Jake gently slid the ring onto Aurora's finger, his hands trembling slightly as emotion flooded through him. Then, in one swift motion, he stood and swept her into his arms.
"Yes!!!" he shouted joyfully, spinning her around the room in wild, giddy circles.
"Jake! I'm getting dizzy!" she laughed breathlessly. He stopped instantly, cradling her as if she were made of glass, before setting her down gently. She immediately brought her hand to her face, admiring the ring with teary eyes.
"Oh my God, Jake… this is so gorgeous," she whispered, almost in disbelief. "It's one of my favorite stones." Jake grinned. "One of them? Which one do you love the most? I'll get it for you too. Hell, I'll buy the entire mine if I have to."
Aurora giggled, brushing his cheek. "Never mind. I love it. And I'm sure this cost a small fortune."Jake shrugged, smirking. "You're worth every dime and more."
"I'll need to double my bodyguards, then," she teased. "The tabloids are going to lose it when they see me with this rock. I might get featured in Glitz Magazine's Diamond Dreams edition!"
"I hope they do," Jake said, eyes twinkling. "The world deserves to know who owns my heart."I need to show this to Angel! She's going to—"
"Wait." He caught her mid-sentence and pulled her back into his arms, silencing her with a passionate kiss that stole the breath from her lungs. When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against hers.
"I'll never get enough of you, Aurora," he whispered.Then, to her surprise, he sank to his knees again not for a second proposal, but something deeper. His voice trembled, raw and sincere."I know what I did is unforgivable. But please… find it in that beautiful heart of yours to truly forgive me. You said yes to marrying me, but I won't rest until I know you've healed. I'm aware of the pain, the suffering I caused you… and I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
Tears welled in Jake's eyes. He blinked quickly, trying to hold them back, but one escaped and slid down his cheek.Aurora bent down, cupping his face gently."You are forgiven, Jake," she said softly. "Now get up and stop crying like a baby."Jake laughed through his tears as she helped him up. Her smile was radiant, her eyes glowing with warmth.
"Am I really forgiven?" he asked one last time.
"Yes," she nodded. "You are."
"Bye, I gotta go!" Aurora chirped and dashed out of the room before he could say another word.
"Angel! Angel!" Aurora barged into the room, her voice bursting with excitement.Angel sat up from her bed, groaning. "What is it, Aurora?! Your voice is piercing! Like, shattering-glass piercing."
"Sorry, bestie! I'm just super excited—I couldn't help myself!" Aurora stretched out her hand toward Angel dramatically."What are you—" Angel began, but her words froze the moment her eyes landed on the ring. "Oh… my… GOD!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Aurora squealed.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Angel screamed back, leaping off the bed.They both began shrieking and jumping around like wild children."Is everything okay in there? What's with the screaming?" Maxwell's voice rang out from the bathroom."YES!" they both yelled in perfect unison."Okay, sure…" Maxwell muttered, confused and mildly irritated.
"Whatever, Maxwell!" Angel shouted. Then she turned back to Aurora, eyes wide and glowing. "OH MY GOD! Finally! He proposed! Sit. Down. NOW. We are having this conversation in the living room!"
The two best friends curled up on the same couch, clutching each other's hands like they were ten years old again."So, Mrs. Scott," Angel teased with a wicked smile, "care to tell me how this all happened? I want every detail. Spill."Aurora giggled like a child caught with a secret."I had no idea it was coming," she began. "You remember our last argument, right? When I, uh… kind of… attacked him with a knife?"
Angel rolled her eyes. "Yh, I remember. I told you not to do that, crazy woman."Well, ever since then, he hasn't stepped into my room. So imagine my shock when he came in this morning—with breakfast, no less!"Angel gasped dramatically.
"We were still arguing a little," Aurora continued. "But then… he kissed me. And after the kiss, he asked if I'd forgiven him. Of course, the devil inside me refused—so I said no."Angel clutched her imaginary pearls. "You did not!"Oh, but I did! And then he said it was a bad habit to stay mad at one's future husband. Before I could even blink, he was on one knee and ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Aurora squealed again, waving her ring finger.
Angel screamed with her, grabbing her hand again."Bestie, I'm so happy for you! Just look at those pearls. I bet this came straight from the Atlantic Ocean."Pacific, actually," Aurora corrected, tossing her hair with mock arrogance.They both burst into laughter.
Angel leaned back. "I wonder which one of us will get married first…"
"Hey, it doesn't matter," Aurora said, bumping her shoulder gently. "But you and I both know we'll be each other's maid of honor. "Of course!" Angel nodded. "No one else is even qualified."
"So… what now?"
Angel grinned wickedly. "Let's. Go. Shopping."Great idea!" Aurora squealed. "I'll grab Jake's credit card. "And I'll take Maxwell's!" Angel shouted back.
Back at Maxwell's Study
Jake was deeply engrossed in legal documents, eyes glued to a contract he had to sign before noon. He barely noticed when the door swung open and Aurora strode in, excitement dancing in her eyes…