Claimed By My Ex Boyfriend's Dad

Laura.

My phone pings with a text beside my desktop, and I quickly halt typing, pick it up, and read.

"Girl, I think your boyfriend's about to propose to you today! Congratulations!"

A startled gasp sneaks out of my mouth. The phone falls from my grip, drawing the attention of my co-workers, Martin and Gray.

They give me a weird look, and I chuckle half-heartedly.

"Are you okay, Laura?" They chorus.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Totally," I grin and cut my gaze away from them.

I can't believe what I just read! Liam is proposing today? Oh my god!

My boyfriend has finally decided to seal our love forever.

I pick my phone back up and reread the text from Tessa, my cousin's friend who works in the jewelry store a few meters away from Liam's house.

And yep, she's sent a picture for proof.

I look at the ring, glinting off the sunlight, and spot a bright smile tipping up my lips.

Another text comes in.

"And it's a ten-carat diamond ring, Laura! I'm so happy for you!"

I stop to breathe completely, blinking away the tears that are welling up in my eyes.

It's really going to happen! My boyfriend of three years is about to propose.

Liam is the only guy I've ever been with, and that's because he swept me off my feet the first time we met in a café. He literally narrated all the scenes in Romeo and Juliet! So apt.

Maisie used to say men in this century don't love the way I want to be loved - simple, thoughtful, and polite.

But then I met Liam.

When Maisie met him, she blatantly told me the relationship wouldn't last, but Liam and I waxed stronger for three years, and now he's about to propose.

The way he talks to me and his gentle, kind of love with less heat totally ticked all my boxes in a man.

And then in the café, he asked to be the Romeo in my Juliet, and without wasting time, I said yes to him.

That's how we began dating three years back, right after I moved to L.A. with my cousin, Maisie.

I work to pull myself together and shoot a text to Tessa.

I check the time. Five minutes to lunch break.

I quickly start packing up the files on my desk, fighting to calm my racing heart.

Obviously, Martin and Gray are still staring at me, wondering what caused a reaction from me that quickly.

I've barely talked to them or anyone since I began working at Cryvex, a crypto company, for three years now.

Immediately it hits twelve o'clock on the dot, I leave my desk hurriedly and excitedly, and advance to the glass door at the same time as others and push it open.

The company's building is bustling as usual, even from this third floor, and it's floored with natural light from the massive glass ceiling.

I prance through the marble corridor