Page 114 of Twisted Control

There’s a pause. Then a low, familiar voice answers.

“I’m here for Grace.”

The entire world tilts. For a second I can’t breathe. My knees actually go weak. Because I just whispered a ridiculous prayer for him and now he’s here.

I walk toward the door on shaky legs. Mom steps forward like she wants to block my path, her face tight with worry.

“Grace, wait —”

She stops mid-sentence. Whatever she sees in my expression must be enough, because her shoulders drop in defeat. She looks torn—part protective mother, part woman who knows she can’t stop this.

After a long beat, she sighs softly.

“I’ll be in my room if you need me,” she says quietly, then turns and walks down the hallway without another word.

I take one more shaky breath and open the door.

Drew stands there in his navy suit. It looks like it hasn’t seen a dry cleaner in days. He looks exhausted but the second he sees me, something in his face softens.

For a long moment, we just stare at each other.

“You’re okay,” he says, like it’s the only thing that matters.

And I don’t know what to say. Where to even start. But before I can find the words, he drops to one knee right there on the porch and pulls a small velvet blue box from his pocket. He opens it, and my breath catches.

It’s my ring.

The one I’ve had on my vision board for years. The ultimate status symbol. And now it’s here, sparkling up at me like fate.

Warmth spreads through my chest so fast it makes my eyes sting.

“Grace,” Drew says, his voice rough with emotion. “I lied to you about what I really did for a living. I was terrified you couldn’t love me if you knew the truth. But I’m done with that life. All of it. Because I love you. Every single part of you—the good, the bad, the crazy. All of it.”

He looks up at me, eyes steady and vulnerable in a way I’ve never seen before.

“Let me spend the rest of my life proving how much I love you. Grace Whitmore…will you marry me?”

To be honest, his words kind of wash over me. I really can’t take my eyes off the ring. It’s mesmerising.

“If you insist,” I say, my voice shaky but smiling. “I guess so.”

Drew grins that devastating, cocky, heart-stopping grin I thought I’d never see again.

“You guess so?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “I’ll take it.”

He slides the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly, and I can’t stop staring at it—sparkling, ridiculous, and somehow mine.

“How on earth did you afford this?” I ask, still mesmerized.

Drew stands up, brushing dirt off his knees. “Since I’m never lying to you again…Finn.”

“What?” I blink.

“He’s our biggest supporter, apparently.”

I don’t know why Finn would do this. Or rather, I do. Nothing would make him happier than my complete and utter disgrace. But right now, I don’t care. Because I’m happy with Drew. He might be a little rough around the edges, but I like that about him.

“Any other secrets I should know about?” I ask.