The Real Heiress Rules the World (Sloane Rivers) novel Chapter 506

**Bonfire 506**

**Chapter 506: A Sweet Delay**

The clock ticked softly, marking the moment as Jeffrey uncorked a bottle of champagne he had cherished for years, its golden bubbles bubbling over in a jubilant cascade, much like the joy that filled the air around them.

“Wait!” Beth’s voice rang out, sharp and excited, cutting through the revelry. She produced a stunning pocket watch from her bag, its surface gleaming under the soft light. “This was a treasured heirloom from your grandmother. She always said it was meant for her first granddaughter’s dowry…”

Tony, eager to add to the excitement, chimed in with a grin, “And that’s not all! Dad has arranged a private island just for you! We’ll have the wedding there!”

Sloane, overwhelmed with emotion, leaned against Lucas, her laughter mingling with tears as she gazed at her beloved family, all illuminated by the twinkling stars above. In that moment, she grasped a profound truth: the most romantic experience of all was simply being enveloped by love.

Lucas seized the moment, his heart racing with anticipation. “Next month, I’ll bring my grandmother over, and we can all sit down together to finalize a date for the wedding,” he proposed, his voice filled with hope.

Sloane turned to Lucas, her heart fluttering uneasily. She had only just accepted his proposal, and now they were already diving into wedding plans? She felt unprepared, as if the ground beneath her was shifting.

Beth and Tony exchanged knowing glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Tony adjusted his glasses, a playful smirk on his face. “Oh, Lucas, are you just lamenting that your grandmother couldn’t witness the proposal? That’s alright. When you two tie the knot… in a few years… she can be there for that celebration instead.” He emphasized the phrase “in a few years,” the teasing glint in his eye unmistakable.

Beth caught on immediately, her smile widening as she took Sloane’s hand. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you out of that gown.”

With that, she gently pulled Sloane away, leaving Lucas with no chance to continue his train of thought.

In her daze, Sloane’s hand wandered, slipping beneath the hem of Lucas’s shirt, only to be caught at the wrist.

“You won’t marry me, but you still want to touch, hmm?” Lucas’s eyes narrowed, a playful yet dangerous glint flickering in them, his Adam’s apple bobbing tantalizingly close to her lips.

Sloane tilted her head back, nipping playfully at his chin. “It’s my parents who are against it. If you’re so strong, go convince them…” Before she could finish her thought, Lucas lifted her effortlessly by the hips, pressing her back against the cool glass of the window.

“Then shouldn’t you… do some ‘convincing’?” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear, his hand possessively squeezing her waist. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting their entwined shadows on the wall, creating a silhouette that spoke of intimacy and longing.

“What, you won’t let me touch you just because they don’t approve of a wedding?” Sloane shot back, her eyes sparkling with defiance as she glared at him, the tension between them thickening like the night air.