my fiancée.” I open the ring box. “Addison, you have given me a life I didn’t know I wished for. You have shown me what unconditional love is. You have made me a better man. You have my heart before, today, and always. I want to have more children with you. I want to have my ring on your finger, knowing that you will be forever stuck to me.” She laughs at that. “I mean, technically, you are forever stuck to me, but this is so everyone knows.”
“I’m yours,” she confirms, “with or without the ring.”
“Is that a yes?” I ask her, taking the ring out of the box and putting it on her finger.
She looks down and gasps. “This is—”
“It’s on your finger, and I’m not taking it back,” I tell her, and the door opens. Avery comes out, watching us.
“Why is Momma crying?” she asks, looking at me and then her mom.
“I asked Momma to marry me,” I explain to her as she walks over to Addison, putting her arm around her shoulders. “I gave her a ring.”
She gasps, too. “Do I get a princess dress?” she asks, making Addison roll her eyes. She has so many fucking princess gowns in our house. In my parents’ house. Every single place she goes there is one waiting for her.
“You both get a princess dress,” I tell them both. “Now, can I kiss your mom?”
“Ugh, again?” she groans. “I’m hungry.” She turns and walks back inside the house.
“Glad she took the news well,” I joke, leaning in and kissing Addison’s lips. “I promise I’ll never make you regret this.”
The End