My Two Billionaire Husbands: A Plan for Revenge-Chapter 254: It Was Time

And still... Cammy didn’t move.

Her body was rooted in place, caught between fear and something much deeper—longing, perhaps. A dangerous longing she didn’t want to admit. A part of her was screaming to pull away, to stop this before it crossed a line. But another part of her... the part that had been aching for comfort, for warmth, for someone to see her fully—that part didn’t want to move at all.

Ric stopped, lips barely a hair’s breadth from hers. His breath mingled with hers.

"I mean it, Cammy," he whispered. "No more tears. Not when I’m here."

The door clicked open somewhere down the hallway.

"Miss Cammy?" the nanny called out. "Dylan said he left his phone in your bag."

Cammy jolted slightly, stepping back. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Her eyes dropped to the floor, her hand still tingling where Ric had touched her face.

Ric sighed quietly, turning his head toward the hallway, the moment shattered—but not erased.

"Come on," he said softly, his voice tight. "Let’s go to dinner."

But neither of them could shake what almost happened—what still might happen.

Just as Cammy turned toward the door, Ric reached for the jacket he had draped over the back of the chair earlier. He slipped one arm into the sleeve, then paused, his fingers brushing against something in the inside pocket.

He pulled out a small velvet box.

He stared at it for a moment, his expression unreadable, then quietly slipped it into the pocket of his jeans. His movements were casual, but there was a subtle tension in his shoulders—like he was bracing himself for something.

"Let’s go," he said, offering Cammy a small smile.

They left the villa together, the sun now dipping into the horizon, casting a golden hue over the lush resort grounds. As they approached Ellie’s house, the salty breeze from the ocean brushed softly against Cammy’s face, carrying the scent of sea and grilled food. It made her heart flutter—not with anxiety, but with something far gentler: peace.

It had been a while since she’d felt that.

From a distance, they could see the backyard porch glowing with warm string lights strung from post to post. The wooden table was being set by Ellie and Ark.

Ark was laughing about something Ellie had just said as he uncorked a bottle of wine, his smile a reflection of the easy, unforced joy between them.

Cammy’s eyes scanned the space and landed on the children.

Dylan, Queenie, and Elizabeth were seated on the wooden steps that led down to the beach. Their laughter rose above the rhythmic crash of waves, and Dylan’s casted leg stuck out awkwardly, but it didn’t seem to bother him at all. He was grinning from ear to ear, animatedly telling a story with his arms flailing and the girls giggling.

Cammy’s chest swelled at the sight. It was a scene so warm, so normal, and yet it brought a sting to her eyes.

This place... this resort... it wasn’t just a getaway.

It was where she found refuge once.

Long before her world became tangled with Greg—long before the battles and heartbreaks—there had been this. This porch, this view of the sea, these familiar voices, this sense of belonging.

She took a deep breath and smiled.

"I forgot how much I missed this place," she whispered.

Ric looked at her as they stepped into the light. "Then it’s a good thing you came back."

Cammy turned to him, her eyes soft, and for a moment, she wondered if fate had pulled her back here for more than just a wedding.

Ark looked up and grinned. "There they are! Just in time. You two go sit. Everything’s almost ready."

Ellie walked over and gave Cammy a quick hug. "I made your favorite, by the way. I remembered."

Cammy chuckled, surprised. "Of course you did."

As they all moved to gather around the table, none of them noticed Ric briefly touch the box still hidden in his pocket.

But he felt it.

And tonight, in this place where so many things had begun, something else was about to begin, too.

After dinner, Ark had built a beautiful firepit right on the sand, a circle of smooth stones cradling the flames. Folding chairs and blankets surrounded it, and everyone had a cup of warm cocoa or wine in hand.

Cammy sat on a low bench between Dylan and Elizabeth, their giggles muffled by the crackling fire as they roasted marshmallows on long bamboo sticks. Ric sat nearby, half-listening to Ark and Ellie talk about their early days at the resort, but his eyes kept drifting to Cammy.

The firelight danced across her face, softening the edges of the tiredness she carried. There was a light in her eyes tonight that he hadn’t seen in a long time—a glimpse of the Cammy she used to be before the storms.

And he knew it was time.

He stood up slowly, brushing the sand off his jeans, and walked a few steps closer to the fire. "Hey," he called out, his voice calm but steady. "Can I steal Cammy for a second?"

Cammy looked up, blinking. "Sure," she said, handing her marshmallow stick to Dylan.

Ric reached out his hand, and Cammy took it, letting him guide her a few feet away from the firelight, where the waves kissed the edge of the sand. The sea breeze tugged at her hair and sweater as she looked at him curiously.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box he’d been carrying all day.

Cammy froze.

Her breath caught.

"Cammy," Ric began, his voice thick with emotion. "I know this isn’t the first time I’ve told you how I feel about you. But tonight, I don’t want to just tell you. I want to prove it. I want to build a life with you—for real. Not just on paper, not just for Dylan’s sake or anyone else’s expectations."

He opened the box. Inside was a simple but stunning ring—a rose gold band with a single round diamond, understated but radiant, just like her.

Cammy stared at it, her heart pounding so hard she felt it in her throat.

"I want to be your home. I want to be your peace. I want to be the man who will never let you cry alone again. Will you... will you marry me, Cammy?"

For a moment, the world stopped. All she could hear was the ocean and the roar of her own heartbeat.

She looked at Ric—really looked at him. His eyes were full of fear and hope all at once. Her eyes burned with tears that refused to fall.

Behind them, the firelight flickered, and Dylan’s laughter rang out, innocent and unaware.

Cammy’s lips trembled.

She opened her mouth to speak—