❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 94

Charles

The airport built up on front of me like many times before. I could walk the way to the private jet by heart. Wake me up at 3 a.m., I'll do it.
Everything was like always. The same pathway, the same cool air weaving around my shoulders as I approach the airfield. Even more so because it was already October.
Yet, everything was different. I couldn't concentrate on the pathway, or the temperature of the air. It felt like my nervousness was eating me up from the inside.
It wasn't everyday that one made a proposal to the woman he loved most, after all.

Valerie walked in front of me, dragging her suitcase behind her, the little rolls on the bottom making scratchy noises on the concrete beneath us. When she turned her head around, her eyes glowing with curiosity, I already knew what she was going to say.
"You still haven't told me where we're going," she mentioned for the hundredth time, her voice tinged with the same amount of excitement as 10 minutes ago.

"You'll see soon enough." I caught up to her, taking her suitcase to hand it to the airline staff.
I hoped she couldn't sense my unease. The way I hadn't really slept that night. Not since I told her we would fly somewhere today, as a surprise.
I couldn't contain my nervousness as we boarded.

Valerie settled into her seat, still shooting me curious and impatient glances, but I could see the trust in her eyes.
It didn't matter where we were going, as long as we were together.

Well, in this particular situation, our destination did matter. As the plane took off, I leaned back in my seat, my eyes never tearing from her across me. Her nose was buried between the pages of a book, her attention already elsewhere.
My mind drifted to what had let us to this.
I had almost lost her because of Raphael. Just thinking of his name made my blood boil.
My lawyers were already on it, I was just waiting for a call. And then he would get what he deserved. Finally.

I eventually shook my head to free myself from my own thoughts.
But now, with that behind us, I didn't want to waste any more time.
I couldn't waste any more time.
I just looked at Valerie, and my chest swelled with pride. That I could call her my girlfriend.
Maybe soon my wife.

The engagement ring in my suitcase was calling for me ever since I bought it.
I had taken it everywhere with me.
And now, I would finally be able to make her the happiest woman she's ever been. Because she deserved no less.

I have wanted to marry her even before this whole mess happened. I've known she was the right one the second I laid eyes on her.
I knew I couldn't wait any longer.

She seemed completely clueless, reading, glancing out of the window every now and then. I wondered if she knew how much I sought to spend the rest of my life with her.

Valerie found the ring when we were stranded in that little hotel in the middle of nowhere.
My stomach turned at the memory.
She had been more than upset. Because she didn't understand back then. She couldn't trace the reason, why I kept the ring and couldn't stay away from her, but decided to end our relationship nonetheless. Because I didn't have any other choice.

But she made it feel like no time had passed.

Valerie began to cling to the window, staring outside with anticipation, hoping for any signs where this plane might be landing.

"Where are we, Charles?" she asked, her voice a mix of excitement and wonder.

I smiled, folding my hands in my lap. "Like I said, you'll see," I replied with amusement, though my heart was already beginning to quicken.

As we landed and stepped outside onto the concrete, the crisp air of Canada greeted us. Valerie's eyes widened in recognition, and she turned to me, a smile spreading across her face.