Chapter 332: Marriage Proposal

"Do you know what it means if you decide to marry me?" Hayden asked solemnly.

Suddenly, the relaxing atmosphere around us turned tense and I could tell that Hayden was fully awake and extremely serious right now. What it means…

"Are you worried that I wouldn’t fully understand the consequences if I decide to marry you?" I asked to better understand him.

It wouldn’t surprise me if that was what he thought. After all, he’d been warning me on several occasions about all the issues that may arise if I decided to marry him.

"Of course, I worry. I worry for you and for us," Hayden replied as his fingers took a strand of my loose hair and tucked it neatly behind my ear.

It was so like him not to worry for himself.

His eyes stared down into mine and the sincerity and worry in his eyes scared me. Honestly, I was scared stiff of the thought of marrying a mafia, let alone someone who could possibly be the next boss of the largest mafia syndicate. However, through all my fears, I never really noticed that Hayden was more worried and scared for me.

The way he looked at me with concern made me understand why he seemed extremely hesitant and cautious about this.

"Do you think that I won’t be able to take it?" I asked bluntly.

"Are you absolutely certain that you can take it?" Hayden asked in return.

"I’m not sure…but…if you’re there with me, I’m sure that I’ll manage somehow…" I replied after some thought.

If we’re together, then I think that we can make it through anything.

"You could be targeted, and your life could be in danger at any time. You may be despised by your friends and colleagues if they find out the true nature of your husband and his businesses. Your children will grow up to be gangsters and there are many more troubles that comes along with marrying me. Are you still sure that you want to marry me?" Hayden asked as if it was a trick question.

Of course, I wanted to marry him. The more he challenged my dear wish, the more I desired to be with him. It wasn’t like I wanted to prove him wrong, but I wanted to spend time together with him because I love being with him.

"That might be true but I’m sure that I’ll be happy living with you. We can go shopping for ridiculously expensive and overpriced things that I probably will never ever need. You can help me with my art career, and I’ll gladly sit through boring and scary meetings with you.

We’ll have cute children and while you teach them to be tough gangsters, I’ll teach them how to be good citizens with a gentle heart. I know that it’ll be difficult but I’m sure that we can make it work," I said before I smiled up brightly at him.

"You’re so stupid…really…" Hayden whispered before he lifted my face up and planted his lips down on mine.

Although his words were disapproving, the way he kissed me told me that he must have liked the idea of marrying me even if it was just a little. Even if he thought that it was a very stupid idea that may doom us together forever.

"Will you marry me?" I asked after he broke our kiss.

"Is that a question or a proposal?" Hayden asked before he grinned a little slyly at me.

He’s such a mean but very adorable tease. I love him so much…

"Which option will make you marry me?" I asked teasingly.

"None…" Hayden replied immediately without having to think twice.

"Hmm…you’re so mean…" I complained before I sighed in defeat.

"I told you before. My answer should not influence yours and vice versa," Hayden said, reminding me of what he had told me before.

"I don’t understand anything anymore. Please just say plainly and simply that you’ll marry me…" I pleaded as I stared up at his face.

"Ask me again," Hayden said almost emotionlessly.

"Umm…Will you marry me?" I asked, daring myself to hope a little that he would finally say yes.

"Of course, I’ll marry you," Hayden replied clearly before he smiled at me.

"…really?" I asked in complete disbelief.

He’s really going to marry me…for real?!

"Why do you look so shock? Aren’t you supposed to be super happy or something. You have such a dumb look on your face…" Hayden teased as he poked my cheek with his index finger.

Isn’t the answer to that obvious? I was so happy that I didn’t even know what face to make or how to react.

I can’t believe it. We’re really going to get married…

"Don’t start crying again please. I hate your tears…more than anything…" Hayden muttered darkly.

"Oh…" I mumbled.

"Don’t cry anymore, Malissa. Be brave and keep on smiling from now on," Hayden advised so resolutely that it sounded more like a command.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

I smiled a little at his rough words that held such a tender and caring meaning. It sounded like something that he would say.

"I love you…" I whispered just in time before his lips captured mine in a very passionate kiss.

It was a good thing that I didn’t feel sleepy because we didn’t catch a wink of sleep until dawn arrived. In the end, Harvey was right about almost everything. I did end up proposing to Hayden.

…

"You look happy. Did something good happen?" Harvey asked as he watched his brother’s face closely.

Hayden made his way into Harvey’s living room before flopping down onto the sofa opposite from where his elder brother was seated. Harvey looked up from the book that he had been casually reading and observed Hayden closely.

Hayden had a sense that his brother must have foreseen this coming from the little smirk that he desperately tried to hide. Harvey was calculating and manipulative, all qualities that he had proudly inherited from the boss. Hayden sighed before he made up his mind to break the news to his brother, not that he thought that it would come as a big surprise to Harvey.

"Malissa and I are going to get married," Hayden stated matter-of-factly.

--To be continued…