Joseph trembled after hearing that and stared at Irish surprisingly since he thought she might make a compromise just as before.
"You..." Steven raised his hands while Joseph hastily pulled her behind him and said sincerely, "You can beat me as you want. But it's not her fault."
Steven's hands trembled violently, and he said, "I will. Don't you think I won't beat you?" Mary was indignant, clenching her hands, and rushed to Joseph.
But she was not as tall as Joseph after all, so she could only beat on his back.
She beat so hard, and Irish could feel it easily, so she was about to stop Mary, but Joseph held her tightly, allowing Mary to hit him.
Irish bursts out in tears since she can't move. She felt sorrowful for Joseph and also for Mary and Steven. She was at a loss for what to do to end this farce, and she also didn't know how to ask for their forgiveness.
"Enough!" Steven finally roared and pulled back Mary with obvious anger hanging on his face.
Joseph still held Irish, wiping her tears for her gently and fondly.
Steven saw his expression clearly, and he calmed down, asking after a while, "Joseph, you really haven't married Ruby?"
"Yes." He replied.
"Do you really love Irish?"
Irish looked up at him, and the man's steady heartbeat sounded beside her ear, but she could only stare at him blankly with her tearful eyes, expecting his answer.
Joseph looked down at her and then replied firmly, "Yes, I love her so much."
Irish grabbed his shirt tightly and felt as if there were then a thousand horses galloping ahead in her heart. Her heart was trembling because of his brief words.
He had never said this to her, so his words touched her.
Mary was panting, staring at his face, and gnashed her teeth, "It is always easy for a man to say love to a woman. I don't trust you. How can you prove it to me?"
Steven was also waiting for his answer.
Joseph was silent for a while, turning to Irish and smiling abruptly, fondling her hair gently and wiping her tears gently. When he turned to Steven and Marry again, he looked so sincerely, kneeling down slowly in front of them.
"Joseph!" Irish was shocked by his behavior, dropping to her knees beside him without hesitation and shook head violently at him. How could he kneel since he was such an arrogant and mighty man? He neither surrendered in the face of a hail of bullets when they were in South Africa nor threw in the sponge when facing condemnation both in speech and in writing.
Obviously, Steven and Mary also didn't expect that he would drop a knee in front of them but looked at him with great astonishment speechlessly.
Joseph took Irish's hands, looking at Steven and Mary, and said sincerely, "You have brought up Irish since childhood, and you are like her parents. As a junior, I have to extend my sincere appreciation to you. Now, I earnestly request you to let her be with me, and I promise I will treat her well, and I won't leave her alone in any case. Even if there is much hardship before us, I will block all of it for her and prevent her from being hurt. Please trust me. It's my promise, and I will never go back on my words."
The sun moved right overhead little by little.
The sunlight penetrated through the thick clouds and fell on Joseph's shoulder, and his cheeks were overwhelmed by the warmth. His eyes looked firm while he looked as steady as a rock.
Irish had imagined all of his looks when he wasn't around, his smile, displeasure, frown, silence, or his fondness.
She could store so many looks of him in her mind, but she never expected his appearance when he dropped his knee. It was until he kneeled directly in front of her eyes that she then felt severe pain in her heart.
But there was also unnamed happiness spreading all over her body. At this moment, she could feel a strong sense of security which felt the same as when he showed up last night. His tall figure could bring her a sense of security and dispel her fear.
His behavior made her feel that she had finally found a home to return to.
Steven's face was tight while Mary was frozen there, even without blinking. Finally, after a long time, Steven turned to Irish, who still held Joseph's arms tightly, looking so pitiful.
"Irish, you can make your own decision, but if you regret your decision someday....." Steven stopped and didn't continue.
Irish shook her head violently and said, "I won't. There will not be such a day."
Steven clenched his hands and looked so helpless. He had taken Irish as his real daughter for so many years, and he couldn't bear to see her being unhappy and he was also shocked by her words since she said that she didn't want to be regretful for the rest of her life.
After a moment, Steven took a deep breath while his eyes turned serious when he looked at Joseph, "I warn you that if you dare to betray Irish someday, I will kill you at any cost."
Though his words sounded harsh, actually, he had made a compromise.
Joseph clenched Irish's hands while his handsome face looked sincere. He didn't say any sweet words or make promises but replied firmly with his deep voice, "Thank you for your understanding."
Mary and Steven left, and Irish handed back the bank card to Steven forcibly.
When everything calmed down, Irish clung torpidly to Joseph, mumbling for a long while, "I thought it would be an earth-shaking day."
Joseph embraced her and smiled, "It has been a big day."
"No, I am so afraid that someone will part us." Irish stared at him with a pitiful look.
He looked at her, moved by her words and kissed her forehead, and then said softly, "No one is qualified to do that."
Happiness, like intertwined nets, surrounded her, bringing her a sweet but also a slight pain feeling, forming an unnamed emotion.
She was like the liana clung to him, who was like the strong trunk to feel his warmth.
After hesitating for a while, she whispered softly, "You shouldn't have to drop your knee."
"It's worth doing that." He replied beside her ears.
They spent a peaceful weekend since Joseph was freed from his work, and he just accompanied Irish at home, carefully arranging the room and checking what else was lacking.