His Hidden Family My Ruined Marriage (Liana) novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135 A Proposal Plan

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Of course, he hadn’t contacted her either. He was accustomed to women making the first move. It was just a habit.

“Ms. Clark?”

Lily, engrossed in the conversation between Liam and Chloe, turned reflexively at the sound of her name.

“Care to talk?”

Xander proposed, a hint of a smile in his

eyes.

“Sure.”

Lily thought for a moment. They probably did need to talk.

Finding a quiet spot, they stood facing each other, the silence suddenly awkward. Lily tried to lighten the mood with a joke. “This courtyard looks like it’s set up for a proposal.”

“It is,” Xander replied.

Lily stared at him, startled.

Xander hurried to clarify, not wanting her to misunderstand. “Elian is planning to propose to Liana.”

A sleek black Rolls-Royce glided through the long, winding driveway of the estate.

The butler promptly went upstairs to announce, “Mrs. Linda Locke, Mr. Locke is back.”

Linda gave a slight nod, then carefully fastened a pair of exquisite diamond earrings on Liana.

Once fully adorned, Liana stood under everyone’s gaze.

The gown she wore was a bespoke piece from an elite atelier, the only one of its kind in the world.

She had been a bit nervous, rising slowly, her hand subtly checking her abdomen. Only when she confirmed the gentle drape of the fabric showed no telltale curve did she finally relax and dare to take in her reflection.

Clothes really do make the woman. Even she couldn’t look away.

But this… this wasn’t the intimate family-and-friends birthday gathering she had imagined. Not

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Chapter 135 A Proposal Plan

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Soon, there was movement on the stairs. Liana’s heart skipped, thinking it was Elian.

She didn’t know how he planned to lay everything out tonight, but in that moment, she wanted to see him.

Everyone saw the man who’d arrived and went quiet, holding their breath.

The man walked in, nodding politely to the assembled guests before his gaze settled on Linda.

“You’re here. I’ll entrust Liana to you for now,” Linda said, greeting him. She gave Liana’s hand a reassuring pat before leaving the room.

Liana finally saw who it was-Lawrence.

He studied her intently for a long moment before stepping forward. A bitter taste filled Liana’s mouth.

He was dressed in a sharp, dark suit, every inch the pragmatic, successful man.

He approached her with a smile. “Elian was right. You really do look a lot like your mother.”

For a fleeting second, it was as if he was seeing Jane from all those years ago.

Liana didn’t speak, simply lowering her gaze slightly.

She remembered Elian had invited him to her birthday.

“Happy birthday, Liana.”

He didn’t elaborate, simply presenting her with an elegant, small velvet box.

Liana glanced at it, curious, and accepted it.

In twenty-seven years, this was the first gift she had ever received from her father.

She slowly opened the box. Inside lay a delicate pair of pearl earrings.

A sudden heat stung the back of her eyes.

They were beautiful. So beautiful it made her want to cry.

This was a gift from her dad.

“Thank you,” she whispered. The word ‘Dad’ lodged in her throat, impossible to utter, forbidden to claim.

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“Come on. Let me walk you down,” Lawrence said, offering her his arm.

Liana looked at the crook of his elbow. Since she was old enough to understand, she had never dared to hope for this moment.

But tonight, she could place her hand there.

She had watched countless weddings, real and in movies, where the bride was escorted by her father to her waiting groom.

She’d always wondered, with a pang, what she would do when her time came. She had no father.

But tonight…

As Lawrence guided her downstairs, the lighting in the grand hall had been carefully adjusted. Warm, romantic light bathed her figure.

Adorned in a cascade of diamonds, her fair skin luminous against the pale blue silk of her gown, she seemed to glow from within.

The guests were mostly older, distinguished members of high society. Liana recognized almost none of them.

At the forefront, Rosalind and Earl stood supporting each other, their faces filled with affectionate pride as they watched her descend.

Seeing them settled Liana’s heart. She couldn’t help a playful little smile.

Linda and David stood near the entrance, watching the father and daughter proceed down the aisle cleared by the crowd, offering Liana an approving smile.

Liana held her breath, the scale and formality of it all so different from her expectations.

She had never celebrated a birthday with such grandeur, had never even imagined it.

Outside, a lush green carpet had been laid across the manicured lawn. Guests flanked it on both sides, their gazes filled with admiration as she emerged.

But still, Liana did not see Elian.

Her eyes searched anxiously until, far ahead near the end of the carpet, she spotted him. He was standing within a beautiful archway woven with roses.

And so was Anya.

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Anya wore a revealing, strapless pink dress that showed off her legs. She stood close to Elian, a silk tie in her hands, seemingly adjusting it for him in the gentle breeze.

Liana was bewildered. What is this? A public display of affection at my birthday party?

Is that why everyone is here? Is Elian about to announce his happy news with Anya?

As this thought raced through her mind, she suddenly saw Elian’s hand shoot out and clamp firmly around Anya’s wrist.

“Hold on,

almost done.”

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