Ava's POVThe abrupt end to Liam's phone call left a chilling silence in its wake. He stood frozen, his face pale, his jaw clenched, the phone slipping from his grasp and clattering onto the desk. The look in his eyes was a mix of fear and determination, a storm brewing beneath the usually calm surface.Without a word, he turned and strode out of the office, his long strides carrying him out of the building and into the bustling city streets. I watched him go, a knot of worry tightening in my stomach. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. The urgency in his voice, the abrupt departure, the haunted look in his eyes – it all pointed to a crisis, a storm brewing on the horizon.I tried to call him, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. But the call went straight to voicemail, the automated message a cold reminder of his inaccessibility. My anxiety spiraled, fueled by unanswered questions and the unknown threat that had stolen Liam away.Hours crawled by, each tick of the clock an eternity. Sarah, sensing my distress, tried to distract me with work, with updates on the upcoming launch event for Aria Technologies. But my mind was a whirlwind of worry, unable to focus on anything but Liam's absence.Finally, just as I was about to give in to despair, the door to my office swung open, and Liam walked in. Relief washed over me, a wave of gratitude for his presence, for the sense of normalcy he brought to the chaotic whirlwind of my thoughts."Liam!" I exclaimed, rushing towards him, my voice laced with a mixture of relief and concern. "Where were you? I was so worried!"He reached for me, his hands gently cupping my face, his touch a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "I'm sorry, Ava," he said, his voice husky with emotion. "I had to deal with something... urgent."He paused, his gaze searching mine with an intensity that made my heart pound. Then, with a swift motion, he dropped to one knee, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing a stunning diamond ring that sparkled like a teardrop in the soft office light."Ava," he began, his voice surprisingly firm despite the evident turmoil in his eyes, "will you marry me?"The question hung in the air, a bombshell dropped into the quiet hum of the office. I stared at him, speechless, my mind reeling. Marriage? We had only just begun to navigate the complexities of our relationship, to break down the walls of his past and embrace the promise of a future together.Sarah, who had been quietly observing the scene, gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "Liam! What are you doing?"Liam, ignoring Sarah's outburst, kept his gaze fixed on me, his expression a mix of determination and vulnerability. "Ava, I know this is sudden. But I need you to say yes. We need to get married... tomorrow."My confusion deepened. "Liam, what's going on? Why the sudden rush?"He took a deep breath, the weight of his worries finally spilling over. "My grandfather, Henry Blackwood, has summoned me to Blackwood Manor. He's not happy about our relationship, about the publicity, about... well, about everything."He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration that mirrored my own confusion. "He wants me to break things off with you, to marry someone 'suitable', someone who fits the Blackwood mold."Liam's eyes hardened with a defiance I had rarely seen. "But I won't do that, Ava. I won't let him dictate my life, my happiness. I love you, and I'm not giving you up."He reached for my hand, his touch firm and reassuring. "That's why we need to get married, Ava. Before we face him, before we step into that lion's den. It will show him that we're serious, that our love is unwavering."He paused, his gaze pleading. "It will be our shield, Ava, our armor against their disapproval. It will show them that we're a united front, that they can't break us apart."I stared at him, my heart swelling with a mix of love, admiration, and a touch of fear. Marriage. It was a huge step, a commitment that would forever change our lives. But I also understood Liam's reasoning, the need to protect our love from the forces that threatened to tear us apart."Liam," I began, my voice trembling slightly, "I love you. And I want to marry you. But are you sure this is the right way? Shouldn't we try to reason with your grandfather, to explain our feelings?"Liam shook his head, a grim expression settling on his face. "Ava, you don't know my grandfather. He's a man set in his ways, bound by tradition and social expectations. He won't listen to reason, to explanations. He'll only see you as an unsuitable match, a threat to the Blackwood legacy."He squeezed my hand, his eyes pleading. "Please, Ava. Marry me. Let's show them that our love is stronger than their prejudice, stronger than any obstacle they throw our way."I looked at him, at the man who had faced his fears, who had fought for me, who had declared his love to the world. And I knew, with a certainty that defied all logic, that he was right."Yes, Liam," I whispered, my voice filled with emotion. "I'll marry you."A wave of relief washed over Liam's face, his eyes shining with a love that mirrored my own. He slipped the ring on my finger, the diamond sparkling like a teardrop, a symbol of our love, our commitment, our defiance. He then pulled me into a tight embrace, his warmth enveloping me, his strength a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions that swirled within me."Thank you, Ava," he murmured against my hair. "You won't regret this."I clung to him, my heart filled with a mix of trepidation and excitement. We were taking a leap of faith, a daring plunge into the unknown. But with Liam by my side, with our love as our shield, I knew we could face anything, overcome anything.We were getting married. And tomorrow, we would face the Blackwood clan, a united front, our love a testament to the power of defying expectations and embracing the unconventional.