The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 274

Zane turned his gaze to her. "Almost every single time, I was standing right up there."

Elara stared at him in shock.

Zane lifted her hand, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "Elara, this was never some sudden infatuation. I waited fifteen years just to hold your hand."

"From my junior year of college to the verge of my mid-thirties. This isn't a passing whim. I've been plotting this for half my life."

"I went to your engagement party. I went to your wedding. I stood in the crowd with all the other guests, watching you. I envied him. I was violently jealous of him. But all I could do was wish you happiness."

"I remember every single version of you through the years. Every year, I managed to find a few excuses just to catch a glimpse of you from afar. Sometimes we wouldn't even exchange a single word for a year or two."

"The most we ever interacted was earlier this year, at the Governor's estate. You looked so lost. I couldn't help myself—I stepped forward and draped my coat over your shoulders. But you had too many reservations, and you turned right back inside. I stood there holding my coat, completely regretting it, thinking I should have just forced you into a conversation."

"Elara, to truly love someone is to step out of their world and let them be happy. But Julian lost his right to make you happy. So... give me a chance. Please?"

Elara pressed her lips tightly together, tears welling in her eyes. She stared at him, her voice trembling when she finally spoke. "How am I worth all of this...?"

Before she could finish, two streams of tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Silly girl," Zane whispered, pulling her firmly into his chest. "A person never misses out on what truly belongs to them. That goes for both of us. Even if he met you first, even if he married you, I could still wait it out."

His arms tightened around her. "We were always meant to be the ones for each other."

"Zion..." Elara couldn't hold it back anymore. She broke down, sobbing loudly against him.

In the exact same place, in a different time and a different era of her life—at an age where she had completely stopped believing in men—she found herself in the arms of someone so incredibly good.

"Zion, is this real...?"

"I can't believe it..."

"I feel like I'm dreaming..."

Zane tilted his head down, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. "You're my dream too, you know."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify