When Alex arrived in America, Jake was already discharged from the hospital, and he was staying at his mother’s house, so she went there and Mary was very happy to see her.

“I’m so happy you’re back, Jake has been asking about you all day,” Mary said, hugging her.

“I also missed him,” Alex responded, hugging her back.

“He’s in his room,” Mary said.

“Okay, ma’am, let me go and check up on him,” Alex said. When she got to his room, she knocked, entered, and found Jake staring out of the window. “I hope you’re thinking about me while staring like that,” she said.

After hearing Alex’s voice, Jake turned around, went running to her, and hugged her tightly while spinning her around. “Babe you’re here!” he said. “I’m so sorry for chasing you away. My mother told me how badly I treated you, and I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s OK babe, I understand. You’re going through something, and I’m going to be here for you. I’ll help you walk through this journey, and you’ll be OK again,” Alex said, then she kissed him on his cheek.

After seeing Jake the way he was, Alex took the responsibility for taking care of him. She attended his therapy sessions with him, and they went jogging together every morning, watched movies together, and also played soccer together. Sometimes, Sam visited them, and she spent the whole day with them.

Some days were hard, and Alex felt like giving up. Whenever that happened, she would hide in the bathroom and cry. The truth was that Alex was in love, but she did not want to follow her feelings. But, because of the love that was developing between the two of them, and the hard work Alex put in, Jake was fully recovered after three months. He started writing music again, but his music had changed, and his songs became deeper. He was in love, but he did not have the strength to tell Alex because he was not sure how she felt about him.

After Alex noticed that Jake was OK, she asked him to allow her to go back to London in order for her to fix her career, and Jake agreed. So, after a while, Alex did that. But, after a month of talking on the phone, Jake could not hold his feelings in any more, and he called Annie and asked for her permission for her sister’s hand in marriage. Annie was very happy to hear the news, and she agreed.

***

“So tell me, sister, do you still have doubts about your feelings for Jake?” Annie asked, looking straight at Alex.

“Well, I don’t have doubts any more,” Alex replied with a big smile.

“What? Really?” Annie asked, looking shocked but excited.

“Yes, I have fallen in love with him, and I like that feeling,” Alex replied. “But I don’t really know how he feels. I want him to tell me that he loves me in front of the whole country, then I’ll be sure that he does.”

“OK, I hear you, sister. I’m just glad you love him, at last,” Annie said, while hugging her sister.

A short time later, Annie and Jake came up with a plan to surprise Alex. Jake then invited every journalist and TV presenter to come to London with him, but he kept his arrival in London private because he was planning something big. The surprise was going to take place at a baseball game.

“Alex, get up and get ready, I have two tickets for the game tonight,” Annie said.

“Really? OK, let me change,” Alex said, excited.

“Make sure you wear your best clothes,” Annie said.

After getting ready, Annie and Alex went to the game. “Whoa! There are so many people here today,” Alex said, sitting down.

“Yea, it’s a special game,” Annie said, also sitting down.

On the field, someone came up and started speaking. “Attention everyone,” the person began. “Before the game starts, I would like to take this opportunity to announce that there’s someone special among us today. He is a well-known singer, but he’s not here to perform. Rather, he’s here to share a special day with a special woman. A lot of people and fans have been asking him when he was going to start dating, and we have seen him with a girl many times, and the fans have been loving their relationship. So, today he’s here to do something. Let’s welcome to the field, Jake Miller!”

After the announcement, everyone got up, clapped and made a lot of noise.

“What the … Jake’s here? What’s going on, Annie?” Alex asked.

“I don’t know, let’s listen to what he has to say,” Annie responded, looking serious.

“Thank you everyone,” Jake said. “I don’t know where to start, but I’ll use my words wisely. I’ve been dating my whole life, until I decided to take a break after so many break-ups. But one day I met a beautiful girl that I fell in love with from the first moment I saw her. Before her, my world was dark, and I was going through depression. But she didn’t mind, and she stood by me, even when I pushed her away. I know sometimes she felt like giving up on me, but she didn’t. I’m here today, standing in front of all of you and able to face the world and its darkness and judgements because of her. I wouldn’t have asked for another partner in the whole world. Alexander Cowell, I’m in love with you, and I’m a hundred per cent sure that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, Alex, will you do me the honour and be my wife?”

After speaking, Jake went down on one knee.

Alex was full of tears the whole time, and the cameras followed her.

“Come on sister, get up,” Annie said.

While the camera was facing her, Alex stood up with tears in her eyes and nodded her head, saying yes to Jake. Everyone then got up, clapped and made a lot of noise. They opened a space for Jake to get to Alex, and Jake ran up the stairs and hugged Alex. Then he kissed her and wiped her tears away.

“She said yes, everyone, so congratulations to Jake Miller! So, Miller, when is the wedding?” John asked.

“Babe, when is our wedding?” Jake also asked, looking at Alex, who was wearing a beautiful ring and showing it to Annie, who was also happy.

“Soon, very soon,” Alex answered, hugging her sister, and Jake joined them.

That was it. Alex had finally given love a second chance, and Jake knew that, before her, he was no one and he was all alone in his dark world.

***

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