Chapter 263 Agreeing to the Proposal
Anna felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She had waited three years for this proposal, but now, instead of joy, she felt a sense of helplessness.
She glanced at Caleb, whose eyes were filled with anticipation, making her feel pressured. She wanted to give him a positive answer, but the words just wouldn't come out.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment. Anna's thoughts surged like a tide; she needed time to sort them out and confirm her feelings.
She knew this wasn't just an answer to Caleb but a promise and choice for her future life.
Anna wanted to quickly determine if she still loved Caleb, but the more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
The brief silence among the crowd began to be misinterpreted as hesitation.
Soon, some onlookers couldn't hold back and started to cheer, "What are you waiting for? Say yes! Marry him! Where else can you find such a great guy?"
Hearing these voices, Anna's mind became even more chaotic.
She looked at Caleb, whose face was full of expectation and tenderness, but this tenderness felt like a double-edged sword, warming her yet weighing her down.
No, Anna wasn't moved to tears as the crowd might have thought. Instead, a sense of panic and a desire to escape quietly rose within her.
Anna felt a hint of anger towards Caleb for planning such a grand proposal without her knowledge, putting her in the spotlight.
She had told Caleb more than once that she wasn't ready, and now his actions felt like he was forcing her to agree.
Under the gaze of so many eyes, Anna felt unprecedented pressure.
If she refused, Caleb would undoubtedly be humiliated; but if she agreed, how could she reconcile her true feelings?
The initial mild sense of oppression was now turning into unbearable coercion, fueled by the crowd's encouragement.
Just as Anna was caught in a dilemma, a different gaze caught her attention.
She looked up and saw Colin standing at the top of the escalator, a vantage point that allowed him to clearly see her and Caleb.
Colin's eyes were calm and deep, making it hard to discern his emotions.
But it was these eyes that struck the most vulnerable part of Anna's heart.
At that moment, Anna suddenly realized that her feelings of confusion and unease weren't just because of the sudden proposal but also because of her uncertainty about Colin.
What she needed might not be a grand proposal but someone who truly understood her, respected her choices, and someone she genuinely liked.
And now, Colin's calm gaze seemed to silently remind her that she no longer loved Caleb.
"Anna?" Caleb noticed Anna's hesitation, his brow furrowing slightly, his eyes flashing with urgency, longing for her affirmative answer.
Anna took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound more determined, despite the inner struggle and helplessness.
She stiffly extended her hand, her fingertips trembling as if making a significant decision. "I will."
As she uttered those words, Anna felt as if an invisible force was pushing her forward.
Her kind nature didn't want to embarrass Caleb in front of so many people, even if this decision went against her true feelings.
Caleb's face instantly lit up with a radiant smile. He carefully slipped the sparkling diamond ring onto Anna's finger, then stood up and hugged her tightly.
At that moment, everything around them seemed to freeze, with only their heartbeats and breaths intertwined. However, Anna's heart was filled with indescribable turmoil.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Colin turning to leave.
At that moment, it felt like something inside her was collapsing, whether it was uncertainty about the future or regret over her choice, she couldn't tell. She just felt an indescribable emotion spreading within her.
The applause around her surged like a tide, but to Anna, these sounds became unusually harsh and irritating.
She tried to muster a smile, even if it was forced, to respond to the congratulations, but she found herself unable to.
From beginning to end, her face showed no sign of a smile, her inner struggle and conflict preventing her from truly enjoying what should have been a happy moment.
At that moment, Anna deeply realized that marriage wasn't just the culmination of two people's love but a mutual commitment to their future life.
And she, perhaps, wasn't ready to embrace this commitment, but reality had already pushed her to this crossroads.
After leaving the mall, Anna's voice carried a hint of barely noticeable fatigue.
"I think I might have a bit of heatstroke. I don't feel well. I was just in the sun and then drank something cold, now my head is spinning. Caleb, I might not be able to stay with you today. I want to go back to the hotel and rest. Can you take me back?"
Caleb's eyes flashed with worry and complex emotions. He agreed almost without hesitation.
"Sure, no problem. Don't rush, we'll get to the car. I'll buy you some medicine for heatstroke later; we should keep it at home, especially when you go out. I'm worried something might happen to you when I'm not around."
As he spoke, Caleb naturally put his arm around Anna's shoulder, gently guiding her towards the parking lot.
On the way, Caleb took care of Anna attentively, frequently asking about her condition and adjusting the car's air conditioning to prevent her from getting sick.
Anna, meanwhile, leaned back in her seat, resting with her eyes closed, occasionally responding, but her voice always sounded weak.
Finally, the car stopped at Anna's hotel entrance.
Caleb insisted on escorting her upstairs, but she immediately refused, worried about running into Colin.
Neither of them mentioned the proposal, as if nothing had happened that day.
"Okay, I'll come see you tomorrow," Caleb said, not pushing further, and drove away.
Anna might have really had heatstroke or perhaps was overwhelmed by the grand proposal.
As soon as she entered the hotel, she felt she couldn't hold on any longer.
Anna staggered towards the elevator, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Her vision went black, and she lost control, falling forward.
Instead of the expected pain, Anna smelled a familiar, comforting scent.
She forced her eyes open and saw the man holding her. "Colin."
Colin's voice was cold. "Who else did you expect? Your fiancé, Caleb?"
Anna didn't respond, just closed her eyes in exhaustion. Colin seemed to sigh, then lifted her in his arms.
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