Page 107 of Auctioned to My Bratva Boss

"It's beautiful..." I whispered.

Before I could recover from the shock of this floral paradise, the man beside me released my hand. Then, under that bright moonlight, he dropped to one knee.

I held my breath.

This man who'd spent his whole life standing on top of the world, looking down on everyone, was kneeling now—kneeling in moonlight and flowers, kneeling before me.

He pulled a small velvet box from inside his suit jacket. He opened it slowly. A ruby ring lay inside.

The red was deep and intense, like trapped fire, casting a mesmerizing glow in the moonlight. Clearly no ordinary piece.

"This was my mother's." Matvey looked up at me, his voice solemn. "It's the Bykov family heirloom. I've carried it with me all these years."

"Riley Quinn." He held the ring, his voice clear and steady. "Will you marry me?"

He was proposing! Matvey Bykov was proposing to me! The scene I'd never dared even dream about was happening right in front of me.

I covered my mouth, but tears spilled out anyway.

I wanted to say yes, wanted to reach out immediately. But somehow, beneath that tidal wave of happiness, a voice from my deepest insecurity broke through first.

"Veronica..." My voice broke. "Did she... did she ever wear this ring?"

She'd been his legitimate wife, after all. Even if he said yes, I'd have to accept it.

But I was terrified. Terrified he'd nod and say this ring holding all his devotion had once sparkled on another woman's finger.

"No." He shook his head, his gaze honest and deep. "Veronica never had the right to touch it."

"The last person to wear this ring," he paused, "was my mother."

I froze.

I knew his mother had died when he was young. I vaguely knew it was the deepest wound in his heart. That day on thebench, when he'd mentioned his mother, the sadness on his face couldn't be hidden.

He'd placed the most precious, most painful thing in his world right in front of me.

"Why... me?"

"Because this ring will only go on the woman I truly love." He said, "And that's you. Only you."

I couldn't form a complete sentence, could only nod frantically.

"I will... I'll marry you."

He took my hand and solemnly slipped the cool ruby onto my ring finger.

"Thank you, Riley." He stood and pulled me tight into his arms, gently wiping away my tears.

But the gentler he was, the harder I cried.

Only this time, I cried from happiness so full it was overflowing.

I don't remember how we got to that bedroom with the big bed.

I only remember his kisses never stopped.

From the garden to the corridor, from the stairs to the bedroom door, he kissed me like he needed to pour out all those days of restraint and patience in one night.