FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 66

After the lunch, Riad offers to drop me back home.

'But I have come in my own car' I say slightly disappointed because I wanted to spend more time with him. Riad smiles 'Then you have to drop me home' he says and I look at him surprised, he then clears that he had come with a cab, his car had broken down mid-way. I frown at him. As we come out from the restaurant. I see Riad's black Audi parked very close to the gate, I shake my head. Riad is such a bad liar, but I don't say anything. As we walk towards my car, I turn around feeling like someone is following us. Call it a woman's sixth sense, but I am having a very strong feeling like someone is keeping a close watch on us. I look at Riad and push the thought away, instead I make my, myself feel excited, I will be going to his home for the first time.

My mouth drops open as he led me inside his huge mansion, this mansion is his ancestry patriarchal mansion. I feel like I am fairy tale princess with Riad as my prince. I felt bad when he informs that he stays here alone, with just the few butlers. I can imagine how lonely he would feel here in this mansion. The old me, the one who considered money to be key of happiness, wouldn't have understood this. But the new me, who is madly in love, couldn't agree more. A butler comes to us and Riad asks him to get us tea. Riad places his hand on my waist and leads me to the living room. The room is huge, bigger than the one at the farm house, there are few white leather sofas with mahogany arm rests. There is a huge Persian carpet in the center and a mahogany table with glass on the top. There is small china glass flower vase with few fake flowers. Riad gestures me to sit, I sit on the double sofa, he sits beside me. I look around, still taking in the beauty of the place.

'It's gorgeous' I exclaim

'Yes, very' Riad says softly, I turn my head and find him watching me dreamily. I blush.

'If I had known you are so rich I would have married you when I was sixteen' I joked mindlessly. But then, looking at his expression I gulped, maybe the joke was pathetic. Shit! He must be thinking me as a gold digger. I opened my mouth to clarify this, when I felt his hand on my palm.

'I trust you...' he says and I shut my mouth.

Huh?

'I thought about this a lot, Aleesa. After I saw your Tattoo it made me to think, then your confession and then the sincerity in your eyes.... My heart started to trust you but my brain...and to know you better and also to spend time with you I asked you to come for lunch with me. Your innocence bowled me over and the decision to tell Adnan everything...then I knew that I completely trust you...' he says and smile. I am glad he trusts me.

'I love you' he adds

'I love you too' I reply instantly, not once breaking the eye contact. I am confident with my love for him and I want him to see that love in my eyes.

Riad asks me to wait as he has a surprise for me. I watch him smiling as he leaps from his seat and rushed out of the room, he looked really excited. I feel excited myself, wondering what surprise "my Riad" has for me.

Minutes later, Riad comes followed closely by the butler carrying tray with tea cups. Riad held a small red velvet box, I wonder if it's a ring. The box is slightly bigger than a ring box. Riad asks the butler to leave which he quickly obliged. Once he left, Riad comes towards me, I sit up straight. To my surprise he kneels on his one knee and my heart begins to flutter with anticipation.

Riad opens the box and I see something golden, he takes it out. It is a delicate gold anklet with a heart in the center.

'I got this for you this morning' he says and I smile, my vision getting blurred with tears. He asks me to forward my leg. I blushed as he removes my heel, I shiver as he held my leg and place it over his knee.