Chapter Four: The Marriage Proposal

Evander’s POV

The weight of Zara’s proposal still lingered in my thoughts as I sat in the dimly lit hotel room. Her revelation about seeking revenge against her family had caught me off guard, but instead of disdain, I found myself drawn to her. In the past, whenever Cassandra spoke about her elder sister’s pitiful existence, I’d wondered why Zara tried so hard to gain acceptance. Yet now, seeing her defiance and determination, I couldn’t help but admire her.

That night, sleep evaded me. Zara lay motionless on the bed, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. But even in her rest, the lines of pain etched into her features were unmistakable. My heart clenched, unbidden, and an unfamiliar resolve began to stir. I wasn’t sure what I felt for her yet, but I knew I wanted to protect her—to ease her burdens, no matter what it took.

Her insights about the future intrigued me. Were they coincidences, or did she genuinely know something others didn’t? I didn’t have answers, but I couldn’t ignore the pull she had on me. By morning, I was resolute. When she awoke, I accepted her proposal, setting a time to meet her later that day at 4 p.m.

The day dragged on, my thoughts tethered to Zara. Even as I sifted through paperwork and attended meetings, her face, her pain, and her quiet determination kept intruding. By the time the clock neared four, I was already at the restaurant, my gaze fixed on the door, willing her to walk through.

But she didn’t.

Minutes turned to hours, and dread pooled in my stomach. Something wasn’t right. Zara was desperate—far too desperate to back out now. At six, I could no longer ignore the gnawing fear. Grabbing my car keys, I stormed out of the restaurant and drove straight to the Wellingtons’ mansion.

The moment I stepped inside, I demanded, “Where’s Zara?”

Cassandra stood, her expression guarded, a forced smile tugging at her lips. “Evander,” she said with exaggerated sweetness, stepping toward me.

“Where is your sister?” I repeated, my voice sharp and unyielding.

She hesitated, and just as I was about to press further, Grace entered the room. I turned to her, my voice hard. “If you don’t want the authorities involved, tell me where Zara is.”

Their shared look of alarm confirmed my suspicions. Reluctantly, they led me upstairs to a locked room. Grace fumbled with the key before opening the door, revealing Zara sitting on the floor, her body hunched and her face pale with exhaustion. Fear shadowed her eyes as they met mine.

“Come here,” I said, my tone soft but firm.

A small smile tugged at her lips as relief flicker on her features. My hand extended toward her, steady and sure. Grace and Cassandra stood beside me, their faces twisted in disbelief and barely concealed fury.

"Come here," I said again, my voice calm but commanding. Zara hesitated, then stepped forward and placed her hand in mine.

I turned to Grace and Cassandra, my expression hardened and my tone sharp. "Really?" I sneered, my tone cutting through the tense silence. "So this is how you treat your first daughter? You parade yourselves as paragons of virtue to the public, but this is the reality?"

Their silence spoke volumes, confirming everything I already knew.

With Zara’s hand still firmly in mine, I led her out of the room, my steps purposeful as my shoes hit the floor with a sharp rhythm. In the living room, Nathan sat in front of the television, casually watching the news, entirely unaware of the storm brewing behind us.

"Mr. Nathan," I called, my voice steady. He turned, surprise flickering across his face as his eyes landed on me.

"I’d like to marry your daughter," I stated, my voice resolute. "Please give us your blessings."

Nathan blinked, visibly caught off guard. "I thought… you were with Cassandra?" he asked cautiously, his gaze shifting between Zara and me.

"Yes," I confirmed with a short nod, "I was with Cassandra. But a man knows what he wants, doesn’t he?" I added, letting a small, confident smirk tug at my lips.

Nathan’s surprise gave way to consideration. Finally, he nodded. "Alright," he said, his voice calm but certain. "You have my blessings."

"What?" Grace and Cassandra’s voices rang out in unison, their shock palpable as they stepped forward. Cassandra’s eyes widened, and Grace’s expression twisted in disbelief.

"How can you agree to this?" Grace spat, her voice sharp and trembling with restrained fury. "You know he’s been courting Cassandra! Zara must be manipulating him somehow!"

Nathan dismissed her outburst with a casual shrug. "The man said he has eyes on Zara," he said, his tone final. "Frankly, I don’t care who he marries. What matters is that we’ll be in-laws with the Blackwood family."

Cassandra’s glare could have burned through steel as she turned to Zara, her fists clenched at her sides. "You…" she hissed, her voice venomous. "You’d better watch your back."

Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she stormed out. I tightened my grip on Zara’s hand, silently assuring her she wasn’t alone.

Later, we sat on a park bench. Zara avoided my gaze, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap.

“I’m sorry you had to see that side of my family,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“It’s not your fault,” I said gently. “They’re the ones to blame, not you.” My words seemed to offer her little comfort as silence stretched between us.

“You must be starving,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Let me get you something to eat.”

Before she could respond, I was already heading toward a nearby food stall. When I returned with a bag of snacks, I found her trembling, silent tears streaming down her face. My chest tightened at the sight. Clearing my throat, I walked closer. She quickly wiped her cheeks and forced a smile.

“Here, eat something,” I said, offering her the bag.

She hesitated, then shook her head. “I can’t,” she murmured, fear lacing her voice.

“Why not?”

Her voice broke as she explained, “I can’t eat in a public space, I have cibophobia. I... I was poisoned years ago. Grace said it was the housekeeper, but the woman was so kind to me. I don’t believe it was her.”

I didn’t respond immediately, my heart aching at her vulnerability. Instead, I pulled her into a gentle embrace, letting her sob against my chest. After a while, her cries subsided, and she pulled back, her eyes red but calm.

“I wish I had a ring,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair in frustration. My gaze fell on a small sunflower nearby, and an idea struck. I plucked it, fashioning the stem into a makeshift ring, then slipped it onto her finger.

“Until I get you a proper one, this will have to do,” I said with a smile.

Zara stared at the flower ring, her lips curving into a soft smile. “How do we seal this bond?” I asked teasingly.

Before I could react, her lips brushed against mine in a hesitant kiss. My eyes widened in surprise as she pulled back, her cheeks flushing.

“What?” she stammered, flustered. “I thought you meant this.”

I chuckled, then leaned in, capturing her lips in a deeper, more passionate kiss. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and for the first time, it felt like we were both free.