<spanng="EN">Charlie’s POV


    <spanng="EN">Holden was losing his mind, and I had to hold back myughter. I texted Drew to pass the ring over to me  behind Ana’s back. But her whole family, and Holden, saw the exchange. Her brother has finally been shocked into silence. Her mother is happily waiting for me to ask; her phone was already in her hands to film me pop  the question. Reid Caldwell had been surprised when my grandfather told him what we were here to do. Reid had recognized me after a minute as one of Ana’s bodyguards.


    <spanng="EN">He also remembers seeing me run with Ana in my arms after Tiffany attacked her. Once he realized who I was, he was happy that I was there to propose. I know that I’d only asked Ana if she was willing to date me, not marry me. But Holden wasn’t going to be held off for long. He would keep after her, trying to wear her down to get her to ept him. We can still date while we’re engaged and when we’re married. Who said I had to stop trying to impress Ana after we were wed. I will never stop trying to show off my wife. I wanted everyone to see my ring on her finger, and her on my arm.


    <spanng="EN">“Ana, for God’s sake, don’t do anything rash,” Holden said as he stood up.


    <spanng="EN">I expected him to try to stop me, which was why Jon and Drew were there with me. I wasn’t nning on allowing anyone to stop my proposal. I thought it was going to be Seth who caused a scene. I had his parents‘ blessing; he had to ept it. What else could he do?


    <spanng="EN">1 ignored Holden and slid my chair back. Holden started charging to the other side of the table, as anticipated. Ana didn’t know what he was doing and was carefully watching him. She leaned towards me for safety as Jon and Drew held him back from Ana and me.


    <spanng="EN">“Don’t do it, Ana. You deserve more than just a bodyguard. I can give you everything you ever wanted. Please don’t do this,” Holden pleaded, his voice rising with every word he spoke. He was furious that he couldn’t get through. He worked out to look good, while we focused on strength.


    <spanng="EN">Ana didn’t notice that I was down on one knee. She just instinctively moved closer to me. My grandfather and her parents noticed that, and I saw their silent approval. Her mother’s, filming was the next thing Ana noticed.


    <spanng="EN">She then turned towards me and gasped. “You said date.”


    <spanng="EN">“I know what I said, Ana, but I also know a treasure when I see one. Holden isn’t going to leave you alone.


    <spanng="EN">He’s going to keeping for you because he now realizes his mistake. I’m not foolish enough to make the same mistake. Analise Elizabeth Wade–Caldwell, will you marry me? I can’t promise you the world that Holden just offered. What I can offer you is my heart and the fact that I will always be faithful to you. I will be there for you on your good days and on your bad days, too. I can’t promise you a perfect life, but I can promise you that I will love you for a lifetime. I also promise you that we’ll still continue to date while we’re together. I will never lie to you, Analise. You caught my interest from the moment we met. Kissing you yesterday just confirmed everything that I’ve been feeling this whole time. You are my future, Ana, please say yes,” I asked.


    <spanng="EN">Ana’s eyes filled with tears at seeing the ring she designed shining before her. I know she didn’t design it with me in mind. But she did design it with a forever kind of love in mind. I was about to start speaking again. It had been a minute with no answer before she leaned over and hugged my neck. I could feel the tears on her face as she held me tight, She whispered, “Yes, I will marry you, Charlie,” into my ear. She then cupped my face in her hands and kissed me. It was an innocent kiss, but I’ll im a better one from her tonight when we drop her off.


    <spanng="EN">I thought my proposal had been ruined. Holden had been fighting and yelling the whole time. I thought that he would guilt her into rejecting me, but this wonderful woman had me crying and hugging her back. She finally turned towards her mother and said, “I said yes!” I could hear how happy she was, and I sagged in relief. I was honestly worried that she would think I didn’t mean it.


    <spanng="EN">I was sliding the ring on her finger when Holden broke free. I had just got it positioned in ce when his fist mmed into the side of my face. I stood quickly and ced myself in front of Ana to shield her. Holden had be unhinged, and I wasn’t going to let him hurt her. I’ll deal with him. I’ve been wanting to do this since I met him Sunday night.


    <spanng="EN">“Drew, make sure Ana’s safe,” I told him. He and Jon quickly got her moved to the other side of the table.”


    <spanng="EN">Now that I’m expecting it, why don’t you want to fight anymore?”


    <spanng="EN">Not going to lie, my cheek hurt, but thankfully, he missed my nose. I’m nning on getting married in a little over a week. I won’t allow Ana to be embarrassed by my appearance, not like that. Holden was backing away.


    <spanng="EN">I guess he felt that I should’ve been knocked out by his punch. He thought wrong.


    <spanng="EN">“You’re trying to take my fiancé away. Of course, I won’t just stand back and allow it. Ana is mine; she is to be my wife. You’re taking advantage of the situation. You need to stop being ridiculous right now. How could you marry a Caldwell? You’re nothingpared to them,” Holden replied, as he continued to try to walk away from me.


    <spanng="EN">I didn’t make any fast moves; I just followed him. I wasn’t just going to take a punch like that and allow it. Holden needs to learn that he picked the wrong man to punch. I teach my men to fight, and today Holden is going to learn a hard lesson.


    <spanng="EN">“Dad, are you seriously going to allow this? This jerk’s just after Ana’s money. You need to have a prenup written, Ana. You have to protect yourself,” Seth finally piped up.


    <spanng="EN">“I gave my blessing. Charlie loves Ana, and that’s what’s most important. Just like when I met Alicia, it was love at first sight. I see myself in him and I know he will take excellent care of my baby girl. This doesn’t involve you, Seth. She made her choice, and I’m happy with it. How could you expect me to allow her to marry into a family whose children have hurt your sister so badly? Did you even think of that, Seth? Holden just sucker punched Charlie while he was putting the ring on your sister’s finger. Where was your outrage at that? She could have been hurt. Charlie’s first instinct was to protect her. I think Holden earned the punch he’s about to get. Only Charlie isn’t going to hide and do it. I believe Charlie is exactly who your sister needs to marry. She already told us that he made her feel safe. That’s all I need to know,” Reid replied.


    <spanng="EN">“If you hit me, I’ll sue you,” Holden threatened, sensing Reid wasn’t going to stop me.


    <spanng="EN">“It would be worth it. But you hit me first, Holden. Would you rather join your sister in jail? Because that is a satisfactory end to this as well. In fact, I think that’s what I should do. Have you picked up for assault so you can’t stop our wedding. Because we both know you’re going to try to interfere. Ana, what do you say? Are you okay with turning that sham wedding into a real one?” I asked, Holden’s wide–eyed look of shock was almost cartoonish. He spun around to look at Ana as if he hadn’t even considered that possibility. Her slow smile gave me the answer I was hoping for. “That would be perfect, Charlie. I’ve already paid for the honeymoon. I was just going to take it by myself, but we can make it a real one. I’ll have the matching wedding band made for my ring, and design yours as well. They should be ready by the time the wedding gets here,” Ana answered.


    <spanng="EN">“No, I won’t allow it, Ana. I get it. You’re marrying him because he makes you feel safe. But there is no way he loves you, Ana. You don’t even know this man. You’re just trying to punish me at this point, and I don’t deserve it. Why are you doing this to me? To us?” Holden asked. He was getting really worked up, and I was d Seth finally realized that Holden was bing a threat.


    <spanng="EN">“Holden, let’s just go. You need to calm down, man. They’re not married yet. Let’s hit the club and talk this out. You’re starting to scare Ana,” Seth asked.


    <spanng="EN">Holden thought about it for a minute, but finally nodded in agreement. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Ana. You just need to know how much you mean to me. I made mistakes, but I want to make you my wife. Please don’t hurt me like this. Don’t forget, if I hadn’t warned you, you could have lost everything to Roger. Isn’t that worth something?” Holden asked quietly.


    <spanng="EN">He had calmed down quickly once he realized that he had scared Ana. He told Ana’s parents goodnight, then sent me a look that told me he wasing for me, before leaving with Seth.


    <spanng="EN">We heard their vehicles leave, and my grandfather said, “This was the most excitement I’ve had in twenty years. Ana, I am so d to meet you. I thought this brat was never going to give me the grandchildren we wanted. No one could be more pleased than we are for you to join our family.”


    <spanng="EN">“Ana, this is my grandfather, Charles Billingsley. He wanted toe and meet the woman who finally won my attention, and my heart,” I said with a smile, before wincing in pain.


    <spanng="EN">“Nice to meet you, Sir. Please excuse me for just a minute. I’ll be right back,” Ana said before running out of the room. She was back less than a minuteter with a bag in her hand.


    <spanng="EN">“It’s frozen corn, I couldn’t find peas,” Ana told me as she lifted the bag up to my face.


    <spanng="EN">She still didn’t realize yet. That my family was right behind the Vaughns in stature in the city. If you added my business in with the rest of our wealth, we would be even with the Vaughns. But I couldn’t find myself caring about that. Ana held the bag to my face, and her eyes were filled with concern. My ring was on her finger, and that was all I cared about.


    <spanng="EN">“She is a keeper, Charlie. Don’t you ever let her go,” my grandfather said with a nod.


    <spanng="EN">“I won’t,” I replied.


    <spanng="EN">Tell Mom and Grandma that we’ll being by tomorrow to give them the wedding details. I n on making Ana my wife in just ten days. I want her to have the wedding of her dreams,” I replied.


    <spanng="EN">“I believe we can help make that happen, Charlie,” Alicia Caldwell said with a smile.