TAINTED HEARTS 31
1711 Words
Chapter 31
They looked like huge salt crystals sticking to the walls. I felt like I’d entered the most amazing crystal cave in the world. Both the ceiling and floor of the cave were surrounded by crystals. Most were white, but a few had different colors.
The vibrant colors and shapes of the crystals fascinated me. There was a staircase made of white crystal, perfectly shaped as if it was intentionally crafted as a passage leading deeper into the cave.
Each step was white, the same color as snow, making me feel like I was climbing into an ice castle with every step I took. Adding to that, the air inside was cold despite being enclosed.
When we reached the top of the stairs, there was a bridge connecting to the other side, leading to the center of the cave. It was a little dark, but because of the small lights along the edges intentionally directed toward the crystals, the entire area glimmered. They looked like reachable stars. They were like fallen stars that I could actually touch.
“What do you think?”
I stopped in the middle of the bridge. Most of them had gone ahead, leaving only Lennox and me behind. Under the bridge was seawater still surrounded by crystals, and above, massive crystals served as the cave’s ceiling. This incredible and beautiful natural treasure was remarkably mesmerizing. This place was unimaginable.
“This is impossible…” I whispered, my eyes roaming around to take in the massive, pointed stones.
“Impossible? What do you mean?”
At his question, I turned to him. He was looking at me with narrowed eyes. He looked pissed.
“This cave, Lennox! This is impossibly beautiful! How is something like this even here? Did you build this? Was it man-made? Or is it naturally part of the island?”
He was left gaping as I babbled on. Gradually, his expression softened.
“I didn’t mean this cave. I mean… what do you think about my proposal, Xena?”
My attention drifted away from the glittering stones around us because of what he said. I was holding onto the bridge’s railing. He was standing in front of me, waiting for an answer. Proposal? That’s when I remembered what we talked about before getting off the yacht. He was bringing it up again now. Did that mean he was serious?
“Are you serious? Why so sudden?”
He blinked and looked away. He rested his elbow on the bridge’s railing. Instead of looking at me, his gaze wandered around the cave.
From the look on his face, it wasn’t his first time here. He didn’t seem surprised or fascinated by the crystals.
“This is not sudden. I just… wanted to ask.”
“I have to think about it first. I can’t decide now. What if I want to work? Your wish to find me at home after you get back from work won’t happen.”
He went silent and turned to me after a few seconds.
“And if I can deal with that? You work. If I promise to be a patient husband, you’ll say yes?”
I frowned at him.
“You’re proposing without a ring?”
He suddenly stood straight, his eyes wide as he stared at me.
“You mean… you’d really say yes if I had a ring?”
I smiled and shrugged. Since he didn’t have a ring, I didn’t feel pressured.
“Well, maybe yes?”
After I said that, he quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. No box—just a diamond ring!
I gaped at him, speechless. What was a ring doing in his pocket?
“You already said yes, Xena. There’s no turning back.” He smirked at my shocked expression.
“Why do you have a ring there?”
He laughed softly as he took my hand. My eyes widened even more.
“I always have this ring in my pocket since the first day we got here,” he explained while slowly sliding the ring onto my finger.
The diamond ring sparkled and blended with the crystals around us. I couldn’t react. I was speechless and in shock. Is this real? Are we really engaged? But why?
“Isn’t this too fast?” I asked, unable to process everything.
“You’re already twenty-two years old, and I’m also not getting any younger. So… will you marry me?” he asked nervously. I laughed.
“Are you serious? I’m already wearing the ring!” I tried to laugh, but tears started to brim at the corners of my eyes.
He hadn’t even said he loved me yet, but he was already asking me to marry him? At this time, was that important? He was asking for my hand in marriage!
“Yeah. But I still want to hear your answer—”
“Yes! Of course! How could I say no if I love you?” I shouted, smiling and crying at the same time.
He smiled, looking at my face. He pulled me close and was about to kiss me.
“Hey! Enough of that! Hurry up!”
I pushed him away from me. I looked toward the voice. It was Enzo, and behind him were their other friends approaching. They probably came back when they noticed we hadn’t followed them.
“Damn it. Those two…” Lennox muttered, referring to Jax and Enzo.
I just smiled. I was so happy. I didn’t know a person could feel this kind of overflowing joy, like I was too full of happiness to contain it.
We continued exploring. The stones were fascinating. There weren’t only crystals inside—the cave was filled with stalactites and stalagmites too, scattered among the glittering gems of different colors. It was like we were in a mine, hunting for precious stones.
When we exited the cave, Lennox and I looked at each other and smiled. We’d been inseparable since he proposed. Even when he was talking to his friends, his hand was wrapped around my wrist or his arm was draped around my waist.
“You’re smiling so much. Happy?” he teased.
My smile widened. “So much.”
He squinted at me before helping me back up to the yacht. The day was almost over, but I still felt so energized because of his proposal earlier.
“When do you want us to get married?” he asked. “As soon as possible is better.”
He scooped me up by the waist. My feet automatically tiptoed, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Why are you in such a hurry? I didn’t even expect your proposal today, and now you’re asking when’s the wedding? Won’t you at least let me enjoy your proposal first?”
We were in the same spot as before, only reversed. Earlier, I was leaning on the railing with him behind me, holding me close. Now, he was the one leaning while we faced each other, still in each other’s arms.
He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes too and smiled. I love his sweet side, but I also love his ruthless side. Is this what love really feels like? No matter what I see in him, my feelings never lessen. They only grow stronger every day as I discover new things about him.
“Don’t you want us to get married before your graduation?”
My eyes flew open, and I pulled back to look at him. I gasped when I saw how serious he was.
“Lennox, did you seriously think about it?”
He nodded. “Yeah, of course. That’s why I proposed.”
“Isn’t this a bit too rushed? You just proposed.”
“I don’t think so.” He carefully shook his head. “I’m so ready to marry you.”
I smiled at him and playfully pinched his nose.
“Why? Because you want to get married before your age is no longer on the calendar?” I joked. He chuckled.
He pulled me even closer and kissed the corner of my lips.
He chuckled. “Think what you want; just marry me… quickly.”
I played with the hair at the nape of his neck and shook my head. He froze and stared at me.
“I want to graduate first. After my graduation, I promise we’ll get married.”
He sighed, and for some reason, I saw fear flicker in his eyes. I frowned and kissed his eyelids.
“What’s wrong? You really want to be my husband that much?” I smirked, then slowly tilted my head to give him a feathery kiss on the lips.
He nodded. “I badly want to call you my wife.” He then kissed me back.
His hand moved to my back, caressing upward until it rested at my nape. He gently pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. We kissed in the middle of the strong wind and crashing waves. My breath hitched when I felt his tongue brush against my teeth. I almost moaned if not for the voice that spoke up.
“I should’ve just stayed in my room!”
I froze, but Lennox didn’t stop kissing me. I pushed him slightly when I remembered his friends. But instead of stopping, his lips trailed down to my neck. I tilted my head and looked toward his friends.
They were drinking while on the yacht on their way back to the hotel. Enzo kept muttering about how we were probably going to get attacked by ants soon and that we should take pity on the single guys. He wasn’t referring to Jax since there was no woman clinging to him this time. He’d sent the girl away earlier, asking someone to take her back on another yacht. He must’ve gotten bored of her.
“Next time, if you’re bringing your girlfriends, I’m not coming with you,” Enzo complained again. “If you’re not locking yourselves in your rooms, you’re kissing in public.”
Locking in rooms? Kissing in public? My face turned bright red when I realized we were exactly who Enzo was talking about.
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