Ruin Me Slowly

Chapter 16

Carter POV

When I asked Jane to be my fiancée, I knew exactly what kind of storm I was stepping into.

The press would tear us apart. My family would have opinions—loud ones. And my sister? She’d probably throw a drink in my face. But none of that mattered. Not anymore.

This wasn’t about me. This was about Jane. And the baby she was carrying.

There was no way I was going to let the media spin some story about how I knocked up the daughter of my father’s worst enemy and ran. I wasn’t that guy—not with her. And after hearing what she’d been through… I knew she needed more than just help. She needed support.

When she told me her father kicked her out?

My stomach turned.

Richard Ellis might smile for the cameras, but something darker lived behind those perfect suits and charity galas. I saw it in Jane’s eyes when she spoke about him. The fear. The disappointment. The pain.

And in that moment, I realized something.

Jane wasn’t like him.

Not even close.

She was soft where he was cruel. Honest where he was fake. She was struggling, but still trying. Still standing. And I respected the hell out of her for it.

So yeah, I wanted to help her—but not in a way that would drag her name through the mud. This wasn’t charity. This wasn’t a quick fix. I wanted to protect her.

And the only way I could do that, without it turning into a scandal, was to bring her into the family.

Make it real.

Make her mine.

“Go get dressed,” I told her gently, after she agreed to the engagement. “Something nice. I want to take you somewhere.”

She blinked. “Where?”

“You’ll see.”

Her face went pale. “Carter, I don’t have anything fancy.”

“You have me,” I said with a grin. “And I’ll handle the rest.”

I stepped outside to make a call.

“Lorenzo,” I said into the phone. “I need a ring. Big. Beautiful. Something that’ll shut up every headline before they’re even written.”

“Carter, this is short notice—”

“I don’t care. I’m proposing tonight.”

There was a pause, then a sigh. “Alright. I have something. Platinum band. Four-carat oval diamond.”

“Perfect. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

By the time I picked up the ring and returned to Jane’s apartment, she was standing in front of the mirror in a simple black dress. Her hands were trembling as she fixed her earrings.

“You look beautiful,” I said, meaning every word.

She gave me a nervous smile. “I feel like I’m walking into a trap.”

“You’re walking into a new beginning,” I said. “Come on.”

We arrived at Nobu just after seven.

Flashbulbs greeted us the moment we stepped out of the car. I could already hear the whispers:

“Is that Jane Ellis?”

“Is she with Carter King?”

I kept my hand on the small of her back as we entered the restaurant. The maître d’ led us to a private table near the back, a low light hanging above us, casting a golden glow over her face.

Jane barely touched her drink.

She looked around like she was waiting for something to go wrong.

“Relax,” I said softly. “It’s just dinner.”

“With ten photographers outside,” she whispered.

“They were gonna find out eventually.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

I reached across the table and took her hand. “Yes, you can. You already are.”

Then the waiter brought dessert. A small tray with chocolate truffles—and in the center, a black velvet box.

Jane blinked down at it.

“Carter,” she breathed.

I stood up.

All eyes in the restaurant turned to us. Phones rose into the air. I could already see the flashing lights outside reflecting off the windows.

But I didn’t care. I dropped to one knee. And suddenly, everything else faded. Just me. Her. And the ring.

“Jane Ellis,” I said, voice steady, “will you marry me?”