ADRIAN'S PROPOSAL
1656 Words
THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRAVING
CHAPTER 10: ADRIAN'S PROPOSAL
Immediately I opened the door, I saw Marshall already standing at the doorstep, leaning casually against the wall with a bright, mischievous smile on his face—as if he had been waiting there all along.
I paused and narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.
“Why do I have a feeling there’s a tracker in this bracelet?” I asked, raising my wrist and pointing at it.
Marshall chuckled softly, completely unfazed.
“I’m just happy to know you didn’t take it off.”
“I seriously don’t know what to do with you,” I muttered, shaking my head as I walked past him into the room.
“Simple,” he said smoothly, following behind me. “Just say you love me.”
“You punk,” I snapped, but a smile betrayed me.
Before I could stop him, he grabbed my bag and ran toward my room.
“Marshall!” I shouted, chasing after him with my heels in my hands.
Even with the heavy travel bag, he ran like his life depended on it.
“Here,” I said, slightly breathless as I caught up with him. “Adrian said I should give this to you.”
“I don’t want his,” Marshall replied instantly. “I want yours.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Whatever is in that small bag is yours.”
“Really? Teddy bear, I love you so much!” he said excitedly, rushing toward it like a child.
“Open Adrian’s gift first,” I insisted, folding my arms. “I want to see what he got you.”
Marshall frowned immediately.
“I don’t like him. He’s trying to become your favorite, and that makes him my enemy.”
He even lifted his leg dramatically like he was about to kick something.
I stared at him blankly. “Was that supposed to be a kick?”
“Just open it,” I said, giving him my best puppy eyes.
He sighed deeply. “You always win.”
Slowly, he began unwrapping the gift.
The moment the box opened, the room fell silent.
Seconds stretched.
Then suddenly—
“WOW!”
I stepped closer, my eyes widening in disbelief.
Inside the box was a Graff Diamonds Hallucination wristwatch.
The diamonds sparkled so intensely that it almost didn’t feel real. Different colors reflected under the light—pink, blue, yellow, green—blinding and breathtaking at the same time.
“Is this even real?” I whispered.
Marshall didn’t respond. He was too busy admiring his wrist in the mirror like he had just been crowned king.
“That watch costs millions…” I added under my breath, still in shock.
For a moment, we both stood there, completely mesmerized.
“Okay… now open mine,” I said softly.
Marshall didn’t even turn.
“I think I’ll open them tomorrow.”
My expression changed instantly.
“What?”
“No offense,” he said casually, still admiring the watch, “but yours won’t be as special as this.”
That hit deeper than I expected.
“I got them with love,” I said quietly.
“And I’ll open them with love tomorrow,” he replied, pecking my cheek lightly. “Good night, teddy bear.”
He walked out just like that.
I stood there, staring at the door, my chest tightening slightly.
“Good night…” I muttered, my voice low.
---
The next morning, I woke up to Marshall’s voice echoing in my room.
“Teddy bear! Where are the gifts you got me?”
“I gave them to the gateman,” I replied casually as I stretched.
“What?!” he shouted, completely shocked. “Why?!”
I sat up and looked straight into his eyes.
“Because you said they weren’t as special as Adrian’s.”
His expression dropped immediately.
“I was joking,” he said softly. “I still prefer yours… you got them with love, right?”
I crossed my arms. “No. I got them with hatred.”
He placed his head on my lap like a guilty child.
“I’m really sorry…”
I tried to stay serious, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“I was joking,” I said, smiling. “They’re in my wardrobe.”
His face lit up instantly.
“Which one?”
“The biggest.”
“What’s the code?”
“You already know it.”
“Wait! Let me open them before you go!”
“Fine,” I said, sitting back on the bed.
This time, he opened them quietly.
No jokes.
No teasing.
Just focus.
Then suddenly, he hugged me tightly.
“Thank you, teddy bear.”
I smiled softly, patting his back.
“If Dad sees them, I’ll pretend you bought them yourself.”
---
Later that day, I was heading downstairs when my phone rang.
Adrian.
My heart skipped instantly.
I stopped mid-step, then slowly turned back and went to my room.
I ignored the first call on purpose.
Let him miss me.
When he called again, I finally picked up.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Great morrow,” I replied playfully.
“How was your night?”
“It was great… and yours?”
“It was cool.”
We talked.
And talked.
And talked.
Time slipped away so easily that it didn’t even feel real.
Two hours passed, yet it felt like minutes.
I found myself smiling for no reason, laughing at things that weren’t even that funny.
And somehow… I didn’t want the call to end.
---
Two months passed.
Adrian and I were still just friends.
But deep down…
It didn’t feel like just friendship anymore.
There was something else.
Something stronger.
Something I couldn’t name.
---
One afternoon, Hibiscus and Acacia dragged me out of the house.
“I don’t want to go out,” I complained.
“Too bad,” Hibiscus replied immediately.
“You’re coming with us,” Acacia added.
I sighed and threw on a simple outfit—jeans and a red hoodie.
“I’m not driving,” I said firmly.
“Fine,” Hibiscus replied too quickly.
I narrowed my eyes.
Something felt off.
---
When we arrived at the park, I frowned.
“It’s empty?”
That park was never empty.
“Wow,” Acacia said dramatically. “I can’t believe this.”
I crossed my arms.
“If you weren’t my friends, I’d think you brought me here for a ritual.”
They laughed.
Too casually.
Too… planned.
---
Then I saw it.
Flowers.
Everywhere.
The entire park was decorated beautifully.
“It looks like a wedding venue…” I said softly.
“Maybe it’s your wedding,” Hibiscus teased.
I laughed, but my heart started beating faster.
Something wasn’t right.
Or maybe…
Everything was.
---
Then I saw the first placard.
“I first met her at the restaurant.”
I froze.
Second.
“I met her again at the mall.”
My breathing became uneven.
Third.
“We competed together… the best competition of my life.”
Fourth.
“We went on a trip together… and somewhere between the laughter, the late-night talks, and the way she smiled at the ocean… I realized I didn’t want a life without her.”
My heart stopped completely.
That trip.
Every memory rushed back at once.
The laughter.
The late-night conversations.
The way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.
The way I felt… safe.
---
Soft music filled the air.
My heartbeat grew louder with every step I took.
I followed the sound slowly.
Step by step.
Until I saw him.
Adrian.
On one knee.
---
Everything around me disappeared.
The noise.
The air.
The people.
It was just him.
And me.
I couldn’t breathe.
For a moment, fear crept in.
What if this changes everything?
What if I lose him?
What if this is too fast?
But then…
Another thought replaced it.
What if this is right?
---
“I know we haven’t known each other for long,” Adrian began, his voice slightly shaking. “But every moment I spend with you feels right.”
His eyes never left mine.
“You came into my life and changed everything in ways I never expected.”
My chest tightened.
“You’re not just special… you’re my peace, my happiness, my light.”
Tears blurred my vision.
“I tried to ignore it at first,” he continued. “But I couldn’t.”
He smiled softly.
“That trip we took together… that’s when I knew. I didn’t want a future that didn’t have you in it.”
My heart melted completely.
“I wish I could ask you to marry me right now… but I don’t want to rush you.”
He took a deep breath.
“So… will you be my girlfriend?”
---
A soft laugh escaped my lips through my tears.
All my fears…
Gone.
All my doubts…
Gone.
“I don’t know why…” I said, my voice trembling. “But I’m really happy right now.”
I stepped closer.
“I want to be your girlfriend…”
I paused.
Then smiled.
“But I also want to be more than that.”
His eyes widened slightly.
“I’ll marry you.”
---
He stood up instantly and pulled me into a tight embrace.
Cheers erupted.
Confetti filled the air.
Flowers rained down.
Laughter.
Clapping.
Everything felt alive.
Everything felt perfect.
Like a dream I never wanted to wake up from.
---
And in that moment…
I truly believed I had found my happily ever after.
---
But I didn’t know…
That happiness like this…
Never comes without a price.
Because sometimes…
The brighter the joy…
The darker the storm that follows.
And what was coming next…
Would turn my fairytale…
Into my worst nightmare.
- Writer
