Falling for the Goddess

Will You Marry Me?

Sara sat cross-legged on the carpet before the sofa, staring at the mountain of beautifully wrapped gift boxes. She tilted her head in confusion, unsure where to start.

She turned to Adrian for help.
"Which one should I open first?"

"Whichever you like."

Adrian sat comfortably on the sofa, arms crossed, watching her with an amused expression. He had no intention of helping and seemed to enjoy watching her struggle to decide.

Sara furrowed her brows in thought, the little reindeer antlers on her head bouncing with every movement. The sight made Adrian's heart itch with fondness. He leaned closer, unable to resist brushing his fingers against her hair.
"There's no particular order," he said softly. "I just wrapped them as I thought of them."

Sara pondered for a while before starting with the closest one—a bright red box. She picked it up, shook it gently near her ear, and heard a soft rustling inside.

"Alright, I'm opening this one!"

Adrian's lips curved into a small smile.
"Go ahead."

Sara eagerly tore off the wrapping paper, revealing a smaller box inside. When she opened it, she found a pair of Christmas-themed earrings with delicate snowflake and reindeer designs.
"Wow, these are so cute!"

Turning to Adrian, she smiled brightly. "Why do you keep giving me earrings?"

"You like them, don't you?" Adrian leaned back leisurely. "I saw these and thought they'd suit you."

The next box was a deep blue velvet case. Inside, she found a stunning sapphire necklace. The main stone was a round-cut Sri Lankan sapphire, surrounded by smaller baguette-cut gems, radiating a deep, ocean-like brilliance.

Even though Sara wasn't exceptionally knowledgeable about jewelry, she could tell this necklace was incredibly valuable.

Adrian noticed her expression change. "What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

"No, it's not that..." Sara shook her head. "It's just... you don't have to give me something this expensive."

Adrian chuckled, reaching out to pinch her cheek. "Silly girl, it's not that expensive. And your husband isn't as poor as you think."

His casual mention of "your husband" made Sara's cheeks flush. Her ears burned with embarrassment as she quickly returned to the gifts, mumbling a quiet response.

She unwrapped the remaining boxes, discovering an array of thoughtful presents: lipsticks, a bottle of perfume, and several adorable trinkets.

Finally, only one box remained—a slightly heavier one. Sara picked it up, holding it in her lap, and gave it a curious shake.
"This one's a bit heavy. What is it?"

"Open it and see."

Sara tore off the paper, revealing a plain cardboard box inside. As she opened it, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Is this... a vintage camera?"

Her face lit up with joy, and her eyes sparkled like stars.
"This model is nearly impossible to find! How did you get your hands on it?"

Adrian felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. He had guessed right—this gift had truly hit the mark.
"Let's just say I know someone with connections," he said nonchalantly.

He had noticed Sara's collection of landscape photos and her various cameras, realizing she had a passion for photography. So, he had gone to great lengths to acquire this rare vintage camera, even negotiating directly with a French collector who had been reluctant to sell.

Sara carefully assembled the camera, adjusting its settings. Then she looked up at Adrian, her face full of excitement.
"Can I take a picture of you?"

Adrian wasn't fond of having his picture taken, but he couldn't say no to her.
"Go ahead."

Through the lens, Sara admired his sharp features and elegant posture. No matter how she framed him, he looked perfect. She took a few shots, then lowered the camera and leaned in to kiss his cheek softly.

"Adrian," she whispered sweetly, "will you be my model tomorrow? I want to take some photos of you in the snow."

Adrian chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I think you just want to show me off."

"You're too handsome not to," she teased.

He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"That can wait. I still have one more gift for you."

"Huh?" Sara blinked, curious. "There's more?"

Without a word, Adrian stood up and took a step back. His gaze softened as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. Then, to Sara's astonishment, he lowered himself onto one knee.

Her breath caught in her throat, and the camera in her hands nearly slipped to the floor.
"You... what are you doing?"

Adrian's deep, dark eyes locked onto hers, filled with unwavering affection.

"Our relationship didn't start like most people's. We skipped a lot of steps. But from the moment I realized I loved you, I've only ever wanted to give you the best of everything."

Sara's eyes began to blur with tears.

"Marriage," Adrian continued, "is more than just a formality. It's sacred. And I don't want you to have any regrets."

He took a deep breath, his voice trembling ever so slightly—a rare sign of his nervousness.

"I love you. Fiercely, wholeheartedly. Every morning, when I see you sleeping peacefully beside me, I feel an indescribable softness and certainty in my heart. You've changed me, Sara. I've never known emotions like this before—jealousy, possessiveness, fear of losing you. But now, all of these feelings have a name."

He paused, his gaze unwavering.
"Love."

"I don't want to miss a single moment of our future together."

Adrian cleared his throat, and then spoke the words that swelled Sara's heart.
"Sara... will you marry me?"

Tears streamed down her face. She never expected him to propose—not again. They were already married, yet he was, kneeling before her with a ring in hand.

Without a word, she extended her hand, tears blurring her vision.

Adrian carefully slid the ring onto her finger—a stunning pink diamond that sparkled brilliantly in the dim light.

Sara gazed at the ring through her tear-filled eyes. She recognized the gem. It was a rare pink diamond she'd seen in a jewelry magazine before—worth billions.

Sniffling, she whispered, "Adrian... are you sure you're not going bankrupt?"

The romantic atmosphere shattered.

Adrian laughed helplessly, standing up to cup her tear-streaked face. His voice was full of fond amusement.
"Only you would say something like that at a time like this."

Sara blinked, her long lashes damp with tears. She didn't care if it was an expensive ring. All she cared about was him.

Adrian kissed her gently. "Silly girl."

Then he took out a second ring—a simple men's band—and handed it to her.
"Sara, put this on me?"

Her hands trembled as she took the ring, slowly sliding it onto his finger.

As their hands intertwined, their matching rings glinted softly under the light.

Sara stared at their joined hands, heart full to bursting. This moment, this love—it filled every empty space in her heart.

And she knew, with absolute certainty, that this was forever.