Forbidden Love Under The royal Canopy

"I will propose to you soon." The statement, which seemed abrupt to her, left Isabelle slightly surprised. She almost choked on the food she was chewing. Her throat felt tight, with some elements that were about to block it. Quickly, her hand reached for a glass of water, and she gulped it down. Isabelle's hand rose, a sign for her lover to hold off on the continuation of his words. After taking a breath of relief, she looked at her lover with her deep gaze. Whether it was too soon or the timing was just right, Isabelle had never - or rather, had never imagined at all - that her lover would utter those words, even though their relationship had entered its fifth year. Besides, she had never imagined getting married at the age of twenty-four. Wasn't this too young for a woman in her country? However, shouldn't she be happy to hear this sentence? Isn't this every woman's dream - to receive seriousness from her partner without having to wait for a long time? Especially when the one in front of her is Ethan Grant Livingston, the eldest son of the Livingston family, destined to be the main heir to the entire Livingston wealth. A family classified as influential worldwide and holding control over the economy. Isn't this everyone's desire? To have a life that is well provided for, even for seven generations. Moreover, she and Ethan have been friends since childhood, their families have a good relationship and collaborate. So, what else should she doubt? Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Do you think this is too sudden?" he asked with a slightly different expression, now a bit somber. Without thinking, Isabelle immediately shook her head. She looked at Ethan with a smile, carefully examining the perfect sculpture that, in her opinion, God had created. Thick eyebrows, a firm jaw, and his body in that suit added to his high-class impression. Many women out there might envy him for being this prince charming. Perhaps journalists would write headlines about how lucky she was to conquer the heir. "I don't think so. We've been through a lot so far, so there's nothing wrong with taking our relationship to a more serious level," Isabelle said with her melodious voice. "I'm truly happy to hear that," she added. Afraid that her lover might be offended by her previous response, she reached for Ethan's hand and held it gently, calming his previously tense face. "But, Ethan, how will you talk to my father?" Isabella knew her father's character well. Although there were no restrictions between her and Ethan, and even though their families had a good relationship, Isabelle felt that there was still a barrier between them. Ethan made a move to hold Isabelle's hand back. "Maybe tomorrow, I will meet your family and openly ask for you from them." Isabella widened her eyes. "But what if you get an unfavorable response from my father?" she replied worriedly. "I will fight for you, Isabelle. You are mine," he answered with sincerity. For a moment, she felt stuck. Even before this happened, Ethan had always acted as if she belonged to him, taking control of her life. His words were like commands that must be obeyed. Since childhood, they had known each other, and this man made Isabelle the center and top priority. Ethan pulled Isabelle's left hand, and soon, he took out a red velvet box. When the box opened, a sparkling diamond ring could be seen, whose value Isabelle estimated to be quite fantastic. The ring fit perfectly on Isabelle's finger. It encircled so sweetly, indicating that Isabelle truly belonged to Ethan Grant Livingston forever. Not even an ant would be allowed to touch her. The dinner event on the cruise ship that Isabelle thought would proceed as usual turned out to be more than she expected. The man stood up and invited Isabelle to follow his lead. He didn't talk much, walking towards the ballroom where the visitors were dancing. Jazz music filled the room, and they were swept away in the orchestral performance on the stage. Initially, Isabelle just stood to enjoy the music, but it seemed different for Ethan, who pulled her waist to get closer. Demanding that Isabelle move with the rhythm of his music. Isabelle should be happy at a moment like this, as her love story was not like Cinderella's, where at midnight she transformed into an ugly figure. She remained with her prince, who would protect her. Shortly after, the main lights were turned off, surprising Isabelle a bit. Now, the ballroom was only lit by a few silhouettes. "It's okay; they usually do this to romanticize the situation," Ethan whispered. He gently stroked her back. "Relax, Isabelle." They were again immersed in the atmosphere, but there was an uneasy feeling in Isabelle's heart. She felt restless and uncomfortable. It seemed she wanted to go back home and lock herself in with her thick blanket. The music, initially led by the jazz orchestra, has now changed genres. Those who were initially dancing calmly began to move their bodies aimlessly, and some even bumped into Isabelle. Amid the crowd, the two of them remained calm there. However, Ethan held Isabelle's waist and pulled her even closer. His hand brushed away some strands of her hair to avoid covering her face. His cold hand began to gently caress Isabella's cheek, while Ethan's deep gaze made Isabelle's hair stand on end. Her body felt even stiffer. Ethan pulled Isabelle's head, bringing their faces close, uniting their foreheads until their noses touched. Their breaths seemed to exchange with each other. Isabelle felt cornered as Ethan moved closer to her face. She quickly moved to the side and chose to kiss her lover's cheek, then plunged into his embrace. Somehow, after five years of being in a relationship, Isabelle still refused to give her first kiss. All the physical contact they had done so far was limited to holding hands, hugging, and kissing each other on the forehead or cheek. She felt a part of her was unwilling. Yet, wasn't it clear that she truly loved her lover? Repeatedly, in the same circumstances, Isabelle always made rejections. "Forgive me, Ethan. I'm just not ready, and you'll wait for me, won't you?" Without wanting to argue, Ethan let out a rough breath. "Alright, Isabelle, I'll respect your principles. And I will make sure that someday you will be completely mine, and you won't be able to refuse," he replied in his hoarse voice. Maybe it was true; Isabella was just waiting for the time when their relationship was legal and without doubt.