Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 63

"That's a bonus," he chuckled. "I don't understand, who are your parents then?"

"My mother was Dad's younger sister, Rachel - she was a little bit wild apparently. They don't know who my father was. Rachel was raped, not that the family - except Dad - believed that. But then she died when I was born from complications. Once she knew she wasn't going to survive, she begged Dad to take me in and look after me. Mum... Mary hated the idea but Dad didn't give her a choice."

"That's why your parents have always treated you like that," Tom sighed.

"Yes, and why they were so disappointed in me when I fell pregnant with Jasmine. They thought I was repeating my mother's mistakes," she shrugged.

It all made sense now - Mary's behaviour towards Sophie, why Sophie never felt like she fit in, all of it.

Then her expression turned serious. "So I'm done with people using me and walking all over me," she challenged him. "And I told them that," she smiled and then huffed out a nervous breath.

Tom looked at Sophie with new eyes. She was stronger than he'd ever given her credit for. And she was telling him exactly how things had to be. It only made him love her more. "Good," he growled and kissed her fiercely.

"I'm proud of you, Soph," Tom murmured and she looked up into his intense grey eyes that shone with love for her. "You really told them?"

"Yes," she smiled. "We were having lunch and Mum said something about some long lost cousins coming for Christmas and I completely lost it. I yelled at them and told them exactly what I thought of them before I picked up Jasmine and walked out of my own house." Sophie blew out a breath. "It was the final straw."

"Yeah, well, it was time. I couldn't let Jass grow up thinking that's how family treated each other," she shrugged. It was something she'd stressed about since the moment she'd found out she was pregnant with her daughter. "I don't want her to have the childhood I had, or the life I've had with my family - like I am constantly trying to prove myself worthy of them. Or you."

"You don't have to prove anything to me. I love you. I love Jass like she was my own flesh and blood. My family adore her. And you. I adore you, Soph and I can't live without you," he murmured so much conviction that there was no doubt that he meant every word. "These last weeks have been hell without you." He looked down into her eyes as his fingers caressed her cheeks. "I know this has been an issue, but I have to know if you'll consider moving to Cairns with me? I have to be there, but I can't go without you."

The thought of moving to the other end of the country terrified her but she knew it was the only way to break the cycle with her parents, the only way stop them relying so heavily on her. Plus she wanted to be with Tom. "I'm scared, Tom, but I'll go anywhere you go," she nodded then held her breath. Her voice had been barely above a whisper.

He wiped away the lone tear trickling down her cheek. "Don't be scared. You have me and you'll always have me."

"Always?" she asked.

"Forever," he nodded, a smile forming on his gorgeous lips. "And I won't let anything come between us again."

At that moment, Jasmine jumped off the bed and pushed her way between their bodies to hug them both. "Don't forget me, Daddy!" she said.

"I could never forget you, sweetheart." He ran a hand over Jasmine's head lovingly. "You're my baby girl."

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