Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
My hands fly up to my mouth, hating myself for what I did. “I’m so sorr—”
“No apologies.” He takes my hand in his and kisses the top of it. “It might’ve taken a little longer to get here, but I can’t ever regret a single part of the journey I’m on with you. My reason for telling you that is so you understand that I wanted to ask you to marry me before I knew you were pregnant. Whatever it says in that envelope won’t change how I feel or what I want. Since I was a teenager with a crush, I knew you were the one for me, and all these years later, I know without a doubt, you’re the woman I want to spend my life with.
“So Kendall Naomi Blackwood, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
For the first time in my adult life, there’s not a single doubt, a single niggling of a thought that has me questioning if I’m making the right decision, when I squeal, “Yes,” and throw myself into Declan’s arms. Because for the first time, it feels like all those broken pieces of me aren’t so broken after all.
“And the winner of the Female Artist of the Year award goes to… Kendall Blackwood.”
I jump out of my seat and hug my family and friends, who are all surrounding me. Everyone but Declan, since he’s the one on stage. I had no idea he would be presenting an award, let alone one I was nominated for.
When I make it up to the podium to accept the award, he leans in and kisses my cheek. “Congratulations, baby.” Butterflies erupt in my chest, and I can’t help the grin I have splayed across my face as I turn to face the camera and audience. Unlike the outfit I wore on stage, the dress I’m wearing now shows my bump. People are going to speculate, but at this point, I don’t even care.
“I’m not going to pretend I have a speech prepared,” I begin, making everyone chuckle. “Most of the time, I don’t know what the date is, what I’m doing, or where I should be. If it weren’t for my amazing assistant, Marcia, and the team at Blackwood, I wouldn’t even be able to function. My entire life has been about music, and because of my family at Blackwood, I’ve been able to follow my dreams. So thank you to everyone who makes it possible for me to do what I love.
“More importantly, thank you to my amazing listeners. Without you, I wouldn’t be standing up here with this award in my hand. Your love of my music allows me to keep writing and singing.”
I hold up my award, and everyone claps. “I would also like to thank my fiancé…” Gasps are heard throughout the stadium, and when I glance at Declan, he’s shaking his head with a huge smile across his face. “Go big or go home,” I mouth to him before I finish my speech. “Declan is not only my best friend but he’s also my inspiration for my upcoming album Fallen… because for the first time in my life, I’ve fallen in love, and I can’t wait to share my journey with you guys.”
Everyone claps as Declan escorts me off the stage, and we head to the back so I can take a few required pictures and then hand the award off to my assistant before finding my seat.
“You realize you just told over two million people you’re engaged to me?” Declan asks, pulling me into his arms. “There’s no going back now.” He smirks playfully.
“I don’t want to go back,” I tell him seriously. “I just want to move forward… with you.”
“You were supposed to propose at dinner!” Mom laughs, slapping Declan playfully on the shoulder as we’re seated at the table in the private room of the restaurant that Declan booked—to propose. “It’s the entire reason we all came.”
Declan flinches. “I’m sorry. It just kind of happened.”
We find our seats, and the server immediately fills our glasses with iced water, then goes over the specials before excusing herself to give us time to look at the menu.
“How does proposing just happen?” Layla asks with a laugh. “At least tell us how it went down. Was it romantic?”
The memory of Declan fucking me against the door and then dropping to one knee as his cum dripped down the inside of my thighs has me choking on and spitting out the water that I’m taking a sip of.
With a knowing smirk, Declan calmly pats my back as he says, “I think she was satisfied with it.”
“Oh my God,” I breathe, glaring at him. “He proposed after we performed,” I tell Layla. “It was perfect.”
Since Declan was supposed to propose at dinner, the table is filled with gorgeous flowers, and at the end of the meal, a decadent dessert and delicious champagne are brought out, along with a bottle of sparkling grape juice since I can’t drink alcohol. We take tons of pictures and videos, and Declan and I both post photos on our social media announcing our engagement. As I thought, several people comment asking if I’m pregnant since the pictures of my bump are going around, but I ignore them. When I’m ready, I’ll confirm the pregnancy. Until then, they can have fun analyzing every photo and angle of me.