Kael could only rub the back of his neck, smiling helplessly. ’These people...’
anwhile, completely unaware of everything, Martha continued her usual routine.
The next day felt... strange.
When Martha stepped into her office, she imdiately noticed sothing was off.
The lights were out.
"Power outage?" she murmured softly, her brows knitting together.
Curiosity nudged her forward.
She stepped out and walked toward the main building just across from her office.
The building towered above her, now expanded to twenty floors, its presence imposing even in daylight.
As she entered, darkness swallowed her.
The usual hum of activity was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness that made her footsteps echo faintly against the floor.
’This is... odd...’
She hesitated, a slight unease creeping into her chest as she turned to leave... Click.
In an instant, every light ca on.
The sudden brightness made her blink, her breath catching, and then she saw him.
Kael stood there, dressed sharply in a neat blazer, a bouquet in his hand, his posture unusually composed.
For a mont, Martha just stared, her mind going blank.
’What... is he doing...?’
Kael took a slow step forward.
Then another.
Each step echoed faintly, matching the rapid rhythm of his heartbeat.
Finally, he stopped in front of her and lowered himself onto one knee.
"Martha," he began, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest, "I’ve loved you since the very first mont I saw you."
"So... will you give the honor," he continued softly, lifting his gaze to et hers, "of staying by my side... and marrying ?"
Martha’s breath trembled.
Her eyes stung slightly as emotions surged within her, threatening to spill over.
’He... really did all this...?’
For a mont, she almost broke down.
But then...she forced herself to hold it in.
Instead, she crossed her arms slightly, lifting her chin with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Wait a second," she said, her tone teasing despite the faint tremor. "I’m not even your girlfriend yet... and you’re already skipping straight to a proposal?"
Kael blinked. Then smiled.
A bright, almost boyish smile.
The next second, he casually tossed the bouquet onto the ground.
Martha froze. "Hey... what are you..."
Before she could finish, Kael crouched slightly and pulled out a small box hidden within the bouquet.
Her confusion deepened. When he opened it, a delicate gold ring glead under the lights.
Her breath hitched.
"So," Kael said gently, his voice softening, "will you be my girlfriend?"
Martha’s lips twitched before she let out a quiet laugh, her eyes shining as she nodded.
"Yes."
Carefully, he slipped the ring onto her finger.
She instinctively lifted her hand, admiring the way it sparkled, her heart beating faster.
But then, she noticed him reaching for the bouquet again.
"This isn’t over yet?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kael grinned without answering. He pulled out another box.
When he opened it, a second ring, more refined, more symbolic, rested inside.
Martha’s eyes widened.
"Then... will you get engaged to ?" he asked.
For a mont, she was speechless.
Then she nodded again, more firmly this ti. "Yes."
Before she could fully process it, Kael took a breath and opened yet another box.
"Martha..." His voice softened. "Will you marry ?"
This ti, she froze. Her mind finally caught up.
’This idiot... he planned everything...’
Tears filled her eyes as her playful facade crumbled.
The truth was, earlier, when she joked about being a girlfriend first, then a fiancée, then a wife... she had only been teasing him.
In this world, in this broken tiline, no one had the luxury of taking things step by step anymore.
So instead,she nodded. "Yes."
The word barely left her lips before Kael stood up and pulled her into his arms.
Applause erupted around them.
From behind pillars, from hidden corners, coworkers began stepping out, cheering, clapping, whistling loudly.
So hooted shalessly, others wiped away tears, and laughter filled the once-silent building.
Martha couldn’t help but laugh through her tears, her voice trembling with happiness.
Kael held her tightly, his voice low against her ear.
"Finally... you’re going to be my wife."
But not everyone was simply celebrating.
From a distance, another pair of eyes watched quietly.
Felix.
His gaze lingered on the couple.
Then, slowly, his eyes shifted to Annie, who stood nearby, smiling brightly as she clapped along with the others.
’She looks happy...’
A complicated sigh ford in his chest.
He had always hesitated.
Annie, with her insecurities, had often hinted, subtly, indirectly, that she feared he might still have feelings for soone else... soone she resembled.
And because of that, he had held back.
’Once she feels secure... then I’ll propose...’ he had told himself countless tis.
But now...
Watching her smile so freely, so brightly...a new thought crept in.
’Maybe... she would say yes...’
At the sa ti, Annie felt faint trace of envy surfaced.
Martha looked so certain. So secure.
And Kael... had proven his love beyond doubt.
’After all he even had a susbtitute whom he watched from afar just because she resbled Martha... anwhile I...’
Not far away, Ivy stood quietly, observing everything.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Recently, things between her and Silas had progressed rapidly, they were almost reaching the third base.
And soon after, she heard the news... Martha and Kael were officially together.
For a brief mont, Ivy stood still.
Her gaze softened.
Watching those around her find love, stability, and happiness... it stirred sothing deep within her.
A strange, bittersweet feeling.
’In my past life... I never got to see this...’
Her chest tightened slightly, yet her lips curved into a faint smile.
It felt as though she was witnessing sothing she had been denied before.
Sothing she was now... slowly reclaiming.
.......
That night, as the world quieted down and darkness wrapped around everything, Ivy drifted into sleep.
In her dream, the world felt strangely still.
Then they appeared. A few figures, standing at a distance.
User Comments
0 comments from readers