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I stare at her. “Do you love me?”
Her voice falters. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. Ivy, do you love me?” I ask again, cupping her chin and tilting her face up so she can’t hide.
Our eyes lock.
“Yes.” She breathes the word like it hurts to say.
“Then let me show you how much I love you.”
“Carter, you’re chasing a fantasy. I’m not the woman from the island. I’m not some dream version of Ivy Monroe. This—” she gestures to her belly “—this is who I am. Pregnant. Tired. Messy. I know how life works. Girls like me don’t end up with men like you. My fairytale doesn’t start here.”
I shake my head. “Ivy, my heart is already on the line. It belongs to you. You are the woman for me. When I met you, everything changed. I’ve never loved another woman the way I love you. I’ll do anything—anything—you ask. I know our fallout started over my company, but I can live without Volcor Holdings. What I can’t live without… is you.”
Tears spill from her eyes, and I can see it—she wants to believe me. But she’s scared.
“This is someone’s wedding, Carter,” she whispers. “Let’s talk later. I don’t want to cause a scene.”
That’s when we both realize…
The music has stopped. We’re the only ones left on the dance floor.
A beat later, Sterling yells from across the room, “Too late for that, you two!”
Laughter erupts around us. I take a breath and turn to Sterling.
“Hey, did you still want those properties in Edenton?”
“Fuck yeah, you know I want ’em,” he says.
“You can have them. We’ll talk Monday.” Then I look over at Nathan. “How do you feel about an acquisition?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Depends.”
“You keep my people employed, and we can talk.”
Ivy’s staring at me, stunned. “Carter… what are you doing?”
I turn to her, voice steady. “What I should’ve done from the beginning. I’m choosing you.”
The room is silent for a second—and then a collective “awww” rolls through the crowd.
Anika walks over, bouquet in hand. She rests it on Ivy’s shoulder.
“Maybe I’ll just hand this to you,” she says, smiling warmly.
“Thanks,” Ivy replies, blinking fast. “But I won’t be needing it.”
She tries to hand it back, but when she turns around, I’m already on one knee.
Holding up a ring.
“Ivy Monroe,” I begin, voice thick with emotion, “I’m sorry I ever gave you a reason to doubt my love. But I love you. And I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Vanessa runs to Ivy’s side, gripping her arm. Everyone in the room is frozen, waiting.
Anika and Nathan are still holding hands, smiling.