The Billionaire's Genius Wife



Zara's tears slowly vanish, replaced by a warm, spring-like smile. She gently released her embrace and sat on the side of Carter's bed. 

When their eyes met, Zara could feel the warmth in his gaze, which brought calm to her.

However, Carter's silence made her panic, fearing that he no longer wanted her.

Zara quickly added, "I accept... Your proposal, Carter Riley... I want to marry you!" Her voice trembled as she spoke.

Carter's smile grew even wider as he squeezed Zara's hand gently.

Zara began to cry again, but this time, her tears were tears of joy. However, when she saw Carter shake his head, her tears stopped, and panic replaced them.

"C-Carter, why are you shaking your head? You... you...  rejecting—" She couldn't finish her words, too shocked by the thought that Carter might be rejecting her.

Seeing her panicked expression made Carter laugh softly. He said, "Zara, you can't ask me like that. Let me do it..."

"What do you mean?" Zara asked. Confused. But, it didn't take her long to realize his intention. She lowered her face, feeling shy and a bit embarrassed. 

"But it seems you'll have to wait a bit, Zara..." Carter let out a faint sigh as he lowered his head, his eyes fixed on their interlocked hands.

"Why?" Zara asks. His words confused her, especially when she saw his expression turning gloomy. It made her even more worried that he might delay his proposal, even though she was ready to accept him this time.

Carter slowly lifted his head to meet her worried gaze. 

Regret and annoyance radiated from Carter's eyes as he said, "Because I don't know where the ring I prepared for you is. When I returned from your place, someone kidnapped me, and I lost everything at that time, including your ring." 

He sighed deeply, regretful that he couldn't keep the ring. The torture he endured and his despair made him forget about the ring entirely. Now, he didn't have the time to prepare a new one. How could he propose again without a ring?

Zara almost laughed out loud upon hearing Carter's words. She had thought that Carter would delay the proposal because his leg had not yet healed, but it turned out it was only because he had lost the ring. Her heart was relieved to hear this.

"So if you had a ring, would you do it now?" Zara asked while trying to calm her heart, which felt like there was an entire zoo dancing inside her; she felt nervous and at the same time excited.

Carter's eyebrows arched slightly upon hearing her words, feeling confused. However, upon seeing Zara's earnest gaze, he nodded, confirming her question. 

Of course, he would do it because he didn't care about his leg anymore. Doctor Robert had said it would heal in a few weeks, and he didn't want to wait too long to officially engage with her.

"Fine!" Zara said, and then she let go of Carter's hand, leaving him even more confused.

Zara reached for her bag on the chair, searching for something inside. After a while, she took out a small navy blue box and handed it to him. "Here... the ring I prepared."

Carter was utterly surprised. He looked at the box in her hand and then turned his gaze back to her, asking, "You prepared a ring?"

"Hmm," Zara said with her barely audible voice.

He took the box and opened it. When he saw the ring inside, he was stunned. 

'A couple's ring!? She prepared a wedding ring?' 

Before he could say something, he heard Zara continue, "Carter, I ordered this ring as soon as I arrived in this city." She smiled as Carter met her gaze and held her hand. "Actually, I intended to propose to you if you didn't—" Before she could finish her words, Carter pulled her close and kissed her lips.

The sudden kiss wiped away all rational thoughts from Zara's brain. When the trace of warmth touched her lips, his warm lips gently parted hers, and his tongue slipped into her mouth, kissing and exploring. The air in her chest was practically squeezed out. She wanted to breathe, even if it meant putting some distance between them. But Carter didn't give her the chance to do that. 

The gradual lack of oxygen made her breath grow short, and after a few more seconds, Carter finally released her. The warm tip of his tongue gently swept across her rosy lips. His pair of blue eyes now stared back at her, sending a loving gaze that made her heart tremble even more. 

After they both inhaled the air they needed, Carter was the one who broke the silence. 

"Zara Marks, will you marry me?" Carter said in a trembling but beautiful voice to Zara's ears. She felt like she was flying to the seventh heaven with his proposal.

"Yes... Yes... I will marry you, Carter Riley!" She answered him firmly, without even thinking.

Carter couldn't hide his overwhelming happiness after proposing to her. His smile widened, and his heart raced faster than before. 

Slowly, Carter opened the box in his hand and slid the beautiful diamond ring with a heart-shaped design onto Zara's finger. Zara did the same in return, placing a ring on Carter's finger.

For a few seconds, they both smiled as they gazed at their adorned fingers. As their eyes locked onto each other, their smiles grew even broader and joyier.

"Zara," Carter said, holding her hand, "Although this proposal may not have been as perfect as what you've dreamt of, given my current condition," He paused to take a deep breath, "I promise you that I will recover soon and give you the romantic proposal and wedding you desire."

Zara felt emotional hearing his words. Holding back her tears, she said, "I don't need any of that, I just want you to be healthy—"

Carter suddenly pulled Zara into his arms, cutting her off, and without giving her a chance to speak, he lowered his head and kissed her rosy lips passionately. The lingering kiss seemed to express the depths of his inner feelings.