Everything unfolded just as Maria envisioned. At the height of the party, Alvin, who had yet to appear, finally entered, dressed in a black suit, as romantic piano music began to play. He carried a bouquet of red roses, walling toward Maria under everyone’s watchful gaze, taking out a ring box from his pocket.
As he opened the box, a twenty–carat diamond ning glittered, drawing gasps of admiration. Many of the guests recognized the ring and exclaimed in
amazement
“Isn’t that the “Heart of Eternity that was auctioned for a billion recently? And it’s in Young Master Alvin’s hands?”
“He’s proposing with that ring? Young Master Alvin must really be in love with Maria.”
The envious voices only added to Maria’s confidence. She lifted her chin slightly, her neck long and graceful like a swan’s. But she frigned innocence, covering her mouth as if in surprise.
“Alvin, what is this.”
Alvin didn’t answerber with words but instead showed her through his actions. He took a few steps back, then knelt on one love, lifting his mesmerizing gaze to her, and, with a charming smile, asked the question Maria had dreamed of.
“will you marry me?”
A cheer rang out, stated by someone in the crowd, and soon the entire hall erupted, like boiling water overflowing with excited screams and applause. Maria, overcome with emotion, slowly extended her right hand.
Before she could finish, the piano muste abruptly cut off. The romantle atmosphere that had built up so carefully was gone in an instant. The guests turned their heads in confusion, trying to figure out what had gone wrong, but seeing nothing amiss, they looked back at Alvin, the host and mastermind of this proposal.
Maria’s mood was dampened, and she pouted in frustration.
“Alvin, the music…”
“The music stopped because I told them to stop it,” Alvin replied, rising from his kneeling position.
As he stood tall, his previous warmth vanished, replaced by a cold, detached expression. Seeing the change in his face, many of the guests sensed that something significant was about to happen and collectively held their breath.
19
Maria, still lost in her fantasy of being proposed to, put on a pout, frigning a tantrum.
*If you keep acting like this, I won’t say yes!”
Alvinnodded indifferently, dropping a bombshell that left everyone stunned.
“Whether you say yes or not doesn’t matter, because you were never the one I wanted to propose in.”
Maria’s eyes widened in disbelief, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
“What.what do you mean by that?”
“What do I mean?” Alvin casually tossed the bouquet onto the floor, then snapped the ring box shut with a loud click
“I mean that you, Maria, were never the one I wanted to propose to.”
The room fell into dead silence, with only faint sounds of breathing breaking the stillness. Alvin ignored her shock and turned to bow to the guests, a hint of
Camusement in his voice.
“My apologies, everyone. Tonight was just a rehearsal for my actual proposal. This Sunday, same time, same place, I’ll be proposing to my girlfriend, and 1 hope you’ll all join us to witness it.”
The guests, all savvy in social nuances, quickly realized that the entire event was a setup to embarrass Maria. They were more than happy to play along, waving it off and responding with laughter.
“No worries, we’ll definitely be here to celebrate Young Master Alvin!”
“It’s a grand rehearsal–Miss Ira is truly lucky!”
The friendly remarks and laughter from all sides only stoked Maria’s rage. Losing all composure, she screamed at Alvin, her voice sharp and cutting.
“Alvin, how dare you play me!”
The room went silent once more. Alvin turned back to her, his expression casual, as it unfazed.
“Play? That’s a bit harsh. I’d call it helping”
“Maria, you’re not even my girlfriend. You should’ve known I’d never propose to you. What gave you that impression?”
His blunt words and carefree tone drew muffled laughter from several guests. Furious, Maria completely lost her grip on reality, knocking over a champagne tower in a fit of rage.
“You dare humiliate me like this? You’ll regret it!”
品
Guests shrieked and backed away as champagne splashed everywhere, but Alyin stood motionless, unfared as the cold liquid soaked him. Taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he calmly wiped his face, his gaze dismissive.
Regret? I’m about to get married–what’s there to regret? Regret upsetting you?”
