Chapter 1303:
“Rylie, when we were younger, I couldn’t protect you the way I should have. That’s something I’ve carried with me ever since. When you finally came back to us, I promised myself I would never let anything hurt you again.” He paused, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips. “When Brad came into the picture, I made a point of watching him closely.” A quiet ripple of laughter moved through the crowd. “And I have to admit—you’ve got good judgment. He’s a solid man.”
He turned to Brad, his expression shifting to something more serious. “My sister is in your hands now. She deserves the very best this world can offer. Give her everything you’ve got.”
Brad smiled quietly. “I will.”
Marcus gave a small nod and stepped back.
Deandre came forward next, drink still in hand, grinning broadly. “I’m not as polished as Felix, and I’m definitely not as emotional as Marcus.” He raised his glass and fixed his eyes on Brad. “So here’s the simple rule—treat her well, and you’re one of us. Treat her badly, and you’ll wish you hadn’t.”
He drained his glass in one go, and laughter swept across the venue again.
Standing beside Brad, Rylie looked at her three brothers through glistening eyes and whispered softly, “Thank you.”
Kendrick and Sean each offered a few quiet words of their own before stepping back.
Brad reached into his pocket and carefully withdrew an exquisitely crafted ring that caught the sunlight and sparkled brilliantly.
Holding Rylie’s hand with great care, he looked down at her, his emotion too deep to conceal.
“Rylie,” he began, his voice soft but steady, “I always believed my life would belong entirely to my country—that nothing would ever make me slow down or change that path.” He paused, a small smile crossing his lips. “And then I met you.”
Nеw 𝗐𝘦𝗲𝗸l𝗒 с𝗵а𝗉𝗍е𝗿𝘴 𝘰n g𝖺lո𝘰𝗏el𝗌.𝗰о𝘮
“You are the one exception. I’m not very good with words, and romance has never been my strength—but I promise to spend the rest of my life loving you, protecting you, and standing beside you as we build our life and raise our children together.”
He drew a slow, quiet breath and gently slid the ring onto her finger.
“Will you marry me?”
Rylie held his gaze, her smile growing until it lit her entire face.
She slipped the ring onto his finger in return, looked up into his eyes, and whispered, “Yes.”
Brad’s eyes had already gone red.
He cupped her face gently in both hands and leaned down to kiss her.
The crowd erupted into applause.
Kendrick quietly pressed a hand to his eyes. Felix turned his gaze toward the ocean, needing a moment. Marcus clapped warmly, his expression full of silent blessings.
The sun dipped slowly toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft layers of orange and deep red. Flower petals drifted down from above in a gentle, unhurried shower. The waves murmured steadily against the shore as the wedding march carried lightly through the breeze.
Brad was frequently haunted by the thought that he hadn’t spent enough time with Rylie. But now, with their new family finally taking shape and the shadows of international threats tied to their past identities safely behind them, all he truly wanted was to stay close to her and savor every moment they could share.
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.
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