The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

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 sunruly curls and

mischievous smile. The twins shared the srestlessness, 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 bectheir 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 | 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 | don't think there's a better tto tell you that |

want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you dothe 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 ctogether

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.

Thanks for reading.