“Of course. They’re very good, but it’s just a hobby,” Richard said.
“Actually, it’s not. When I touched her photos, I saw her future. She’s going to become a very well-known photographer. Her photographs are going to be displayed in many art galleries, and she’s going to work for a prestigious fashion magazine taking photos. She just needs the support from you two and a little push in the right direction. I can push her in that direction, but only if she has your support.”
“And you saw all that?” Richard asked.
“I did. But things could change if she doesn’t have your support. You will lose her.”
43
One Year Later
Asher
I was frantic as I searched the entire penthouse. My heart was racing, and I began to profusely sweat. Where the hell was it? I searched everywhere and I couldn’t find it. Panic engulfed me and I felt like I was losing my mind. I heard the elevator ding which meant Everly was home. Shit. She wasn’t supposed to be home for another hour. I quickly went into my office and pretended like I had been working.
“Hey, handsome.” She grinned as she walked in, sat on my lap and gave me a kiss.
“Hello, gorgeous. Why are you home so early?”
She looked at me as her eye steadily narrowed.
“What have you been doing?”
“Working. Why?”
“Uh-huh. You’re sweating.”
“It’s really hot in here. Is the air working?”
“It’s actually quite cool in here, Asher.”
She got off my lap and looked around my office, then she hit a one of the keys on my keyboard, so my computer turned on.
“Oh my God, Everly. What do you think I was doing?”
“I don’t know, but your father said to look in the corner of the floor in your closet. What is he talking about?”
“He said that. Just this second?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks a hell of a lot, Dad!” I shouted.
I walked out of the office and headed up the stairs. Everly started following me, so I stopped and turned to her with a pointed finger.
“You stay down here!”
She frowned at me as she turned around. Opening my closet door, I walked inside, and sure as shit, there was the box lying in the corner on the floor. How the hell did it even get there? Now my plan was ruined because I knew Everly was suspicious. I shoved the box in my pocket, went downstairs, grabbed Everly’s hand and took her into the living room.
“What is going on, Asher?” She demanded an answer.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and took in a deep breath.
“I love you, Everly King, and you have made me the happiest man alive. This past year with you has been incredible, and you’ve given me something I thought I would never have or experience. I want many, and I mean many more years like this. You are my soulmate and the air I breathe. I can’t imagine living life without you.” I pulled the ring box from my pocket, got down on one knee and took hold of her hand. “Will you marry me, Everly? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife for the rest our lives?”
She gasped as she brought her hand up to her lips. Tears filled her beautiful eyes and for once in her life, she was speechless.
“Oh, Asher. Oh my God. Oh my God! Yes! Yes, I will marry you!”
A wide grin crossed my face as I slipped the custom-made diamond ring on her finger, stood up and hugged her tight.
“I’m so happy you said yes. I love you so much.” I broke our embrace and kissed her lips.
“I love you so much.” Tears fell down her cheeks. “You lost the ring, didn’t you?”
“Yep. I had been searching for it for two hours before you got home. This wasn’t how I planned to propose. I wanted to do it differently, but since my father told you to tell me where to look for it, I figured you became suspicious.”
“This was perfect, Asher. Absolutely perfect.” Our lips met for another kiss.
Six Months Later
Everly
Asher and I were married six months later in a beautiful church with an elegant reception that included four hundred people in the ballroom at The Remington. The day after our wedding, we boarded a private jet and spent two weeks in the Maldives, where we had our own private residence that sat over the ocean water with a private pool. The first week we were there, we didn’t leave our bungalow once. Every meal brought to us, was enough to feed a family of six. We mostly stayed in bed. But when we did venture out of bed, we swam in the pool and the ocean, and we did some scuba diving. The second week we spent shopping and sightseeing.
After Diana had their son, Harry, she swore she was never having children again due to the difficult birth. But when we were on our honeymoon, her and Daniel Facetimed us to tell us she was once again expecting. The relationship between Richard, Christina, and my sisters grew stronger every day. We did things together as a family. Emily was well on her way to becoming a professional photographer. She already had a few photographs in some art galleries across New York and Vogue hired her as a freelancer to do a small fashion shoot which would lead to her working for them full-time.
As for Curtis, he was still around. Not as much, but every now and again he’d pop in to make his presence known. I did warn him that he was to stay away from us on our honeymoon. He agreed and said he’d see us when we got back.
It was two months after we got back from our honeymoon as I stood in the bathroom and stared at the word “Pregnant” that displayed in the window of the white stick.
“Oh boy,” I said out loud.
I couldn’t comprehend how this had happened since I was on the pill. Then I remembered screwing up
