Chapter 17
Caleb had just pulled up when he saw Summer hanging up her phone.
He raised an eyebrow. “Who was that?”
Summer’s voice was low. “My mom. She’s pushing me to go pick out a wedding dress.”
Without waiting for his response, she walked straight to the passenger side and got into the car.
Caleb didn’t speak again until they pulled over on the side of the road. He turned to her with a look
of serious intent.
“Summer… do you not want to marry me?”
The moment the words left his mouth, it felt like something pricked at his chest.
Everything he had done for her–none of it was to demand anything in return.
He didn’t want Summer to marry him out of obligation or gratitude to her mother.
Summer turned to him, caught off guard by the question.
Before she could respond, Caleb continued, “You don’t have to feel any pressure. I did all this for you because I wanted to–not to get anything back. I won’t force you. If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll talk to your mom myself.”
She understood exactly what he meant.
But when she didn’t respond right away, Caleb seemed to have gotten the answer already.
After a moment’s pause, he said quietly, “Then let’s do it today. I’ll go to your house this
afternoon.”
Just as he was about to turn the wheel, Summer suddenly reached into his pocket.
Caleb froze.
He went stiff the moment her fingers brushed against him.
Summer sensed it too, but she didn’t stop. She searched briefly and quickly pulled out the ring.
Without a word, she slipped it onto her own finger.
Then she turned to him with a beaming smile.
“How does it look?”
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Caleb was stunned. His lips parted, trying to speak. “Summer…?”
“Caleb, I won’t lie to you. At first, I agreed to marry you just because I wanted to get away from him.
But now, that’s not the reason anymore.”
“I won’t sacrifice my lifelong happiness again–not for a man who doesn’t deserve it. So believe me
when I say this–I want to marry you. Not because I’m being forced, not because I don’t have
another choice. I want to.”
Her sincerity was so real, it nearly burned through him.
Caleb’s emotions surged. He unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled her into a tight embrace.
The man who was always cold and quiet in front of others now looked like a boy who had just been given the sweetest candy.
Back at home, Caleb busied himself in the kitchen, cooking up a storm.
Summer sat on the couch, watching him through the glass door with a soft smile on her face.
She picked up her phone and took a picture of her hand with the ring on it.
She opened her messages, found that familiar contact, and hit send.
[I’m getting married.]
There was no reply for a long while.
An hour later, Caleb called her to wash up and eat.
Just as she stood up, her phone pinged.
[I hope you’re happy.]
Her eyes flickered. She typed something in response, but just as she heard Caleb’s footsteps, she quietly set the phone aside.
Caleb had noticed her movements, but he didn’t say anything.
He had always known–Summer wasn’t as calm as she appeared.
She smiled and pulled him to the dining table.
After lunch, they went out to pick a wedding dress.
The Stone family had already prepared several designs specifically tailored for her–she only had to try them on and choose.
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Caleb attentively took photos of her in every gown.
By the end of the day, Summer was exhausted.
Caleb volunteered to play caretaker–ran a bath, gave her a gentle massage–until she finally fell
into a deep sleep.
Later that night, Summer’s phone buzzed.
Caleb tiptoed out of the bedroom and answered his own phone on the balcony.
“Mr. Stone, Wilder Hunt’s in trouble. He’s overwhelmed but keeps trying to find Mrs. Reeves. I heard he left the hospital before his injury healed.”
Chapter 17
