CHAPTER 5
712 Words
Chris lowered himself onto one knee with a dramatic flourish and opened the small velvet box in his hand.
A radiant diamond ring sparkled under the glow of the crystal chandeliers.
The hall fell into hushed anticipation before erupting into excitement.
"He's proposing!" someone gasped.
A few guests clapped enthusiastically, while others covered their mouths in surprise.
Some of Isabelle’s friends squealed in delight, nudging each other knowingly.
Several guests immediately grabbed their phones, eager to capture the moment.
The flash of cameras illuminated the already dazzling venue as murmurs filled the air.
Chris smiled up at Isabelle, his voice filled with emotion.
“Isabelle Lewis, you are the most incredible woman I have ever known. Every moment with you has been a gift, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you marry me?”
The Lewis family members held their breath.
This was the moment they had always wished for!
They had hoped that one day, Chris Williams, the wealthy and influential young master of the Williams family, would propose to Isabelle.
And now, it was happening before their very eyes.
Without hesitation, Isabelle’s face lit up with joy.
“Yes! Yes, Chris, I will marry you!”
The moment the words left her lips, the hall erupted into cheers.
Applause thundered through the air as guests whistled and shouted their congratulations.
Flower petals were tossed into the air, filling the space with color and fragrance.
To many, it was a double celebration—Isabelle’s birthday and her engagement. But for Isabelle, it was a triple victory.
Tonight marked three major milestones in her life:
1. It was her birthday.
2. She had finally divorced that useless waste of space, Arthur.
3. And most importantly, Chris had proposed to her!
Her joy knew no bounds.
As the music resumed and the guests celebrated with wine and laughter, Arthur quietly exited the party.
He had signed the divorce papers, formally ending his marriage to Isabelle.
Seeing Isabelle accept Chris’s proposal so soon after their divorce was like a slap to the face.
But what more could he do?
She had never loved him. And now, she had moved on.
He had to move on, too.
Arthur walked down the quiet street, the lively sounds of the party fading behind him.
The cool night air brushed against his skin as he tried to clear his mind.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a sleek black car speed past him, but something inside caught his attention.
A young woman was struggling, her mouth covered by a man’s rough hand.
Her wide, terrified eyes met Arthur’s for a split second before the car turned a corner.
Arthur's heart pounded.
The way she fought, the muffled screams—he knew she was in danger.
For a moment, he hesitated. It wasn’t his business, after all.
But then, a memory crashed into his mind.
He was just a child when his parents were brutally murdered by robbers.
His father had been carrying a large sum of money, and when he resisted, the thieves had strangled both his parents right before his eyes.
They had taken everything.
They had left him alone in the world.
He had been powerless back then.
But now, he wasn’t powerless anymore.
Fueled by instinct, Arthur hailed a passing motorcycle.
“Please follow that black car!” he commanded.
The motorcycle sped through the dimly lit streets, trailing the suspicious vehicle at a safe distance.
After several tense minutes, the car pulled up in front of a deserted warehouse on the outskirts of the city.
Arthur watched from the shadows as the men dragged the struggling woman out of the car.
She kicked and fought, but they were too strong.
They laughed cruelly as they carried her into the building.
One of them sneered, “Since you won’t give us your bank card PIN, we’ll just get rid of you.”
The woman whimpered.
“Please! I don’t have any money! Just let me go!”
Another thug chuckled darkly.
“Too late for that. You should’ve cooperated.”
Arthur’s jaw clenched.
He turned to the motorcycle rider. “Stay here.”
Moving with quiet precision, Arthur followed them into the building.
- Writer
