Chapter 163: The Proposal (2)
She could see how calm he was as he tilted his chair toward her and knelt before her. At that moment, her heart felt like it was beating faster and louder.
Instead of speaking immediately, he gently squeezed her hand. His warmth did nothing to warm her cold fingers because she was so tense and anxious that her hands remained cold.
"Sa—Sawyer..." Abigail whispered, holding back the mix of emotions raging inside her. She could feel her eyes grow warm and wet, but she didn’t try to tear her gaze away from him.
She struggled to find her words, unable to utter anything, and could only wait for him to say something. As she anticipated his response, each second felt like an hour.
A thrill coursed through her; this wasn’t the first time someone had tried to propose to her, but his proposal was sweeter and touched her heart more deeply than Ryland ever had.
Abigail attempted to stand from her seat, but Sawyer made a small gesture to keep her seat. Seeing him smile calmly, tilt her chair toward him, and kneel in front of her made her heart race faster and beat louder.
When Sawyer finally opened the velvet box, a stunning ring adorned with a delicate yet elegant pinkish diamond rested inside. Its brilliance caught the light and filled Abigail’s vision with tears. Her heart swelled with emotion, deeply touched by the sight before her.
"Abigail..." His deep, gentle voice seemed to suspend time itself. The world around them grew silent—the whispers of the wind and the soft murmur of flowing water faded away, leaving only his words. "Will you marry me?"
His tender yet intense gaze was filled with a love so pure and sincere that it reached the depths of her soul. Her emotions overflowed, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.
Before she could speak, Sawyer continued, "Abby, I know I broke my promise by proposing to you before you felt ready..." His tone wavered with a mix of sincerity and nervousness.
"But I can’t wait any longer to make you my wife. Do you know why?" he asked, pausing for the briefest moment, though not long enough for her to answer. "Because I’m afraid. Afraid that someone else might try to take you away from me. That they might steal you from my life."