Chapter 65: Blue Diamond Ring

Zarah gently squeezed his hand for support.

Xavier knew how Zarah hated how people would pick on her for being adopted.

"Are you sure or did this woman give you a love potion that forced you to be smitten greatly?"

"That's enough! For the sake of our relationship, just please, leave us alone!" Xavier pleaded.

Since there was no use in convincing Xavier, Joseph Lockhart decided to approach Zarah instead.

"Your name's Zarah Jansen, right?" He finally turned his attention to her.

"Yes," Zarah answered.

"Well, I'm Joseph Lockhart. I'm Xavier's uncle at the same time his guardian. Miss Jansen, name your price."

Zarah was taken aback not because she didn't expect such a scenario from this conversation but because she didn't expect him to do it in front of Xavier.

Xavier watched as his uncle tried to intimidate Zarah with money.

For some reason, he finally understood why Isaiah left Zarah a huge inheritance. Perhaps he had already seen this coming.

The Stevens were inferior compared to the Lockhart when it came to power and status.

The Lockhart controlled almost all of Country A while the Stevens controlled the entire Oakridge City. Even though Oakridge City was the wealthiest city in Country Z, it would not help.

Xavier looked at Zarah and waited for her response.

"How much can you offer?" Zarah asked which caused Joseph to sneer.

'Is this the woman you're trying to marry, Xavier? With the mention of money, she is willing to dump you.' Joseph Lockhart thought.

Before he could respond to Zarah, the latter continued, "If the Lockhart family can't give me a man as excellent, handsome, rich, caring, and loving boyfriend like my Xavier as a replacement then, I'm sorry Mr. Lockhart, I would refuse your offer."

Xavier smiled triumphantly as he looked at Zarah.

'That's my girl!' He cried proudly.

She did not need their money for d*mn sake. She could earn it herself.

And besides, she was loaded now after Isaiah left her a billion-dollar inheritance.

That was more than enough to feed her and her family should she want to live a simple life.

As Joseph heard Zarah's firm response, his lips twitched.

Zarah looked at him with confidence and said, "I don't care if Xavier would lose everything because he choose me over your prestigious family. I can feed him. If he's high maintenance, I'll work hard to cater to his needs."

Xavier's smile widened but at the same time, he stopped, "You don't have to work hard, let me provide for our future family instead since I'm a man."

"What can you do without the Lockhart family as your support?" Zarah asked him while ignoring Joseph Lockhart.

"Are you underestimating your boyfriend's capabilities, mon amour? It hurts you know." Xavier pretended to be hurt and Zarah's lips twitched.

Being ignored, Joseph Lockhart snorted in displeasure.

"Are you not going to break up with her?!" Joseph asked and the couple looked at him.

"No! I almost lose her four years ago when she threw herself to protect me during that car accident. Now that we're together again, I'll never break up with her!"

Xavier then got up and Zarah followed. Before they turned around and leave he looked at him one last time and said, "It's already late. You can stay here for the night and then go back to your hotel tomorrow. I'll arrange the guest room for you."

Joseph Lockhart got up from his seat and declined, "There's no need. It's not that late. Ask Rupert to drive me back."

Since his purpose was not fruitful, there's no point in staying here.

"Mr. Lockhart, I don't think Dylan would be happy if he learned that we let his father stay in the hotel when we have plenty of rooms here. You can stay as long as you like. Rest assured, you won't see my face often."

Zarah didn't want to ruin the relationship Xavier had with his family. He could tell that though he was acting cold and disappointed, deep down, Xavier cared a lot for this man.

It's not a big sacrifice to let this man stay for a few days as long as he would not interfere with her.

The couple left the room and they asked Julie to lead the guest back to the living room while waiting for the guest room to be prepared.

Zarah and Xavier entered their respective rooms and did their nighttime routines before going to sleep.

After Zarah was done, she saw Xavier, in his pajamas, sitting on her bed while reading some documents.

He was wearing reading glasses and three buttons on his top were unbuttoned.

As soon as she saw this scene, Zarah gulped hard and her hold on her bathrobe tightened while her mouth slightly opened.

"What's wrong, mon amour?" Xavier asked with a smirk on his lips.

He then got up and walked slowly to Zarah.

As he reached her, Xavier tucked the wet stray hair behind her ears and Zarah's face turned beet red.

Xavier pinched her chin to close her mouth.

"As much as I wanted to but we will not do anything tonight, okay?"

Zarah subconsciously gulped as she was in a daze. As soon as she recovered, she realized what Xavier was doing.

"Why are you in my room?"

"Do I have to explain it? I can't sleep without you." He said while wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Get out first. I'll get change."

"You can strip naked in front of me. I don't mind." Xavier seriously said and Zarah smirked in response.

Zarah gained some confidence and so she challenged him, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Wanna bet?"

Xavier looked into Zarah's eyes as he tried to read what was on her mind.

"Game. What's at stake?" Zarah gave it a thought before she answered.

"Should I win, you can't touch or kiss me. Should you win, I'll do anything that you want," she said and Xavier gave it a thought.

However, he found the conditions a little boring.

"Are you sure? How about should I win, we'll get married tomorrow. Should you win, I'll grant one of your wishes," he said and looked into her eyes as he waited for her reaction.

Zarah thought that he was only teasing her. After all, they had only started dating not so long ago.

"Hmm. Is this your way of proposing to me, Mr. Lockhart?" Zarah asked with a smirk on her face.

"You could say so," he said while kissing her knuckles.

Zarah was shocked and rendered speechless. She didn't expect that he was serious about it.

"What do you think?" Xavier nervously looked at her.

"Do you want us to get married? Are you serious?! Isn't it so soon?" Zarah bombarded him with questions as she was overwhelmed by this sudden improper proposal.

Xavier held her hands and then explained, "I'm afraid my family would do something stupid to separate us. I know my grandfather's attitude when it comes to marriage. He's a family-oriented man and I know he viewed marriage as a sacred ceremony and should not be broken."

Xavier knew how Timothy Lockhart's mind worked. He was afraid that they would hurt Zarah just to drive her away from him.

And he didn't want that to happen.

"Is it so fast?"

'Of course, it is!' she replied in her mind.

Zarah gave it a thought. She looked at Xavier's eyes and she saw pure sincerity in them.

Zarah was aware of how big of a responsibility a marriage was. Yes, they had feelings for each other but it was not all about feelings.

It was a matter of commitment.

She could feel secure and safe around Xavier. Something that she didn't feel while dating Josh.

She knew how committed Xavier was but what about her?

Could she do it?

She then gave what he said a thought.

Her heart ached terribly upon the thought that they might not be together in the future.

One thing was clear, she could not leave without him.

As he saw the hesitation in Zarah's eyes, he was disappointed.

"I'm not going to lie. It's indeed so fast. However, if this could mean that we could be together forever, then let's do it," Zarah said and Xavier's eyes widened in surprise.

Zarah's lips curled up when she saw how cute Xavier's reaction was.

"Are you serious?!" Xavier asked her in disbelief.

"Where's the ring?" She asked in a teasing tone and Xavier froze.

He forgot the ring.

"Wait here," he said and left in haste.

Zarah chuckled as she watched his departing figure.

She was only trying to tease him. She was not so eager to wear a diamond ring at the moment. With or without a ring, she would marry him at any time.

And besides, she would never expect Xavier to carry a diamond ring with him.

'Seems like the bet is useless now.' She thought and chuckled again.

Zarah grabbed this opportunity to change into her pajama and dry her hair before she caught a cold.

Five minutes later, Xavier barged into the room.

Zarah was now wearing her pajamas and was blow-drying her hair when he entered. She then turned off the hairdryer as she was done when suddenly...

Xavier dropped his one knee and asked, "I know this is very not romantic but Miss Zarah Jansen, will you marry me?"

She looked at Xavier in shock.

She was rendered speechless for two seconds while tears started streaming down her cheeks with overwhelming emotions.

She didn't know why she was crying though. Perhaps, because of the pure sincerity that she felt when Xavier uttered those words to her.

And besides, this was the first time that she was being proposed with.

So, she felt overwhelmed by emotions that were very unfamiliar to her.

"Oh my gosh! I can't accept that, Tim," she said after she recovered from the shock.

From the looks of it, the ring looked very expensive. She was aware of how expensive a blue diamond was in the market.

The ring looked very beautiful and she could tell that it was customized and was not available in the market.

It had an 18-carat gold band with a blue diamond as the center stone. It was also surrounded by little cuts of white diamonds and stretched around the band.

The stones sparkled as the light from the vanity mirror hit on them.

She found herself unworthy to accept such valuable jewelry.

"This ring is from my grandmother. Her husband gave it to her on their wedding day. My mom wore it when she married my dad," he explained the value of this ring while wiping the tears from her eyes.

Zarah was touched by this. He was going to give her this ring that was very important to him and his family.

"Then the more that I should not accept that. Let's forget the diamond ring, okay? Let's just get married and have our marriage certificates instead," she said to convince him.

Other than appraising the ring with her naked eye, this was an heirloom. Should she lose it, she could never forgive herself.

"Keep the ring first. Since it's the Lockhart heirloom, I'll work hard to make myself worthy of wearing it," she added and looked at Xavier who was still kneeling on the floor.

He didn't listen to Zarah and shove it in her hand at the same time he, clarified it.

"This is not the Lockhart heirloom but my grandparent's legacy to us, their descendants. This ring would remind us about who we truly are. The Lockhart despised this ring."

Zarah was puzzled upon looking at it.

It seems like the Lockhart family had a very complicated family history.

Xavier got up and kissed Zarah's lips. The kiss didn't satisfy his desire but he was willing to hold himself back for now.

Tomorrow, she's fully his.

After the kiss, the couple went to bed and cuddled each other as they waited for sleep to knock them down.

Zarah looked at the ring on her finger and heaved a sigh. Then, a beautiful smile flashed on her face as she touched it with her thumb. The ring felt heavy on her fingers.

"This is so eye-catching. I'm afraid it would attract danger."

What Zarah said was right. Xavier gave it a thought, too.

"Then, just tell them it's knockoff jewelry. They would believe you."

The blue diamond engagement ring was very uncommon. Only a trained eye could spot the difference between the genuine and the fake.

That includes high-skilled robbers as well. However, Zarah was secretly followed by his well-skilled and well-trained subordinates. They could protect her in time should something happen.

"Aren't you afraid that your uncle would see this and tip off your grandfather?" Zarah asked him.

"Uncle Joseph just left. However, I'm sure that he would observe us for a week."

Zarah felt a little sad upon hearing this.

"Don't mind him when you happen to see him."

Zarah shook her head as she said, "No. He's your family. Tim, I know deep down that you cared for them and their blessing is very important to you, right? I don't want you to born bridges with them because of me. As your future wife, I should help you fix the relationship, as long as it's still fixable, to make us happy."

She was doing this not only for him but also for herself. She didn't want Xavier to be torn between his family and her.

She would try her best as long as it was doable.

She was willing to make sacrifices just to make this man happy.

But of course, she would make sure to not lose herself again.

She had to find the perfect balance in everything.

"That's why I love you so much, mon amour and I will never regret loving you."

***