Love's Redemption

Redmption 303



"I'll keep that in mind," Brandon replied, still deadpan as ever.

I snorted, half in amusement and half in annoyance. I'm starting to understand why you were single for the better part

of your life. You have such a... dry personality."

"A dry personality? You think so, too?" Brandon asked softly.

I figured his intelligence failed him when it came to love. I gave an exasperated laugh. "What I'm saying is, you're so straight-

laced that you don't really know how to talk to a woman, much less cajole her."

He paused, then said, "To my understanding, cajoling implies a certain degree of manipulation."

Another straight-laced, albeit unique, answer that left me speechless. Before I could explain, he asked, "Is that what you want from me? Cajoling?"

All women liked it when men indulged in their whims and cajoled them when necessary, but it had to be done out of love. Chris, for one, had done it ou

"No, just stick to your methods," I said, burrowing into his embrace. "Your quirks are endearing."

"Would you say yes if I proposed?" Brandon asked, suddenly steering the topic back to my accusation earlier.

never considered it, and I was so stunned by his sudden question that I blurted instinctively, "I wouldn't know, seeing as you haven't proposed."

As soon as I said this, Brandon grabbed my wrist and gently tugged my hand out from under

the covers. He gently toyed with my fingers as he murmured, "Mae, will you marry me?"

I giggled. "Is this your idea of a proposal?"

"Yes and no," he replied. His vague answer made me want to punch him.

I never expected to be proposed to like this. I always thought Chris would be the one to propose to me but now, Brandon was

lying next to me and asking me for my hand.

It made me think of how Chris had invited me to the amusement park not too long ago. He had wanted to propose to me there, but I never went. The s up was later photographed and put up on the inte.

Theizens brushed it off as an amusement park event, but I knew Chris had set it up to propose to me.

"You must think I'm really gullible if you believe you could win me over so easily," I drawled.

"You didn't even get a ring or flowers ready. Where's the grand, romantic gesture was cut off when Brandon lifted my hand, and my gaze fell on

the fingers he had been toying with earlier. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

I stared at the shimmering gold band that now adorned my slender ring finger. My eyes darted to Brandon in alarm, then back at the ring on my finger. I swore he did not just slip that ring on, which meant...

"I put it on last night. I asked you if I could put it on for you, and you nodded," Brandon confessed, finishing my train

of thought and leaving me speechless.

"That doesn't count as a proposal, Brandon! It's not fair for you to pull something like that while I was asleep!" I protested, hitting his shoulder.

"I know, so I figured I could ask you now." His thumb grazed the ring on my finger. "Will you marry me?"

Straight-laced, sweet-talking blockhead.

If I said yes immediately, I might look desperate. As such, I grimaced at the ring he had sneakily slipped

onto my finger and groused, "Come on, Brandon, are you seriously proposing to me with this old thing? Did you dig it out from your family's antique collection or something?"

Brandon was silent for a few seconds. He then said, "Yes. The ring was my mother's. She told me to save it for the woman I'd marry."

I froze. Guilt crashed over me as I said, "I'm sorry. I was joking. The ring is just a little-"

"It's fine," he interrupted. "Think of it as a gift from my mom. I have another ring prepared."

I let out a breath of relief. “In that case, I'll say yes after you give me the ring.”

"So it's a tentative yes?" Brandon asked, chuckling.

I pouted. I wanted to say no, but I didn't want him to take it the wrong way. So I huffed and snapped, I'm not giving you an answer. I can't until you give me the ring!"

“Stubborn, wicked thing." He lowered his head and kissed me after chiding me.

I was losing myself in the kiss when Brandon's phone rang. He let me go, much to my dismay, and his breathing was rough.

My face was flushed, and I half-rasped, "Answer the call."

He caressed my face and reached for his phone on the nightstand. When he saw the caller ID, he did not pick up and instead silenced the call.