Love, Simply - Chapter 25：Marry me, will you?

“In Vain, I have struggled. It will not do. [I] will not repress my feelings. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you,” Jane Austen, pride, and prejudice.

~~~

“You are my brother Lynn, but what you did was wrong. It’s one thing teasing your little sister, but paying someone to end her life is another.”

“But—”

“No buts. You’re lucky, Diane is okay. Don’t you know Dhan and Ben care the most about her? She’s the youngest. And her niece and nephews. You might get another beating. Lyms doesn’t even know about it yet.”

“He doesn’t—” Lynn secretly smiled. ‘Things will be interesting.’

“If he did, would you still be here talking?” Cecilia rolled her eyes.

“I won’t apologize. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Lynn declared. “Isn’t that enough? I got shot. That should be enough for an apology.”

“You!” Cecilia pulled his ear, “She spent two months in the hospital and had to have surgery for her face, and you won’t apologize! Attempted murder is 10 to 15 years. And, if she died, Louise alone would make sure that you get a life sentence. And you still won’t apologize?”

“It’s funny how you’re saying that,” Lynn whispered.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing! I won’t apologize.”

Why was she wasting her time talking to that fool?

Louise didn’t report him because of her. And that she also considered him family despite his actions, but he wasn’t even remorseful.

“Have a good life without money. Dad took everything back. Your car, your penthouse. You know, twenty-five percent of dad’s shares were yours.”

25 percent? Considering the value of their business, that was a lot of money. He could have started his own business if he wanted, or sold the share to Dianne at a higher price. He could have become an investor.

“I am still not going to apologize,” Lynn said. “You can have it.”

“He gave it to Diane,” Cecilia said bizarrely.

“That’s my apology.”

“Twenty-five percent is a lot, Lynn. You can sell it—”

“I don’t want it,” he yelled. “You want it, don’t you? You can have it. Our little sister’s an angel; if you ask her, she’ll give it to you.”

“I am going to visit Diane. Won’t you accompany me to apologize?”

“Oh, you guys became close?” Lynn smirked. “Keeping your enemies close, I see.”

“What?”

“Nothing, tell her she looks great,” he smiled.

~~~

“If you’re going to apologize, you can leave. You’re making me uncomfortable,” Dianne said.

“Mmm! How’s Louise?” Asked Cecilia.

“Fighting with Cyrus and Kate.”

Cecilia laughed, “I can imagine…you still wear the necklace I gave you.”

“Ah, yeah. You must’ve spent a lot to buy it,” Diane innocently smiled at her sister. “And I like it.”

“I am glad. I hear you’re moving to Milan.”

“I am moving to Milan?” Diane turned her head in Cecilia’s direction. “Says who? When? Why?”

“Our father and Cahir—”

“I am not going…I can’t speak Italian. I am not going back,” Diane cried.

“It’s okay. I’ll talk to Cahir and dad for you, okay?” Cecilia offered.

“Will you?”

“Mmh!”

~~~

“Be careful!” Kate said, rushing to help Louise down the stairs. “Slowly!”

“I know you guys aren’t worrying about me. You only care about the babies. Darling! Me or the babies?”

“You four,” Cyrus said vaguely, his eyes fixed on his phone’s screen.

“What are you doing lately? You’re using your phone so often,” Louise asked.

“It’s nothing. Lyms was checking on you.”

“Mmm!” She was skeptical. Her brother could have called her himself. Why did he need to ask Cyrus? Since when did they get along so well? But she didn’t pry him any further and let the matter go.

Louise and Cyrus never discussed marriage. It was one of the few things they never addressed. Why? Things were just so perfect. Cyrus wanted to propose. But he was afraid that Louise would reject him.

Cyrus didn’t want to propose to Louise—Not like that. He didn’t want her to believe that he only wanted to marry her because of the boys. He wanted Louise as his wife to create one family with their kids. But when was the right timing? He wasn’t a romantic guy. Cyrus wasn’t even good with words.

How was he even going to convince Louise?

~~~

“I got them,” Greg said. “I’ll bring them to you later.”

“What about Lyms?” Cyrus asked.

“He’s visiting Lynn.”

“Did you see your uncle, how is he?”

“He won’t eat— he doesn’t want to do anything. Bro, don’t let Louise know I am back.”

“How are you going to give me ‘the’ ring without her seeing you?”

“Uh! Lyms will give it to you.”

“Thanks, man,” said Cyrus.

“Good luck!”

~~~

As for Louise, she was a risk-taker, daring, and bold. She wasn’t afraid of rejection. Marriage with Cyrus? It wasn’t something that she needed to ponder on as she already knew what her answer was. If people were to ask Louise ‘would you marry Cyrus?’ a hundred times, her answer would always be ‘yes’ decisively.

Louise held Cyrus’s face suddenly and kissed him.

“What was that for?” He asked.

“I don’t know,” she pursed her lips. “They looked so good.”

Cyrus smiled and purposely bit his bottom lip.

“Don’t do that!”

“I didn’t do anything.”

Her eyes flashed down to his face and narrowed in love and passion. “I love you so much.”

“I know. And I love you.”

Louise smiled.

She didn’t think that they had to date for two to five years before getting married. It all depended on the partners’ attitude and commitment.

She was looking forward to having him waking next to her every morning. Kissing him goodnight as they go to bed. Telling people, “This is my husband!”

Louise had been thinking about asking Cyrus to marry her for a while. But she didn’t know how to go about it. She wasn’t scared of rejection. Louise wanted to marry him. Wasn’t it natural for her to ask him?

Did she have to wait for him to ask her? What if he never asked her? She could ask, couldn’t she? It was the 21st century. Louise could ask a guy to marry her without feeling ashamed.

We haven’t been dating for a long time, but I can’t imagine a future without you,” she started. “You’re in my life. But—”

But what?”

“I am going to say something. I don’t know—Mmh—it might be uncomfortable, anyway, I am going to ask,” Louise said.

“Go on.”

“I don’t want to sleep alone. I want your face to be the first thing I see when I wake up, the last person I see when I go to bed. You know I am not very good with words, so I am just going to say it.”

“I know marriage is a challenge, but we can do it. I believe in us. So, do you want to marry me?”

Marry? Marriage?

“Huh,” Cyrus blinked. Louise asked him to marry her. “Wait. Come again?”

“Marry me?” Louise said, revealing the rings.

Cyrus spent three months preparing for his proposal. He couldn’t even ask Louise because he didn’t know the right things to say, but her—

Louise could ask such a question quite easily. Since they started dating, she always—Why did he like to overthink and complicate things?

Cyrus covered his eyes and laughed. Why did he like to overthink and complicate things? He was too considerate. And Cyrus missed his chance to propose.

He wanted to do that for her. It was the only thing he could do.

Yet—he envied her. Louise could speak out things on her mind calmly and confidently. But he loved that about her.

Was he shocked? Yes. Unexpected?

Louise was an unusual woman, to begin with, you never could figure out what was on her mind or what she’d do next.

She made it simple and honest.

His pride wasn’t hurt or anything. Cyrus wanted to do that one thing for her.

“Marry me?” Louise asked once more, as she waited for his answer.

“Yes, I’d love to,” he said, stretching out his hand. Louise slowly and carefully put the ring for him.

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Baby, why are you crying?” He asked, using his thumb to wipe it away.

“I am so fucking happy. Why am I even crying?”

‘My only darling’ was encrypted in small letters on his ring. Inside read, ‘Love, Cahir.’

“Thank you,” she said, as Cyrus put the ring on her finger.

He didn’t get to propose, but he made her happy, that alone was enough.

“No,” Cyrus shook his head and pulled Louise into a hug, “Thank you. I appreciate your efforts and love your courage.”

“Hoho! Why are you guys so mushy?” Kate asked, leaning on the sofa, “You didn’t even notice me,” her eyes moved to Louise’s finger and saw the ring, “He said yes!”

“Hum,” Louise grinned.

“Wow! Congratulations, Cyr.”

“Thanks, Katie,” he smiled.

“How much is that?” Kate caught Cyrus’s hand to appreciate the ring. “Fancy!”

“Can I not tell the price?”

“You guys, I want to get married again. What’s wrong with you? How much was your ring, baby?”

“I don’t know, Cyr bought it.”

“Is that the one I gave you? I don’t remember how much it was. It wasn’t that expensive since it was only a promise ring,” said Cyrus.

“Hoho, Hoho, can you guys not do this? My husband’s not here. Bitter,” Kate whined. “I am happy for you, guys. But, I brought you food, come eat.”

“What did you bring?”

“Fish and—”

“What is that?” Cyrus asked, covering his mouth as he ran to the bathroom.

“Darling,” Louise knocked on the door, “Are you okay?”

“It smells awful—”

“What’s wrong with him?” Kate asked.

Louise shrugged, “He has been like that for a while. He can barely eat anything.”

“Take him to the hospital!”

~~~

“How are you feeling?” Charles asked Cyrus. “The uranalysis’s normal. So is his blood test.”

“But, he’s vomiting every morning and can barely stand the smell of food.”

“You have morning sickness?”

“Yes, but he seems worse than me.”

“How long has he been like this?” Doctor Charles asked, pressing on Cyrus’s stomach. “Does it hurt when I press?”

“No.”

“Since I told him I was pregnant—”

“Couvade Syndrome. He’s fine. He’s like sharing symptoms with you. But, please, keep the sweets down. It’s not good for both of you. Dad, try to eat healthier even when you can’t stand the smell. Don’t let her eat too much cake.”

“Thank you,” Louise smiled.

“When did you get married?” Charles asked.

“Not yet. I will send you an invitation.”

~~~

“How did it go?” Lyms asked Cyrus.

“He got proposed to,” Peter smiled.

Cyrus lifted his hand, showing them the ring.

“Well prepared. My sister even gave you a ring,” Greg said, peeking at Peter, who was laughing on the side.

“Eh, what are you going to do with the ring you ordered for her. You spent so much on it. Quit playing guys,” Lyms said.

“She only did that—maybe she thought you were still insecure. No matter how wealthy the guy is, she isn’t going to leave you for another. Are you okay?”

“Am I okay? I am happy,” Cyrus smiled. I am fine. It’s a shame that I didn’t get to say anything to her. I don’t know. Dating your sister is like being on a roller coaster.”

“The first time I was going to propose. I got dumped. But the second time, my woman proposed to me,” he laughed. “You won’t know the feeling. Not when your ring says things like this,” he said, showing Lyms the written words.

“Ah, my sister can be that romantic?”

“Most guys would feel like she insulted their pride or something. Don’t you feel—”

“What pride? It’s just a stereotype that we have. Men must be the one to ask for marriage. I am a simple guy, as long as she is happy, I don’t care about anything. I want us to be happy and for our relationship to be healthy. That’s all I want. I don’t care about things like that. Besides, she asked me privately, knowing that I could be uncomfortable—”

“You don’t think she did that because she didn’t want to be embarrassed if you had rejected her?” Lyms asked.

“You don’t know your sister, then. Cahir isn’t scared of rejection. If she did, she wouldn’t have pursued me so openly. And we wouldn’t be together today.”

“I am not a fan of it, but if my woman asks me privately, I won’t mind it,” Peter said.

“I still wouldn’t mind it even if she asked in public.”

“That’s you,” answered Gregg.

I don’t mind it either,” Lyms said. “I’d rather be the romantic one, getting down on one knee, popping the question, but if it gets to that. I am all for it.”

“Not me,” Greg said.

“I think it’s understandable for a man not to like it. Because that’s what everyone is expecting of us.”

“Should I say you’re lucky to have my sister, or Louise is lucky to have you?”

“We’re lucky to have each other,” Cyrus replied.