Chapter 542 The Closest I've Ever Been to Having You
Evander stood not far ahead, his eyes nervously fixed on Cecily and Landon.
Similarly, Percy was squinting at Cecily, observing her every move.
Cecily quietly clenched her palms.
She thought to herself, 'How tempting. To get everything without giving anything in return.'
Landon's gaze was so sincere it was almost disarming. For a moment, Cecily was almost convinced.
But Matilda had taught her a harsh lesson: people were driven by self-interest. Her grandmother, who had been a constant presence for over twenty years, had discarded her without a second thought when faced with a great opportunity.
What chance did she have with Landon's fleeting sense of guilt? Expecting him to betray his own father and drag his family into ruin for her was laughable. If Evander couldn't manage that, how could Landon?
Cecily yanked her arm away from Landon's grip. "Thank you for your concern. I won't deny that I don't love Evander. It's hard to fall for someone right after being abandoned by a lover and losing a child. But I'll try to like Evander. You probably don't understand what I've been through. All I want now is peace and happiness for the rest of my life. Nothing else matters."
Just then, Evander walked up.
Landon stood still, raising an eyebrow.
"What did you say to Cecily?" Evander asked, his voice edged with suspicion.
Landon smiled thinly. "Nothing much." He clapped Evander on the shoulder. "Good luck with the proposal. I truly hope Miss Watson and I can become family."
With that, Landon turned and walked back to Percy.
"So, what did she say?" Percy asked.
"Don't worry about it," Landon replied.
Percy sneered. "You're marrying her, so it's better to be cautious."
Landon nodded, his eyes never leaving Cecily. He had a nagging feeling that Cecily's intentions were more complex than she let on. She wasn't the type to settle for stability; her answers were too polished, too perfect.
Evander, watching the exchange, was already sweating bullets.
Fortunately, Cecily was sharp enough to dodge Landon's subtle probing.
Half an hour earlier, in the Fitzgerald Group conference room, Darian was still in a meeting.
Suddenly, Josep jumped up from his chair, his phone in hand, cursing Percy under his breath. He stormed out, leaving the room in a hush, with everyone watching him in confusion.
As Josep reached the door, he paused and glanced back at Darian. "Hey, Darian, check your phone. Evander is proposing to your ex-wife."
For a split second, Darian's hand faltered, but his expression remained unchanged, revealing no hint of emotion.
Josep stared intently at him. "Aren't you even a little bit worried?"
"You just said she's my ex-wife. If she's getting married, what's it to me?"
Seeing Darian so unfazed made Josep regret giving him that drug. Darian wasn't dense, but he lost his memory. He showed no sign of concern over Cecily's impending marriage. If this wedding went through, Cecily would become part of the Lockwood family and, alongside Percy, could conspire against the Fitzgerald family.
After all, the shares were still in Cecily's hands.
While Darian stayed calm, Josep was practically bouncing off the walls.
With an exasperated grunt, Josep left the conference room, sparking a flurry of chatter among the remaining members. They pulled out their phones, tuning in to the live feed.
"Evander from the Lockwood family is really proposing! Is Cecily actually going to join the Lockwood family? But wait, that share transfer agreement Owen put in place is still in her name! If Cecily marries into the Lockwood family, wouldn't that mean the Fitzgerald Group's shares could also end up with them?"
"Exactly, we can't let that happen."
The eyes of their colleagues shifted to Paul and Kevin, who had defended Cecily during the board meeting, ensuring the legal validity of the transfer.
"Paul, Kevin, why are you two so quiet? You were the ones who helped Cecily hold on to that share transfer agreement. What do you have to say about this situation now?"
Paul and Kevin exchanged worried looks, glancing nervously at Darian, who remained as calm and steady as a rock.
Seeing Darian say nothing and show no signs of concern put their minds at ease. They believed Darian had a plan and wouldn't sit idly by in the face of this crisis.
What they didn't realize was that while Darian looked composed, inside, he was far from tranquil.
Meanwhile, at the proposal scene, Evander stood before Cecily, who hadn't made any effort to dress up—her cream-colored gown and low-bun hairstyle made her look effortlessly beautiful, even without makeup. In Evander's eyes, she stood out like a diamond among a field of flowers.
Holding a vibrant bouquet of red roses, Evander flashed a charming smile. "I'm really happy today."
"Why's that?" Cecily asked, her heart feeling numb to the moment, aware it was all just a charade.
"Because a wish I made years ago is finally coming true." Even if that wish felt hollow.
With unwavering sincerity in his gaze, Evander gradually knelt down, looking up at her. "Cecily."
Evander's voice was earnest as he called out to Cecily, who kept her eyes lowered, quietly focusing on him.
"I remember you once said we weren't right for each other, that you wouldn't ever like me. That's okay. I'm fine with that because my feelings for you are enough. My mother and grandmother both tried to convince me that we were never meant to be. They said there are plenty of good women out there, and I should try to find someone else. But no matter how wonderful they are, none of them could ever be you.
"I used to think it was enough just to have met you. I never dreamed of standing by your side. Today's proposal is a desperate measure, but it's the closest I've ever been to having you. If you can, just look back at me. I've been standing behind you for a long time now."
The sunlight was gentle, and the sea of flowers rolled gently around them. This proposal, forced by Percy's scheming, had never truly touched Cecily's heart. Yet, for Evander, it was something he hadn't even dared to dream of.
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