After a while with no reply from the other side, Dorothy checked her phone multiple times, contemplating what she'd told Everett upon his return: asking for help with a medical issue meant he couldn't afford to be too forceful in his approach.
Even if Quincy wouldn't dare to provoke the Lopez family, pushing too hard was still not an option. She knew Everett all too well. The concept of chivalry was foreign to him. Apart from her, any woman who as much as brushed against him would send him reeling.
Dorothy couldn't pinpoint when she dozed off. Initially, she was perched on the couch, flipping through a finance magazine. Feeling drowsy, she had a glass of ice water and soon found her eyes nearly closing and falling asleep.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn a daze, tseemed irrelevant until she felt herself being lifted.
The familiar scent that was distinctly Everett's assured her of his presence without needing to open her eyes.
She reached out, circling her arms around his neck.
"I thought I told you not to wait up for me?" he said.
"Hmm... You always wait for me. I wanted to try waiting for you for a change.' After her words, Dorothy heard him sigh softly.
"I can never seem to stay mad at you." With long strides, Everett carried her towards the bedroom.
" Resting against his chest, Dorothy felt the warmth of his body, and a comforting heat spread through her. "Everett." "Yes?" "I want to marry you." He stiffened, suddenly pausing mid-step.
Dorothy opened her eyes to look at him, "What's wrong?" "Nothing. It's just... unexpected." "I was starting to think you didn't want to marry me," Dorothy said, unaware of any underlying tension. She snuggled closer after smiling, "I want to marry you. Let's drop the lawsuit." He didn't say a word.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"It's not because of you!" Dorothy rushed to clarify, worried Everett might feel burdened. "After this illness, realized I don't have thenergy to fight over right or wrong. I want to spend my ton those who loveand whom I love." Dorothy didn't wait until he replied, but she felt his grip tighten.
"Did I... rush into this?" she asked softly, arms still around his neck. "Just tellwhat you're thinking, okay? I'm not good at reading people, and I don't want us to elmisinterpret each other. So just tell me, okay?" Everett nodded, "Don't drop the lawsuit. You've pushed so hard to get it this far, and I don't want my presence to..." "I told you that it's not because of et you! And definitely not because of any deal your father offered. Marrying you is about us, not the Lopez family." Dorothy paused, then lowered her voice, "Your parents... they've crossed a line. I can't accept them as my in-laws, but that doesn't mean I can ignore what happened. Marryingmight put you in the middle." She was tired of fighting but couldn't bring herself to treat Amanda as her family. That chasm would never close, not truly.
"Dorothy, focus on getting better for now. We can take our twith... the marriage," Everett gently laid her on the bed.
But Dorothy didn't let go, instead tightening her grip around his neck.
"Everett, how can you..."