Chapter 317: Julian Forrester Proposes

Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Julian Forrester Proposes

Julian Forrester held Sienna Everett’s hand, leading her forward.

Although it was night, the moonlight was exceptionally bright, illuminating their surroundings with perfect clarity.

Sienna couldn’t stop wondering what Julian wanted to tell her. She suddenly recalled that he had seemed a bit off before they left the house this morning. Had he been preparing for this since then? He was usually so strategic, handling everything with effortless grace. For him to spend an entire day preparing, it had to be something incredibly tricky and serious. What on earth had happened?

No. If it were that serious, Julian wouldn’t have spent the whole day having fun with her here, only to tell her now. Or had some accident occurred, and he hadn’t wanted her to worry? Did he let her enjoy a carefree day first, only to drop the bombshell tonight and ruin her mood for the foreseeable future?

At this thought, Sienna’s eyes widened in sudden alarm. A wave of tension hit her as her mind spiraled into a chaotic mess of possibilities. She even started recalling all those primetime soap operas she used to watch—car crashes, amnesia, terminal illnesses...

It was fine! Even if something terrible had happened, she would help him get through it!

Lost in her wild imagination, Sienna didn’t notice Julian stop in front of her. Her forehead smacked right into his back, and a sharp tingle shot up her nose.

Julian frowned slightly, quickly turning to gently rub her forehead. "Did that hurt?"

Sienna shook her head. "No, why did you stop..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the sight before her left her speechless with astonishment.

Without her realizing it, Julian had led her to a vast sea of roses. Thousands upon thousands of them were in full bloom, swaying beautifully in the night breeze. Not far away lay the rocky beach, where the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the reefs echoed.

Under the liquid moonlight, falling rose petals were carried by the wind out onto the ocean’s surface, looking like wild roses blooming right on the water. The most incredible part, however, was the scattering of fireflies dancing above the floral sea. They looked like little fairies carrying glowing green lanterns, or perhaps thousands of stars brought down into the night.

Unable to help herself, Sienna reached out, her fingertips gently brushing against the delicate petals. As the fireflies fluttered around her, she felt as though she had been transported into a galaxy of stars.

"How are there fireflies here?" Sienna asked, both shocked and delighted. Fireflies didn’t usually appear by the sea. The moment the question left her lips, she realized the answer. Julian must have arranged it.

A smile curved her red lips, her face even more radiant than the roses bathed in moonlight. "This reminds me of the first time we saw fireflies when we were kids!"

Back then, she had lived in the countryside with her grandparents. Julian Forrester had been sent over by Master Forrester to stay temporarily at her grandfather’s house. She had clung to him every day, dragging him out into the summer nights to watch the fireflies, telling him that once they left this place, they would never see them again.

As time flowed on, the two of them had grown up—and now, they were watching fireflies together once more.

Julian also recalled those childhood memories, the corner of his brow lifting in a subtle, imperceptible arc. "Do you still remember the first time we met?"

"Of course I do!" Sienna’s eyes curved into crescents as she beamed with a bright smile. "You didn’t speak a word back then. When some kids tried to pick on you, I was the one who chased them away!"

Thinking back on it now, she knew the reason he hadn’t spoken was because of the tragedy that had struck the Forrester Family. Having witnessed his parents pass away right before his eyes, Julian Forrester, being only a few years old at the time, was bound to be deeply traumatized.

Sienna squeezed his hand and swung their arms gently. Gazing at him with eyes that rippled like shimmering water, she made what sounded like a solemn vow. "I’ll always protect you in the future, too!"

Hearing this, a low, sexy chuckle rumbled in Julian’s throat, his features tinged with lazy amusement. "Here, say that again. I’ll record it on my phone so you can’t go back on your word later."

"Why are you so calculating?" Sienna quipped. "Don’t worry, I always keep my promises."

Suddenly, a firefly landed on her shoulder. She looked at it with childlike joy, cautiously reaching out to touch it before the little bug flashed its light and flew away.

Watching her, the lingering affection in Julian’s eyes reached its peak.

When Sienna turned her head, she met his unmasked gaze, filled with undisguised love. Her heartbeat instantly skipped a beat, losing its rhythm.

Amidst the faint fragrance of roses, Julian parted his thin lips, his deep voice laced with an imperceptible reverence.

"I lost my parents when I was young. I watched them pass away, completely helpless... I am so thankful that I met you then..."

Like a beautiful, lively, and confident little sun, she had crashed into his dark and desolate world in the most radiant, boldly vibrant way imaginable. From then on, he possessed the most beautiful and unique rose in the world.

His rose had left him once. But in the end, he had found her again, embracing her once more.

Hearing Julian suddenly bring this up, Sienna froze for a moment. Her fingertips trembled slightly. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out.

He lowered his eyelashes as the moonlight cascaded over him. Every contour of his features was flawless; the sweeping lines from his brow bone down to his jaw were more captivating than the night itself.

"I remember the birthday wish you made when you were a kid," he said softly. "You wished that one day you could find your parents, find your own family. But..."

The Everett Family had crushed all her yearning for familial love. Ever since her grandparents passed away, she had no relatives left in this world.

"Sienna." His eyes were steeped in affection as he gazed at her unblinkingly. "When you said just now that you would always protect me in the future, it made me so happy..."

He clasped her hand, intertwining their fingers. It was as if they were those two stumbling children who had grown up together—relying on each other, saving each other.

"I think about it every single moment. Whether it’s now or in the future, I want to treat you well—so, so well. I want to take care of you, to protect you, in the name of a lover, and in the name of family."

Sienna’s mind went blank for a second. Her heart felt as if it had been gently struck, sending dense ripples of emotion radiating through her chest. She gripped his hand even tighter. "Why are you..."

Why was he suddenly saying all this? It was making her tear up.

In the very next second, she watched as the man took a step back and dropped down on one knee before her.

He finally took out the box he had been carrying on him all day. It was made of elegant, noble black velvet. The lid popped open gently, revealing a stunning, one-of-a-kind ring resting quietly inside.

Sienna subconsciously widened her eyes at the sight. A towering storm whipped up beneath the calm surface of her heart. Her feet felt nailed to the spot, and she involuntarily held her breath, staring blankly at the man before her.

Here, in this seaside castle built just for her, amidst this incredibly beautiful sea of roses, the man—more handsome and noble than anyone else in the world—was holding a ring, kneeling on one knee right in front of her...