accepted Bill's propose

"Bill... what are you doing?" Steffi asked, trembling, shaking her head, unable to understand why Bill would do all this.

"Steffi... I know it might be too soon for you, but I can't hold back anymore. I want you to be my lifelong companion... my wife, my friend, the mother of my children, my queen... my buddy, and my support... Everything... I want to do everything with you," Bill said with a pleading expression. "I just want you... Please, give me a chance to be the man who will make you happy... Let's go through all the ups and downs of life together in a lawful marriage bond..."

Steffi choked; her throat felt dry, and her lips were too stiff to speak. She didn't know what to say, especially since everyone in the ballroom was looking at her with enthusiasm.

"Please... Marry me, Steffi Zoe Rodriguez..." Bill pleaded again.

"Come on, accept it. He's perfect for you!"

"Hey, don't waste this moment. He's very handsome!"

"Say yes, say yes, say yes!"

The people cheered, urging Steffi to answer soon.

"Please... If you doubt my sincerity, then you should know that this diamond ring is a gift from my late grandma. I always carry it because she said that when I feel that I have found the right girl to be my wife, I should propose immediately... And that girl is you," Bill said again. This time he looked very pleading, even his eyes showed sincerity... Could he be serious?

Steffi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself down. She focused on Bill, trying to find sincerity in his eyes. Thoughts of her mum's advice to accept him, then her brother supporting their relationship, and not wanting to keep thinking about Liam who was already happy with Gea came to her mind.

'Oh God, I hope my decision is not wrong. I entrust everything to you... I can't possibly waste such a sincere man in front of me. I don't want to make him embarrassed, and I also have high hopes for him. Please keep me away from regret when I accept him,' she thought to herself, closing her eyes, and often heard people around her cheering and advising her to accept the proposal.

"Okay..." Bill sighed, bowing his head. He was about to stand up because he thought Steffi wouldn't accept it, but suddenly Steffi grabbed his hand, which was still holding the ring. He looked up and smiled at her.

"Yes..."

"What?" Bill asked.

"Yes... I mean... the answer is yes," Steffi said, nervous.

Instantly, Bill smiled widely, surprised to get the answer he wanted.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

Steffi just nodded with a smile.

"Oh, my God!" Bill stood up and hugged Steffi tightly.

The people in the ballroom cheered happily, giving applause.

"Thank you... Thank you, baby. I promise I will never disappoint you!" Bill said with teary eyes, then let go of the hug. He lowered his head, looking at Steffi who was smiling at him, then took her right hand.

Steffi let Bill put the ring on her ring finger, and at that moment, she felt like she had a strong bond with him.

"I love you, thank you... Thank you, baby!" Bill said, kissing Steffi's lips briefly before hugging her again.

Afterward, Bill looked around with a smile and held Steffi's hand. He received congratulations from the people there, especially from the newlyweds. The party continued until Steffi asked him to go back to the hotel.

-----

Upon arriving at the hotel where they were staying, Steffi took off her heels and some jewelry while Bill sat on the gray couch, talking to someone on the phone.

"Yes, Mom... She accepted me," said Bill, occasionally glancing at Steffi sitting in the chair in front of the dressing table. "I just wanted to share this good news... We'll be back tomorrow morning," he continued.

"Okay, then, Mommy will wait for you at Mr. Rodriguez's house," replied Bill's mother.

"Alright..."

Bill ended the call and immediately put his phone in his pants pocket. He stood up and approached Steffi, who was wiping off her makeup with cotton. "I've told my mom," he said.

"And what was her response?" asked Steffi.

"Of course, she's happy, and she will talk to us at your home tomorrow," Bill replied, standing relaxed behind Steffi. He smiled as he looked at the mirror that reflected him and his fiancée. Suddenly he imagined his beautiful fiancée would soon marry him and live with him, just like every man's dream in this world.

"Why?" Steffi asked, slightly nervous due to Bill's intense gaze.

"I didn't expect you to accept me," Bill replied.

Steffi felt uncomfortable, unable to say that she accepted Bill because she was pressured by the situation. Of course, that could ruin the mood and spoil the happiness of their family, who already knew what had happened today.

Bill bowed and hugged Steffi from behind. "I'm asking you again... Are you accepting me seriously?" he asked gently.

"Yes, of course," Steffi replied resignedly.

"Can I know the reason?" Bill asked.

"There are many reasons...." Steffi sighed, putting the cotton on the table. "Of course, I accept you because you look good, sincere, handsome... You have everything... You can give us a good future and... Our children... So, of course, I accept you. There is no reason to refuse a perfect man like you... If I refused, I would be stupid."

Bill blushed; this was the first time Steffi had praised him. "But what about your feelings towards me?" he asked.

"I feel comfortable," Steffi replied, still looking at herself and Bill in the mirror. "When I fall in love, but I am not comfortable, maybe I don't love. But when I am very comfortable, love might grow... And I can always endure because of that comfort. And... I get that from you," she continued, slightly stuttering.

Bill sighed, then hugged Steffi's neck, occasionally kissing her cheek while smiling. "Thank you... Thank you for giving me the chance," he said.

"Are you happy?" asked Steffi.

"Of course. You will see this happy face continuously," Bill said, chuckling.

"But... What made you suddenly want to propose to me?" Steffi asked.

"That's because before you chose me, I prayed to God. I made a vow, if you choose me, then I will propose to you. And it turns out you chose me, so I do not doubt to propose to you soon," Bill explained, still hugging Steffi's neck and leaning his chin on her shoulder. "I believe in God... God would not give me wrong guidance."

"I was shocked," Steffi whispered awkwardly.

"I understand that..."

Steffi glanced at Bill, who was so close to her face. "I never imagined that the man who would marry me would be anyone other than Liam... He was my first love... I always imagined a future with him... But tonight, you're the one who showed me how serious you are... It's really beyond my expectations."

Bill smiled thinly, feeling a bit jealous when Steffi mentioned Liam's name. "Yeah... I know. He's the lucky guy who got your first love. But... I think I'll be luckier because I'll be your last love," he said.

Steffi smiled thinly. "Do you think I'll be lucky too?" she asked.

"I can't answer that, but I'll try to make you feel lucky to have me," Bill replied, releasing his hug on Steffi's neck and standing up straight. He walked towards the sofa while asking, "Do you want me to keep you company while you sleep here?"

"Sleep here?" Steffi frowned.

"I mean... I'll sleep on the couch," Bill said, turning to Steffi who approached him. "I won't do anything to my fiancée... So, don't worry," he continued with a smile.

"Oh..." Steffi smiled awkwardly, feeling strange being in the same room as Bill when they were not married yet. "I need some alone time..."

Bill raised his eyebrows.

"I mean... You don't have to keep me company. It's useless to book a room for yourself when it's empty," Steffi said with an awkward smile.

"Okay, I'll go back to my room now. If you need anything, just call me," Bill replied with a nod, looking at Steffi who caught his attention. He felt like approaching his fiancée and kissing her, but he didn't want to rush it because she still seemed uncomfortable with it.

Steffi just nodded, and Bill immediately left the room.

After Bill left, Steffi sighed in relief, feeling like her burden was gone. She threw herself onto the queen-size bed with a white bedsheet, then looked up at the cream-colored ceiling. She fell silent, imagining that what happened recently was like flipping her emotions back and forth.

"Liam said that he still loves me, but he's stuck having to marry Gea... That's what hurts me because I still hope that he could change and come back to me... But that's impossible because now he has to dedicate his life to Gea and their baby," Steffi said to herself. "And tonight... I accepted Bill even though I still can't forget about Liam. I feel happy because he's a good man, but I don't know why I feel like this is all too fast, and I feel like I'll hurt Liam badly... Now it seems like we're both trapped in a situation. He has to marry Gea for responsibility, and I have to marry Bill. After all, I already accepted him because I don't want to hurt him... He's too good for me..."