The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

Chapter 226



Chapter 226 Epilogue (Five Years Later)

The warm June sun bathed the sprawling university campus, its golden light glinting off the ivy-covered buildings. Beneath a wide, white canopy adorned with blue and silver ribbons, rows of chairs filled with families and friends of the graduating class stretched out in neat lines. The air buzzed with excitement as whispered conversations mingled with the occasional bursts of laughter.

The proud graduates stood at the center of it all, clad in flowing navy gowns and mortarboards, their tassels swaying in the gentle breeze. At the front of the stage, Maya stood poised; the gold stole of a valedictorian draped elegantly over her shoulders. Her confident smile radiated Fauld a mixture of f pride and gratitude, and her voice was clear and strong as she delivered her valedictorian speech.

She spoke of resilience, growth, and gratitude. She spoke of her journey, of those who had supported her along the way, and her excitement for the future. Her words touched everyone, sparking laughter and tears in equal measure.

Seated near the stage, Evelyn and Derek were the picture of happiness. Evelyn, her hair swept into an elegant chignon, wore a flowing floral dress that matched the vibrant energy of the day. Beside her, Derek had one arm draped casually over the back of her chair, his other hand resting lightly on the head of their five-year-old daughter, Nat Nathalie clutched a small doll in her hands.

Nathalie squirmed excitedly in her seat, her curly hair image of his sister with the same unruly curls and mischievous smile. The twins shared the same restlessness, kicking their legs under their seats as they waited impatiently for their aunt Maya to finish her speech. On Evelyn's othe other side sat their son, Nathan, a mirror image of of Samantha, now eleven, sat tall and proud beside her younger sister, her maturity setting her apart. She held a small bouquet of daisies in her lap, her face glowing with anticipation as she waited for the moment when she would hand it to Maya. Derek's parents were seated in in front with proud smiles on their faces as they watched Maya, who had now become their daughter legally and was very precious to them.

Beside them were Evelyn's parents, who also had proud smiles on their faces. Claire giggled when Natalie tugged on her hair behind, and she turned to look at her granddaughter, "Want your favorite grandma to carry you?" Rebecca snorted, "Who made

Natalie giggled, enjoying the way the favorite?" She asked Claire, turning to Natalie with a wide smile. "I'm your favorite, am I not?"

both her grandmothers always competed for the favorite position.

Behind Derek and Evelyn, Rayna and Ethan wrangled their own little crew of children-three in total: a four-year-old boy, a two-year-old girl, and a ten-month-old baby boy. They had done their best to catch up with Evelyn and Derek. The youngest sat on Ethan's lap, happily gnawing on a teething toy, while Rayna whispered sternly to the older two to keep still. Despite the chaos, their faces radiated pride as they listened to Maya speak.

"And to my family," Maya's voice carried across the crowd, her eyes scanning until they landed first on her parents and then settled on Evelyn and Derek. She smiled warmly, her voice softening as she continued,

"Thank you for your unwavering support and love.

This achievement wouldn't have been possible without you." Her gaze flicked to Liam, seated a few rows back, who offered her a subtle nod of encouragement.

As Maya concluded her speech, the crowd erupted

into applause. Derek stood first, cheering loudly, and Evelyn joined him, clapping vigorously. Samantha whistled through her fingers while Nathalie waved her flag so enthusiastically that it almost hit Rayna, who was seated behind them. Evelyn's eyes shimmered with tears. "I feel so proud.

She's incredible," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion as they sat down.

Derek squeezed her hand gently. "She is"" he said, his eyes twinkling with pride.

The

ceremony concluded with the graduates tossing their caps into the air, cheers echoing through the courtyard. As Maya made her way through the crowd toward her family, Liam intercepted her, his smile brighter than the sun overhead. He was dressed in a crisp navy suit, his hands tucked nervously into his pockets.

Maya paused, her eyes narrowing playfully. "What's that look for?" she teased, tilting her head.

Instead of responding, Liam reached into his pocket and dropped to one knee. Gasps rippled through the nearby crowd as he pulled out a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. "Babe," he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, "you've been my best friend, my inspiration, and my heart. I've been waiting for this moment for so long, and I don't think there's a better time to tell you that I

want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Maya's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and happiness. The crowd fell silent, holding their breath as they awaited her answer. Finally, she nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Yes," she whispered, then louder, "Yes!"

Once again, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Maya threw her arms around Liam's neck, laughing through her tears.

Nearby, Samantha let out an excited squeal, clapping happily. Nathan and Natalie joined in, their little voices shouting, "Aunt Maya said yes!"

Evelyn leaned into Derek's shoulder, her own tears of joy spilling over. "It's a perfect ending to a perfect story," she said softly.

Derek pressed a kiss to her temple. "Yes, it is," he replied with a grin, watching as their family gathered around Maya and Liam for hugs and congratulations.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm amber glow over the courtyard, the families came together for photos and laughter.

Rayna's youngest tugged on Nathan's shirt, prompting him to share his toy airplane, while Natalie held tightly to Samantha's hand, asking endless questions about Aunt Maya's wedding and if she would be the flower girl.

For a brief moment, Evelyn stood back, watching the scene unfold. Her heart swelled as she took in the sight of their growing, chaotic, and deeply loving family. It wasn't perfect- there were tantrums, spills, and endless noise- but it was hers, and she wouldn't trade it for the world

Derek's arms wrapped around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. "What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice low and tender.

She smiled, leaning into him. "Just how lucky we are," she said simply.

He kissed her cheek. "That we are." Together, they watched as Samantha and their parents posed proudly with Maya. The twins climbed onto Liam's back, and Rayna tried unsuccessfully to wipe ice cream from her youngest's face while Ethan tried to catch the two others, who were chasing after a balloon.

As the sun finally set, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, the family gathered for one last group photo

every laugh, smile, and moment of joy captured as a memory to cherish forever.

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