𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙞𝙙

38. Will you marry me?

"Will you marry me, Belle?"

Did he just ask me something?

I was too tired to move or even process anything at that moment.

When I didn’t reply, he gently lifted me and positioned my head on the pillow.

"Look how tired you are," I heard him say before he got off the bed.

It felt like he was grabbing something from somewhere.

"Come back here, Z. Let me hug you, baby," I called out, barely able to keep my eyes open.

I let out a sigh of contentment when he returned, but instead of lying down next to me, he sat beside me.

He gently stroked my cheek, and I slowly opened my eyes to meet his loving gaze. A smile crept onto my face as I reached up to touch his face, feeling an overwhelming rush of love for this man.

He took my hand and stared deeply into my eyes.

"Hindi mo pa sinagot ang tanong ko?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"Hmm? About marrying you?" I replied, trying to shake off the drowsiness.

I propped myself up, not caring that I was still naked.

"Yes. Naisip ko kasi na mga magulang natin ang nagdecide ng wedding natin, but I haven't proposed to you properly yet."

And then I noticed he was holding something behind his back.

"Bella Cruz, will you marry me?"

He asked again, but this time, he was holding a stunning diamond engagement ring.

I had always dreamed of a proposal with one knee on the beach or somewhere romantic, but proposing right after a mind-blowing night wasn’t so bad at all.

I smiled brightly at Zayne.

"No matter how many times you'll ask me to marry you, I will always say yes to you, baby."

He slipped the ring onto my finger, a huge grin lighting up his face.

We shared a tender, loving kiss before I took his hand and placed it on my stomach.

He looked down, then back into my eyes, confusion etched on his face.

I smiled—a big, happy, excited smile.

"You're going to be a daddy."

It took a moment for him to process what I had just said.

I felt a twinge of worry that he might not accept my news well.

"I'm going to be a daddy?" he asked, astonished, as he placed his hands on my belly.

"Belle, you are going to be a mommy. I'm going to be a daddy. Oh my God, oh my God!"

He pulled me into a tight embrace, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction. My heart melted when I saw tears in his eyes as he pulled away to look at me.

"Ohhhh Z. Are you that happy?" I asked gently.

"Yes! Thank you, Belle. Thank you!"

He leaned forward and kissed me again, and I kissed him back, feeling the rush of joy between us.

"How long?" he asked after the kiss, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Ten weeks. I don't have a bump yet, pero sabi ng doctor, normal naman daw."

"Any morning sickness? Oh my God, I need to be with you all the time. I can't let you suffer while I'm—"

"Z, relax. Maliban sa madali akong mapagod, wala naman akong morning sickness. Hindi rin ako nag-gain pa ng weight."

"You need to stop working, baby."

I understood what he meant.

"Kinausap ko na si Christian. There's nothing to worry about."

"Malaki na ba tiyan mo niyan sa wedding day natin?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

"I think so. Ginawan na ni Christian ng paraan para magkasya pa rin sa akin ang wedding gown ko. He is so excited to be a godfather to our baby."

"Nasabi mo na kila Tita at Tito?" he inquired, wanting to know if our parents were in the loop.

Umiling ako. I wanted to surprise them too.

"Only Christian and Yanie. Yanie was with me when I went for a check-up."

He kissed my forehead tenderly.

"Then I need to be extra careful with you from now on."

"You will be with me sa launching ng Bella, maybe we can come home together?" I suggested, hoping he would agree.

"You don't need to ask me that, Belle. I will be with you," he replied, determination shining in his eyes.