Abused And Broken

Chapter Forty-two: Can I Ask You a Question?

Bryan was waiting for Samantha in the hotel lobby, dressed in a crisp black suit accentuating his broad shoulders and toned physique. He ran a hand through his jet-black hair, looking around for her with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

Suddenly, he saw her walking towards him, dressed in a red dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her long hair was styled into loose waves, and her makeup was subtle yet elegant. Bryan couldn't help but stare at her, mesmerized by her beauty.

"You look stunning," he said, offering his arm for her to take.

Samantha blushed at the compliment and took his arm, feeling a sense of comfort and safety with him. "Thank you. You look dashing as well."

Bryan couldn't help but pinch her cheek until it turned red. She looked lovely, which made him want to kiss her, but they were still in a public place, so he curbed the urge and just smiled.

They boarded the elevator, and Bryan pressed the rooftop floor. Honestly, he was nervous as hell, but he could only strive hard to make himself look extremely natural so as not to arouse Samantha's suspicion. He prepared a surprise for her, and he wanted this night to be perfect.

When they reached the rooftop, they stepped out of the elevator, and Bryan led Samantha to the center table.

Samantha gasped as she scanned her surroundings. The rooftop was decorated far more dreamily and breathtakingly than she could ever have imagined. The floor was covered in red carpet, and white rose petals were scattered on the floor. At that moment, Samantha didn't even want to step on it, but Bryan just chuckled at her, making her pout.

This dinner date was practically a scene from a fairy tale.

When a slow and romantic song sounded, Bryan stood up and asked Samantha's hand for a dance. The moonlight shone on their figures as they danced in the rhythm.

"Can I ask you a question?" Bryan stared intently at her. His eyes glinted with devout love and sincerity.

For some reason, Samantha felt nervous. "W-what is it?"

Bryan let go of her and knelt down, then whipped out an exquisite red box. He slowly opened it and stared at Samantha, feeling nervous yet filled with anticipation. "Will you marry me?"

Staring at the ring, Samantha knew she shouldn't feel shocked, but her heart still furiously thumped. She was about to say something, but suddenly, rose petals rained down on them.

Looking up, she saw a chopper and a man throwing rose petals in their direction. A gush of warmth welled up in her chest. It seemed that he had prepared all this behind her back. No wonder when she casually asked him who he was speaking to last night, he appeared dodgy. Now it all made sense; it was because he wanted to surprise her.

Thinking about all the things he had done for her, she felt everything was surreal. Even now, she couldn't believe that someone could love her unconditionally. He patiently waited for her and stayed with her when she had nothing but broken pieces of herself.

It was hard to move on from her past, but because of Bryan, she didn't lose herself in the process. There were some nights when she was trapped in her nightmare, and it was always him who pulled her out of it, assuring her that no one could hurt her again.

Because of her silence, Bryan's face turned ashen. He couldn't fathom her expression since she wasn't smiling or frowning.

'Did he fail?' he wondered. His shoulder dropped, and his hand holding the box trembled. He told her he could wait forever, but it seemed he was rushing her.

Looking at his frustrated appearance, Samantha immediately felt pleased. She knew he loved her, but it seemed the weight of her importance in his heart wasn't light. Suddenly, she bent down and planted a small kiss on his lips, which made him freeze in shock. Bryan stared dumbly at her. His ears turned red instantly. When everything sank into his mind, a flash of glee flitted into his eyes.

"Is that a yes?" His voice quivered as he asked. He pulled her into an embrace, holding her firmly in his strong arms as though he was trying to merge their bodies. Tears welled up in his eyes. He didn't dare tell her that even though he promised to make her happy, he was constantly worried that he couldn't do that because of her trauma. However, she trusted him, and he would do anything just to make her forget her painful past.

Samantha felt his warm breath against her ear as she leaned against him. Her heartbeat began accelerating as she whispered, "I promise to marry you, Bryan."