Philip’s eyes shone with admiration and pride. “You are incredibly brave, Verity. To stand up for yourself like that, to fight for your own happiness… it’s remarkable.”
She smiled through her tears, the weight of her confession lifting. “It wasn’t easy, but I knew I could not live a lie. Not when my heart already belonged to someone else. To you.”
“You have shown such strength and determination, Verity. You have faced so much pressure and still, you followed your heart. I am so proud of you.”
Verity’s tears turned to a smile, a bright and genuine expression that lit up her face. “Thank you, Philip. Hearing you say that means the world to me.”
Philip reached out, gently wiping away her tears.
“You are a wonderful woman, Verity. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world, and I am honored to be the one to give it to you.”
Verity leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth and comfort of his hand on her cheek.
“I have dreamt of this moment, Philip. Of being with you, of sharing my heart with you. I never thought it would actually come true.”
“It has,” Philip said softly. “And I promise you, Verity, I will cherish you and love you with everything I have. Together, we will build a future filled with love and joy.”
She closed her eyes, allowing his words to wash over her, feeling the truth and sincerity in every syllable.
“I love you, Philip. More than words can ever express.”
“And I love you, Verity,” he replied, his voice thick with emotion. “With all my heart. I am so grateful that I can finally tell you that. I have wanted you to know for so long.”
In that moment, surrounded by the echoes of their confessions and the weight of their shared experiences, Philip and Verity knew that they had found something rare and beautiful. A love that had been forged through trials and strengthened by their resolve. A love that promised a future brighter than either of them could have ever imagined.
Philip reached out and took her hand in his, his touch sending tingles down her spine.
“Verity,” he said softly, his eyes locked onto hers, “will you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you stand by my side and face whatever the future holds together?”
Verity, her heart bursting with joy and love, accepted Philip’s proposal without hesitation.
“Yes, Philip,” she whispered, her voice trembling with happiness. “Yes, a thousand times yes.”
She leaned in close, their faces mere inches apart. As their lips met in a tender, heartfelt kiss, Verity knew that this was just the beginning of their love, and she could not wait to see what happened for them next. The kiss was sweet and gentle at first, a promise of all the love they would share.
Then, as the emotions of the moment swelled, it deepened, becoming a passionate affirmation of their commitment to each other. When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other’s, their breaths mingling in the small space between them.
“I love you, Verity,” Philip murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I cannot wait to start our life together.”
“And I love you, Philip,” Verity replied, her eyes shining with unshed tears of happiness. “With all my heart, I am yours.”
EPILOGUE
Six weeks later…
Verity could not believe that this day was here. It was a day that she never dared dream of, but also that she had been silently wishing for ever since she first laid eyes on Philip. It wasn’t so long ago that she had never laid eyes on the Marquess of Eilendale, but he had very quickly become the most important person of her whole life. How had that even happened? It was a mystery, even to Verity, but one that she very much enjoyed unraveling.
It was the day when she could finally wear the beautiful white gown that had been styled to fit her body exactly. It was the day that she could finally walk down the aisle of the beautifully decorated church. The day that she stood in front of the love of her life and finally committed herself to him for the rest of her life. She had feared her wedding day when she was scared that her brother might marry her off to Ambrose. It only caused her anxiety and made her incredibly unhappy. But now, she could not think of anything better than this.
As she stood, waiting to be invited into the church with her gown flowing gracefully around her, Verity felt a surge of happiness and contentment. The intricate lace and delicate embroidery of the dress made her feel like a princess, and the soft veil cascading down her back added a touch of ethereal beauty. She could hardly believe that this was real, that she was about to marry the man who had captured her heart so completely.
“You look absolutely stunning, Verity,” her mother said, tears glistening in her eyes as she waited with her daughter to be wed. “Philip is a very lucky man.”
Verity smiled, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. “Thank you, Mother. I feel incredibly blessed to have found him.”
The sound of music filled the air, signaling that it was time for the ceremony to begin. Verity took a deep breath, steadying herself as she prepared to make her way down the aisle.
As she walked down the aisle, Verity’s eyes locked onto Philip’s.
