" You were that little boy ? " Liam's fingers rolled the prayer beads around his wrist . His smilę grew softer . Turns out , he went back to Orchard Valley back then . But he never stopped thinking about me . When he finally had the means to come find me , he saw me chasing after Lucas . He was crushed . So he chose to retreat , devoting himself to Buddhism in hopes of letting me go . " Luckily , the abbot told me I still had ties in this world . He asked me to wait another six months . " " The day your dad called ... was the very last day of that six months . " " Destiny , you're the one I'm meant to be with . " Under the table , he held my hand tightly . I laced my fingers through his and held back just as tight . After the engagement party , with my parents and Liam beside me , I filed a police report against the Whitmores for unlawful confinement , assault , and coercion over the prenup . The court quickly ruled the agreement void . They were detained for seven days . Two weeks later , Liam started taking me around to look at houses . That day we saw a beautiful one . We were laughing and chatting the whole ride home . But as we got out of the car , we saw Lucas standing outside my house with a massive bouquet of roses . Liam instinctively pulled me behind him , eyes narrowing . T 1/2 Chapter 7 " Lucas , Destiny already said what she needed to say . Why are you here again ? " Lucas ignored him and walked straight up , roses in hand . +25 BONUS " Destiny , I've thought it all through . I didn't treat you right before . I didn't realize I loved you . But I do . I really do . " " I've always loved you . Ever since we were kids , it was always you . Every time you told me you loved me , I was thrilled . Every time you said you'd only marry me , I pictured our wedding . " He dropped to one knee and pulled out a cheap plastic ring . " Destiny , this is the ring you used when you proposed to me in elementary school . I've kept it all this time , just to put it on your finger myself . " " Please , marry me . " Liam was always calm , but now his eyes flashed with cold amusement . " Lucas Whitmore , did you say this much when you swore you'd only ever love Miss Monroe ? " " This has nothing to do with you , Mr. Morgan , " Lucas snapped . " This is between me and Destiny . " The tension between them was thick . I stepped out from behind Liam . Lucas's eyes lit up when I took the ring from him . But I turned to Liam , confused . " Liam ... wasn't this the goodbye gift I gave you when you moved away ? " The mood shattered instantly . Silence fell over everyone . Liam took the ring and turned it over twice . He looked genuinely puzzled . " I've never seen this before . " " Really ? The day you left , every classmate gave you a gift . I gave you this . " " You said you liked the candy ring , so I went to the store and picked one out . I even wrote my name on it with a black marker : Destiny Meyer " .