Page 46 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
Melanie turned back to me to find me on one knee. I must admit my heart hadn’t been racing like this in a very long time now. I held out the velvet box, Hope bouncing beside me in excitement.
“Shane, wh—” Melanie giggled. She was clearly touched.
“Melanie, I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life than I am certain about my love for you. I want nothing more than to build a future together, to create a family with you and our daughter.”
I opened the velvet box, and she gasped, her eyes glimmered. This time, I’d chosen a black diamond ring with a glimmering diamond tiara. Black diamonds symbolize resilience, just like our love would last forever. Transformation as our lust transformed into the purest of loves. Lastly, they’re believed to bring protection and healing, and I swore to protect Melanie, our daughter, and our family with my life. Melanie was the only woman who could heal my dark soul. She was a cure for my tainted heart. She was the beauty shining bright in the darkness, lighting up the path that led me to her. Always, her. I was certain that even if things would get rough, she would always be my light guiding my way back home to her, and our daughter, our family. The tiara was to remind her she was the Queen of my Heart.
“Melanie Rose Atwood, will you marry me?” I asked. Life had given us a second chance, and I was determined to seize it. To make things right this time. “This time for real?” I chuckled and so did she.
“Yes.” She giggled through the watery eyes. “I want to marry you, Shane Vergoossen.”
I couldn’t stop grinning. I hopped towards her, and she wrapped her hands around my neck. I caressed her cheek, looking deeply into her shimmering eyes before stealing a soft kiss from her curved lips that curved in a smile against mine.
“I love you, Melanie,” I whispered, sliding the ring on her slim, long finger before I kissed her hand gently. “You give my life meaning. You and our daughter.”
Melanie took a breath, a tear escaping her eye that I tenderly wiped away. “I love you, Shane. More than anything.”
“Family hug!” Hope exclaimed and we both chuckled, resting our foreheads against each other before we turned to our most precious princess. I lifted her and held in my arms as we hugged. All three of us.
Sometimes we needed to lose something to see how much it meant to us. Perhaps, we had to lose each other to realize how much we loved one another. To see that our lives were black and blue without the other. Meaningless, colorless. People were like puzzles. They needed to learn a certain lesson to open their eyes to the things that they hadn’t seen before. With each lesson, they pick up the missing pieces and at the end of the journey, they were finally complete. Having Melanie and Hope by my side, I felt complete. I picked up the missing puzzle pieces in my life. Them. These two fragile women meant everything to me. These two women for whom I’d burn that vicious world to the ashes and build it all over again so that it would become their fairy tale kingdom. Melanie was my Queen, Hope was my Princess, and together we shall rule our empire called life.
Later that night, we came back to the hotel room, tucking Hope who fell asleep in my arms to bed. The evening was full of emotions, but she drifted to sleep with a smile on her face. I planted a tender kiss on her forehead, caressing her soft, deep brown hair. The sight of her sleeping so peacefully would never stop being one of my favorite things.
“Shane?” Melanie’s soft voice jolted me out of my reverie.
“Hm?” I turned to face her.
She pointed her head toward the living room area in our suite, and I followed. I looked at her, from head to toe, savoring another one of my favorite sights.
“Here.” She extended her fist toward me, handing me something. “It’s yours.”
I looked at the engagement ring I gave her the first time three years ago that she left in my hand, and then back at her.
“You kept it?”
“I did,” she whispered. “I wanted to throw it away so many times, but I couldn’t.” Her eyes darted between mine. “I knew that ring belonged to your mother. That it was one of the very few things you have left after her. I wanted you to have it back.”
I took a few steps closer to her, putting my hand on her cheek. She sank into my touch, her eyes shutting close briefly. “Melanie…” I whispered, at a loss of words. I thought she had thrown it away a long time ago.
“It was also reminding me of you,” she spoke tenderly, and her gaze met mine.
“Like my shirt; you wore it the other day at the hospital?” I couldn’t help but tease.
Melanie’s eyes widened and she chuckled. “You noticed?”
“I did.” I nodded, my thumb caressing her cheek.
“I could’ve figured it out. You’ve always been so observant.” Her brows furrowed as if in embarrassment. She overlapped my hand with hers, murmuring sultrily, “I guess I have never stopped loving you either. I tried to hate you. God knows I did. I failed.”
My teeth sank into my lip as it curved in a grin. “Our love never died. It only slumbered.” I took Melanie’s right hand in mine and slid the ring she gave me back on her finger. “You said it’s mine, but it belongs to you, Melanie. I told you my mother told me to give it to a woman who makes my heart bloom, petal by petal. It’s you. It’s always been you. Always will be.” I planted a kiss on her hand and her eyes welled up with tears once again.
“Shane,” she breathed.
“Hey, don’t cry.” I wiped the tear from under her eye, pulling her closer to me.
Her face was buried in my neck, inhaling deeply. “It’s always been you for me too.”
The knock at the door broke on our moment. I gently pulled away, touching Melanie’s hair away from her face. “It must be the room service. I’ve ordered champagne for us.” I smiled, heading toward to open the door.
