After a while with no reply from the other side, Dorothy checked her phone multiple times,
contemplating what she'd told Everett upon his return: asking for help with a medical issue meant
he couldn't afford to be too forceful in his approach.
Even if Quincy wouldnât dare to provoke the Lopez family, pushing too hard was still not an option.
She knew Everett all too well.
The concept of chivalry was foreign to him. Apart from her, any woman who as much as brushed
against him would send him reeling.
Dorothy couldn't pinpoint when she dozed off. Initially, she was perched on the couch, flipping
through a finance magazine. Feeling drowsy, she had a glass of ice water and soon found her eyes
nearly closing and falling asleep.
In a daze, time seemed irrelevant until she felt herself being lifted.
The familiar scent that was distinctly Everett's assured her of his presence without needing to open
her eyes.
She reached out, circling her arms around his neck.
âI thought I told you not to wait up for me?â he said.
âHmm⦠You always wait for me. I wanted to try waiting for you for a change.â
After her words, Dorothy heard him sigh softly.
âI can never seem to stay mad at you.â
With long strides, Everett carried her towards the bedroom.
Resting against his chest, Dorothy felt the warmth of his body, and a comforting heat spread
through her.
âEverett.â
âYes?â
âI want to marry you.â
He stiffened, suddenly pausing mid-step.
Dorothy opened her eyes to look at him, âWhatâs wrong?â
âNothing. Itâs just⦠unexpected.â
âI was starting to think you didnât want to marry me,â Dorothy said, unaware of any underlying
tension. She snuggled closer after smiling, âI want to marry you. Letâs drop the lawsuit.â
He didnât say a word.
âItâs not because of you!â Dorothy rushed to clarify, worried Everett might feel burdened. âAfter this
illness, I realized I donât have the energy to fight over right or wrong. I want to spend my time on
those who love me and whom I love.â
Dorothy didnât wait until he replied, but she felt his grip tighten.
âDid I⦠rush into this?â she asked softly, arms still around his neck. âJust tell me what youâre
thinking, okay? Iâm not good at reading people, and I donât want us to misinterpret each other. So
just tell me, okay?â
Everett nodded, âDonât drop the lawsuit. Youâve pushed so hard to get it this far, and I donât want my
presence toâ¦â
âI told you that itâs not because of you! And definitely not because of any deal your father offered.
Marrying you is about us, not the Lopez family.â Dorothy paused, then lowered her voice, âYour
parents⦠theyâve crossed a line. I canât accept them as my in-laws, but that doesnât mean I can
ignore what happened. Marrying me might put you in the middle.â
She was tired of fighting but couldnât bring herself to treat Amanda as her family. That chasm would
never close, not truly.
âDorothy, focus on getting better for now. We can take our time with⦠the marriage,â Everett gently
laid her on the bed.
But Dorothy didnât let go, instead tightening her grip around his neck.
âEverett, how can youâ¦â
Comments(0)
Join the discussion — sign in to leave a comment
Sign In to CommentNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!