Page 134 of A King’s Obsession

My phone vibrated before he could respond. Ashlynn had sent a message letting me know they were five minutes away and Jru didn’t suspect a thing.

I slipped the phone into my pocket and took one last look around the park. Everything was ready.

Now all I needed was my wife.

The carriage appeared just as the sun disappeared behind the trees. I watched it travel slowly along the lantern-lit path, the horses carrying Jru toward the bridge while Ashlynn sat beside her, probably talking her damn ear off.

When the carriage stopped, Ashlynn climbed down first and helped Jru step onto the walkway. My breath caught the moment I saw her.

She wore a long champagne-colored dress that hugged her pregnant belly, her hair falling beautifully around her shoulders. One hand rested against her stomach as she looked around at the lights and flowers, completely unaware of what was waiting for her.

Then she spotted me.

“Ezra?” Her eyebrows pulled together as she glanced from me to Ashlynn. “What are you doing here?”

I smiled and held out my hand. “Come here, beautiful.”

She approached slowly, taking my hand while her eyes wandered toward the lake. I could see her trying to piece everything together, especially when she noticed there wasn’t another person in sight besides the people she’d arrived with.

“Baby, what is all this?” she asked, her voice softening as she looked toward the bridge. “This is beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I guided her a little farther along the walkway, watching her expression change when she finally noticed the floral arch.

Jru stopped so suddenly that I almost kept walking without her. Her eyes widened as she read the illuminated words, and when she turned toward me, tears were already gathering along her lashes.

“Ezra King,” she whispered, pressing a hand against her chest. “What are you doing?”

I chuckled and brushed my thumb across her knuckles. “Something I should’ve done a long time ago.”

Behind us, Ashlynn made a strangled noise that sounded suspiciously like the beginning of a sob. Malachi immediately told her to let me finish before she started all that crying, which made Jru laugh through her own tears.

I took both of her hands and waited until her attention returned to me.

“Baby, I know I went about this marriage shit all wrong.” I paused when she raised an eyebrow, a small smile appearing on her face. “Aight, I went about it completely fucked up. You ain’t gotta look at me like that.”

She laughed, shaking her head as another tear slipped down her cheek.

“But I want you to know something.” I stepped closer, keeping her hands in mine. “Before you came into my life, I was used to getting whatever the fuck I wanted. Didn’t matter what it was or what I had to do to get it. Then you came along and showed me that loving somebody ain’t about controlling them or making decisions for them.”

Her expression softened, and I reached up to wipe the tears from her cheek.

“I had to learn that shit the hard way. And knowing your stubborn ass, I’m probably gonna be learning something new every damn day for the rest of my life.”

“Ezra,” she whispered, laughing as she shook her head.

“Don’t interrupt my speech, woman. I practiced this shit.”

She covered her mouth, laughing harder, and I couldn’t help smiling with her. Once she settled, I took a breath and continued.

“You gave me something I didn’t even know I was missing. A real family. A home I actually look forward to coming back to. And now we’re about to bring our baby into this world.” My gaze dropped briefly to her stomach before returning to her face. “I love you, Jru. More than I ever thought I could love another person.”

By then, tears were streaming down her cheeks, but she hadn’t stopped smiling.

“I know we’re already married,” I continued, reaching into my jacket. “But the first time, I took that choice away from you. And I promised myself I’d never do that shit again.”

I lowered myself onto one knee, ignoring the way my heart started pounding when I opened the velvet box.

Jru gasped, both hands flying to her mouth as she stared at the diamond.