Chapter 1234
After a short drive, the car pulled up to an exclusive restaurant.
Located at the highest point in Eclara City, the rooftop garden restaurant boasted some of the most expensive real estate in the country, offering a panoramic view of the skyline.
The sun was just beginning to set. Vibrant streaks of purple and gold bathed the garden in a surreal, heavenly glow. It felt like stepping into a divine painting—full of warmth, light, life, and the promise of a beautiful future.
It was breathtakingly gorgeous.
"What are we doing here?" Juniper asked, looking around the lush greenery. "Eating?"
"Yeah." Shanley took her hand, leading her toward the entrance. He was visibly tense. "Let's go."
Juniper pressed her lips together, giving the man a covert once-over.
Why was he nervous about dinner? His palms were actually sweating!
She knew instantly that he was up to something.
And she didn't have to look hard to figure it out. Just a few steps in, she noticed the unmistakable square bulge of a red velvet box tucked into his suit jacket pocket. A ring box.
He really was proposing, wasn't he?
***
The rooftop garden.
Spring had arrived, and the surrounding floral arrangements were in full, glorious bloom. The sprawling venue was entirely empty. Just the two of them.
Quiet and idyllic.
"Entertain yourself for a minute, I need to use the restroom," Shanley said, arranging some appetizers in front of her before hastily walking away.
Buzz. Buzz.
The phone he had carelessly left on the table vibrated.
Juniper leaned over and saw a message from Flint light up the screen: [Boss, all the proposal stuff is ready. When do we start?]
Juniper's chewing slowed, her clear eyes blinking slowly.
A secret proposal, huh? What an absolute blabbermouth!
Should she pretend she didn't know?
While she was debating, Shanley hurried back to the table, snatched up his phone, and looked at her with wide, panicked eyes.
Juniper decided to take pity on him. She looked up and flashed an innocent, angelic smile. "Is everything okay?"
"Just some work stuff I need to handle immediately."
"Oh." Juniper went back to eating her food.
Seeing that she didn't suspect a thing, Shanley let out a heavy breath of relief and strode off again.
...
Ten minutes passed.
When Shanley still hadn't returned, Juniper grew bored. She wandered out of the garden to look for him.
Why couldn't he just ask her? He'd say, 'Will you?' She'd say, 'Yes.' Done and dusted, She had heard the food here was incredible, and she actually wanted to eat before it got cold.
As she rounded a corner, she saw Felton slip out of a private room and head straight for the elevator.
Curious, Juniper crept up to the slightly ajar door and peeked inside.
There was Shanley, holding a cue card, muttering frantically to himself.
She leaned in closer and caught the words: "You are my unexpected encounter, the sudden joy of my life."
Juniper: "?"
Was that his proposal speech?
"Juniper, this world isn't perfect. But with you, it is the best world I could ever ask for: You are my greatest gift, my overdue salvation. You are the only one who makes my heart face. You are irreplaceable irreplaceable Roses wither, but my love for you is eternal. Juniper, will you marry me?"
Juniper stood there in silence. It took a moment to realize a warm tear had slipped
down her cheek. She touched her face in surprise.
Where did he even find such hopelessly cheesy lines? It was so corny, yet
somehow, it hit her right in the heart.
She had originally planned to just bust in, tell him yes, and get back to the food. But
seeing him practice so earnestly, she couldn't bring herself to ruin it.
Feigning ignorance, she quietly retreated back to her table.
Not long after she sat back down, the glass doors swung open, and her siblings started filing in.
Right behind them came Janet, Queenie, Qadir, and Dolce.
The group sported a wild array of expressions. Melvin was grinning like an idiot, Ebony Fox looked like she wanted to punch someone, and Janet was staring at uniper with wide, starry-eyed anticipation.