After the storm

11. Admitting Love

Disbelief etched itself upon Inaya's face, a tapestry of confusion and shock.

"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice a whisper, as if hoping her ears had deceived her.

"I said, 'I would very much like to marry you,'" William reiterated, his tone steady and sincere. Inaya scrutinized him, searching for a hint of a joke, but this was William Walton—he never joked.

"Allow me to rephrase," William spoke, noticing the storm of emotions swirling in Inaya's eyes. He knelt before her, a knight before his queen, and produced a crimson box from within his coat. It contained a platinum wristband, resplendent with opals that shimmered like captured stars.

"Inaya," he began, his voice a soft caress against the mounting tension in the room. "Will you marry me? Will you grant me the honor of holding your hands until our final breath?"

Inaya was struck silent, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

"William, if this is a joke, let me tell you, it's far from amusing," her voice quivered, betraying her inner turmoil. She could not fathom why she was so unnerved; no one, least of all William, would force her into marriage. Yet, her nerves were a tempest.

Witnessing the tempest in her gaze, William's demeanor softened even further.

"Inaya, you know you can refuse, correct?" he said, though the mere thought of her rejection was a dagger to his heart.

"I know," Inaya replied, her voice a breathy whisper, her eyes sparkling with an emotion that eluded William's notice.

"Do you want to say 'no'?" William asked, his words gentle.

"I... I don't know," Inaya's voice was barely audible. Yet her hesitant response brought the faintest of smiles to William's lips.

"That's progress," he remarked, his voice a balm to her fraught nerves. "I feared you might refuse outright." He held her gaze, then handed her the bracelet, a gesture of hope and tenderness.

"You don't have to agree to marry me to accept this," he said, his voice as soft as a marshmallow's embrace. "It's simply a new product from my company. As an expectant mother, you are the perfect target customer. Consider it a favor—review it for me."

He rose to his feet, the knight relinquishing his vulnerable position before his lady. "Farewell for today. Rest well. I shall return another time," William spoke his words a gentle caress as he departed, leaving Inaya alone with her tumultuous thoughts and the gleaming bracelet, a symbol of an uncertain future.

-------

"Hey, haven't seen you in months! Where did you disappear to?" Aria exclaimed, enveloping Joon in a warm hug as she greeted him.

"I was out of the country for personal reasons," Joon replied, his words deliberately vague.

"What's the reason?" Aria pressed, oblivious to the flicker of discomfort that crossed Joon's eyes.

"Let's wait for everyone to arrive first," Joon deflected, his tone suggesting a story best told once. Aria simply shrugged, her curiosity momentarily quelled as she turned her attention to the menu.

Joon had summoned everyone to "The Brown Egg," the city's most prestigious dining establishment. He had secured a private room for an important announcement and was now anxiously awaiting the arrival of his friends.

Lucas was the first to arrive after Aria. He greeted Joon with exuberance, his enthusiasm a stark contrast to Joon's subdued demeanor. Noticing the unease in Joon's eyes, Lucas chose to remain silent, respecting his friend's unspoken need for privacy.

It wasn’t long before Inaya and William arrived, their simultaneous appearance more than just happenstance, though William would insist it was mere coincidence.

After the customary greetings and settling into their seats, a knock at the door interrupted the gathering. Confusion flickered across their faces; they believed everyone had arrived. Joon, with a nervous smile, rose and went to open the door himself.

Standing in the doorway was a vision of grace and beauty, a woman as elegant as a swan. She wore a dark maroon bodycon dress that hugged her figure, her curls cascading over her shoulders. Joon extended his hand, guiding her into the room. The atmosphere grew tense, not because she was a stranger, but because she was all too familiar. Everyone recognized her instantly.

"What the heck is Ella doing here?" Aria voiced the collective thought, her words heavy with incredulity. Joon sighed, bracing himself for the inevitable backlash.

"Allow me to introduce her properly," Joon began, his voice tinged with nervousness. "Ella, or Xiao Yan Li, is my girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancée."

The room fell silent, tension thick in the air.

"Didn't you find anyone else but that bitch, Jenny's older sister, to date?" Aria spat, her words laced with venom.

Joon's sigh deepened. He had known this moment would be fraught with difficulty, but he hadn't anticipated the depth of their wrath. Yet, there was no turning back now. He stood firm, his resolve clear.

Before Aria could unleash another torrent of words, Lucas gently but firmly held her down. "Aria, calm down. Let Joon explain. I assume he asked all of us to come here for a reason," Lucas said, his voice steady and soothing. Yet, the storm in Aria's eyes did not abate. Joon met Lucas’s gaze, his eyes expressing silent gratitude.

"I know you all have your reasons for disliking Jenny, Ella, and anyone from the Xiao family," Joon began, his voice trembling with the weight of the moment. "And perhaps those reasons are justified. That night... it was as much Ella's fault as it was Jenny's. But Ella has apologized. She admitted her mistake and has since repented. Beyond that incident, Ella has been a steadfast friend, especially to me. I couldn't help but fall in love with her long before that night. I tried, believe me, I tried so hard to forget her," Joon paused, his eyes searching each of their faces for understanding. "But my love for her is too deep to let go. I'm sorry, especially to you, William. I'm—"

"Do you truly love her?" William's voice cut through the tension, his question direct and piercing.

Joon nodded, his resolve clear. "Yes, I do."

"Then don't apologize," William said, his voice strong and unwavering. William looked at Inaya and spoke softly, "One shouldn't apologize for loving."