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“I’m sorry,” he says, pressing the side of his face into mine.

“I fucked up when I put you on that plane and let you walk out of my life. I love you. I don’t want to live a day without you.

I knew the moment I read your profile that I was going to spend my life with you.

Marry me, Arush Bakshi. I ordered a husband online and by God, I’m going to make you my husband. ”

Tears blur my vision and make my laughter watery. I nod, gripping him as tightly as I can. “Yes. I want that too. More than anything.”

“Is this what you want? Do you want to?—”

“Yes,” I interrupt. “It’s all I want. I’ve wanted it the moment our eyes met.”

“I should have done better by you.”

“You have our entire lives to—” My words cut off because I remember the situation I’m in. I let my legs fall and drop from his hold to pull back and meet his eyes. I’m derailed from my thoughts when he slips a ring on my finger. My eyes are too filled with moisture to see it properly.

I manage a smile, but then close my eyes. “I want to marry you. I love you so damn much, Julian. But… my father… I made this deal and… the guy is going to be here…”

He’s not understanding my situation at all. He gives me an amused smile and links our hands together, bringing them up so the back of my hand is close to my face. With his other hand, he gently wipes the tears from my cheeks.

“Look, Arush.”

I don’t want to look. I don’t want to see the ring I’m going to have to give back. That’s a cruel kind of punishment. Julian insists, and my eyes turn to try to focus on it. At first, it’s just a gold band. But as my eyes adjust, I see little details.

My eyes narrow. It looks suspiciously like… “Where did you get this?”

“It’s not the ring I brought with me,” Julian says, and another ring appears in the hand not holding mine.

This one is definitely a different style, and I can feel Julian in it.

I can feel the combination of our cultures in a clean silver band inlaid with teal and red.

“Your father insisted I give you this one, though. Family heirloom, I think he said?”

His words don’t register at first, but when they do, my eyes snap up to his. “Wait. You’ve met my father?”

Julian nods. “I called him because I knew I fucked up and I wanted his permission to apologize to you in person. He told me I was allowed to come to your house and speak to him in person, which is fortunate for me since I was already in the Boston airport on a delay en route to India. He heard me out and agreed that if you still wanted me, he’d give our relationship his blessing as long as I presented you with this ring as a token of my sincerity.

It’s been a really long, unnerving night as I waited for this moment. ”

My father didn’t really give it to Julian as a token of Julian’s sincerity. It’s a show of my father’s blessing. His approval. I’m about to point this out when something else he said makes me lose my focus. “Hold on. You’ve been here all night?”

“I have. Your house is a damn maze. I couldn’t have snuck out to find you even if I tried. I’d probably be lost in the dungeon right now.”

He’s teasing. I’m about to point out that we don’t have a dungeon, but… My father has some explaining to do. He let me believe he was picking some random guy when fucking Julian White was already in the damn house!

I grip Julian’s hand and pull him along. It’s clear that my father is expecting me. His office door is open, and he’s leaning back in his chair with a smile.

“That was mean,” I tell him.

His smile climbs. “I’m sorry to have misled you.

I should have spoken to you this morning and shared this secret.

” He gets to his feet and grips my shoulder.

“You understand that my primary concern when choosing one of my children’s partners isn’t economics and class, right?

I want your happiness. I want you to love the person you’re to spend your life with.

It was clear from the moment Julian came up in conversation the day you arrived that your heart belonged to him.

Obviously, we’ve been a little preoccupied with your sister, so I hadn’t had a moment to determine what to do about your situation.

Julian reached out to me before I had the chance to fully examine it. ”

I huff, still unsure whether I’m going to forgive him so easily.

“Have you said yes to his marriage proposal?”

The fact I will be marrying Julian with my father’s blessing has butterflies erupting in my stomach. I nod. “I have.”

“Good. Then head down to the shop. They’re expecting you both to be fitted with sherwanis. This week is going to be busy as we get your sister healthy enough to attend your wedding.”

“Wedding,” I repeat.

“In one week. Yes,” Dad says, nodding. “Did Julian not tell you?”

I look at Julian and he’s watching our exchange with a smile. He isn’t at all apologetic when he says, “It hadn’t come up in conversation yet.”

My father laughs heartily. I’m not sure whether to be ecstatic that I’m marrying this man now, or wary that he and my father seem to be getting along so well.