Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3030

Kya grinned, showing off her tiny, perfect teeth. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Emily. "Mommy, do you?"

Emily locked eyes with Charlie, her heart hammering against her ribs. She nodded with absolute certainty. "Yes. I completely do."

The depths of Charlie's eyes darkened with raw, possessive triumph. Moving with agonizingly slow, deliberate care, he leaned down and pressed a reverent kiss to her forehead. He set Kya on her feet, placed the cake on the hood of the car, and plucked the ring from the frosting.

He slid the diamond onto her left ring finger.

Watching the brilliant stone settle perfectly against her luminous skin, a heavy, chaotic restlessness inside Charlie finally clicked into absolute peace.

"We have a long road ahead of us, Emily. And I've never been more ready."

Emily stared at the ring on her hand, feeling as though she had slipped into a total fantasy. She looked up, her smile radiating pure warmth. "Thank you, Mr. James."

"Thank you, Ms. Sullivan."

Charlie leaned in and kissed her deeply on the cheek.

Kya tugged at his pant leg, beaming. "Can I eat the cake now?"

Emily grabbed the cake, and Charlie hoisted Kya up, settling her firmly on his broad shoulders. "Absolutely. Let's go inside and cut it. I have another surprise waiting for you in there. Want to see?"

"Yes!" Kya shrieked, thrilled by the sudden height, her laughter ringing through the quiet neighborhood.

*

When Waters Earwood received the call from Mrs. James, she wasn't entirely surprised, but she made sure to sound appropriately ecstatic. "Mrs. James! It's been far too long. I was just thinking I needed to come visit you!"

"Let's just make it today," Mrs. James replied coolly. "I'll send you a location."

"No, of course not!" Waters scrambled. "But love is blind. It's easy to be manipulated by a pretty face."

The amusement vanished from Mrs. James's expression. "Waters. I know you're obsessed with Charlie. But Charlie is in love with Emily. When a man tells you no, have the dignity to walk away."

Waters lowered her eyes, a bitter sneer curling her lips. "If I recall correctly, you absolutely despised Emily not too long ago."

"I did," Mrs. James agreed without a hint of shame. "I objected to her family background. I never had an issue with her character. But the situation has changed. I have accepted her. She is now officially part of the James family. And if anyone thinks they can still bully her, they will have to go through me."

Waters looked as if she had been slapped.

Mrs. James slid the velvet box back across the table. Her aristocratic features hardened into a mask of terrifying authority.

"I'll assume my past behavior gave you the false impression that this little stunt would work. I expect this to be the end of it. But let me make one thing perfectly clear: if I ever hear a whisper of someone slandering or framing Emily again, I will personally ensure they learn that no one—absolutely no one—messes with the James family."