Twins in Her Womb (Bianca and Luke Crawford novel) novel Chapter 16

Jean knew that Bianca loved him, but he also knew that she did not love him as much as he loved her.

That was why, in order to make sure the proposal succeeded, once he decided to propose that noon, he asked his parents to invite his grandparents, aunts, and uncles over.

All in all, there were more than a dozen of his relatives, young and old.

After Bianca followed the Langdons upstairs, she was stunned in place the second they opened the door…

Similarly, Nina stared at her relatives crowding the house, looking at them like they were ghosts.

"You're here, you're here!" The one who spoke was Jean's father's second sister. When she saw the girl standing at the door, looking just like how she looked in the photo, the older woman immediately grabbed her mother's arm and said excitedly, "That's Jean's girlfriend, Bianca Rayne. She's right there at the door! Oh, what a beauty. Come over here and check her out, Mom…"

Bianca was rendered speechless.

"Come on in." Jean looked at her tenderly, tugging at her hand.

Out of politeness, Bianca had to force herself to smile at all of Jean's relatives.

Jean's grandmother never once let go of Bianca's hand, holding it in her palm and patting it gently every time she said anything.

Bianca was getting a premonition of something that felt neither good nor bad.

Her gaze sought Jean out and found him smoking on the balcony, his hands in his pockets. He looked stressed, as though something was weighing heavily on his heart.

Dinner was especially fancy that night.

Nina said, "This food is better than anything we've had, even during New Year's…"

Jean's grandparents and parents sat at the main table.

Jean and Bianca took their seats there as well.

Everyone else sat at another table.

As they ate, they only chatted about trivial things.

Bianca was almost done with her meal and was about to put down her cutlery when Jean suddenly looked her in the eye and said, "Come with me."

The two of them went to one of the smaller bedrooms.

It was Jean's room.

"What's the matter?" Bianca's voice was very soft and gentle as she asked, like the sweet warm sunshine in the mid-morning between dawn and noon.

Jean's gaze on her was determined and tender at the same time. He took her hand, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "I have to apologize to you. What happened this morning was my fault."

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not angry about it anymore."

That was Bianca's reply.

"Thank you. Thank you for understanding my fears and worries." Jean reached out and pulled her into his embrace, closing his eyes as he said weakly, "You don't know how scared I am of losing you."

Bianca fell silent.

Jean continued, "You know, I fell in love a long, long time ago, from the moment you first set foot in my house. Back then, you were a high school freshman… I really felt like I was sinning for loving such a young girl. I tried turning my affections to other girls, but I never felt anything for them other than annoyance. Eventually, I realized that you would grow up someday. All I had to do was wait quietly.

"Finally, you grew up, and we had the chance to study overseas together.

"You have experienced harrowing events in the past. When you came clean and told me everything, to be honest, I was devastated…"

When she heard that, Bianca's body could not help a tiny shudder.

So he did mind, after all!

"Hear me out." Jean hugged her even tighter and continued, "I wasn't upset because you were unclean. I was upset at myself. I hated myself for not walking into your life from the start. I hated myself for not taking care of you well enough, for allowing you to suffer like that.

"Bianca, you must understand. No other man in the world has loved you longer than I have, with more conviction than I do…"

Perhaps it was because he truly was terrified of losing her, but Jean's voice gradually went from slight trembling to choked sobs.

Of course Bianca was moved.

Her heart felt like a puddle of warmth in her chest.

Finally, her prayers came true. There really was someone who loved her sincerely.