CHAPTER FIFTY

Jerome had been planning the perfect surprise for Ava. As they arrived home, Ava noticed that the sitting room was dimly lit, but as she ventured further, she was taken aback by the romantic setup before her. Candles flickered, casting a warm glow, and flowers adorned every available surface.

Ava's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to Jerome. "When did you have time to do all this?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Jerome smiled mischievously. "Can you just follow the flowers and see where it leads?" he suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ava's curiosity got the better of her, and she began to follow the trail of flowers. They wound their way through the house, leading her upstairs to Jerome's bedroom. As she pushed open the door, she gasped in shock.

On the wall, in bold letters, was written: "Will you marry me?" Ava's heart skipped a beat as she turned to face Jerome. He was kneeling on one knee, a small box open in his hand, revealing a stunning ring.

Ava's eyes welled up with tears as Jerome asked, his voice trembling with emotion, "Will you marry me?"

Ava's face lit up with shock and delight as she stared at Jerome, her eyes wide with excitement. She took a deep breath, and then her voice erupted in a joyful scream: "YES! YES! YES! YES!"

Jerome's face broke into a radiant smile as he slid the ring onto Ava's finger. The moment the ring settled into place, Ava let out another ear-piercing scream, this time with unbridled happiness.

As the ring sparkled on her finger, Ava felt like she was walking on air. She gazed into Jerome's eyes, her heart overflowing with love and gratitude. The room seemed to fade into the background as the two of them shared a tender, passionate kiss, basking in the joy and excitement of their engagement.

Ava, now thirty-one, felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy. She had been patient, waiting for Jerome to settle back into his life after being released from prison. Her mother had been nudging her to consider other options, but ava's heart belonged to Jerome.

As soon as she heard the jerome proposed,she felt like the happiest person on earth. She was ecstatic, almost to the point of being overwhelmed. Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and dialed Kira's number. Kira, her closest friend, was the first person she wanted to share the news with.

As the phone rang, Ava's excitement grew. She couldn't wait to scream the news into Kira's ear. And as soon as Kira picked up, Alpha blurted out the words, barely containing her excitement...

Ava's voice was shrill with excitement as she shouted into the phone, "He proposed! He proposed! He proposed!" Kira's calm and confused tone was a stark contrast to Alpha's euphoria. "Wait, wait, calm down, calm down... I'm not hearing you, what are you saying?"

Ava took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "He proposed!" she repeated, her voice still trembling with excitement. Kira's confusion deepened. "Proposed? I don't understand, what are you talking about?"

Meanwhile, Jerome sat nearby, a warm smile spreading across his face as he watched Ava's animated conversation. Ava's eyes sparkled with mischief as she clarified, "Jerome proposed to me!"

Kira's scream was loud enough to pierce Alpha's eardrums, forcing her to pull the phone away. After a brief moment, Kira's voice returned, laced with skepticism. "You don't mean it, like you're joking, right?" Ava's laughter was music to Kira's ears as she reassured her friend, "I'm joking? No, hell no, sis! I am not joking! In fact, if you want me to show you the ring, I can send it to you on WhatsApp right now!"

Kira's teasing tone was unmistakable as she exclaimed, "Like seriously, so my friend is now going to be a mrs?" Ava laughed along with her, the two friends sharing a joyful moment.

Kira's curiosity soon took over, and she asked, "So, when is the wedding?" Then ava replied,"Hey, come on, don't be in a rush. He just proposed, so we need to see my parents first."

Kira's excitement was palpable as she replied, "Oh, I can't wait!" She then added, with a hint of mock seriousness, "Besides, you need to reserve my position as the chief bridesmaid." Ava chuckled and teased, "Oh, come on, Kira, if that position isn't reserved for you, who else will it be reserved for?"

Kira's response was laced with humor and affection, "I trust you." They both erupted into laughter once again, basking in the joy and excitement of the engagement.

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As Ava ended the call, she turned to Jerome and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight, sweet hug. "Jerome, like seriously, I don't...I didn't expect this at all," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I wasn't expecting it."

Jerome smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He leaned in and gently pecked Ava on the forehead. "Let's give you a thorough shower,you are all sweaty," he said, his voice low and husky. "and then...who knows?" He winked, and Ava's cheeks flushed with delight.

Jerome swept Ava off her feet, lifting her into his arms as he carried her to the bathroom. He gently dropped her down, and they both began to strip each other, their movements tender and intimate.

As they stepped into the shower, the warm water cascaded down their bodies, and they began to wash each other. Ava gently massaged shampoo into Jerome's hair, while he returned the favor, his fingers tangling in her now long hair. Ava couldn't help but giggle as Jerome's fingers danced across her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Ava felt a deep sense of happiness and contentment. She was exactly where she was meant to be – with the man she loved. Her excitement was palpable, and she couldn't contain her joy, her heart overflowing with love for Jerome.