Chapter 578 Unexpected Change
Just moments ago, Zachary was all about respecting Winona's choice, but now he was so anxious he wished he could just slip the ring onto her finger. However, his expression froze in the next second.
Zachary couldn't believe it. He patted himself down again, but the engagement ring was definitely missing.
He had checked before leaving the house that afternoon and made sure he had it, but now it had mysteriously disappeared.
The atmosphere in the restaurant became tense. The crowd, ready to applaud, now wore expressions of disbelief and confusion.
Matthew said, "Did Zachary forget the ring?"
Samuel remained silent. Zachary had always been a genius, his lack of emotional intelligence compensated by his high IQ. Even if he wasn't perfect, he would never make such a basic mistake as forgetting the ring for a proposal. However, his memory had been failing him more frequently lately.
Last time, they had planned to pick up something from the World Trade Center, but Zachary had completely forgotten about it.
Samuel shook his head, "He's not himself."
Lydia, standing nearby, anxiously patted Evander's arm, wishing she could take off her own ring and give it to Zachary so he could complete the proposal. She was desperate to have grandchildren, and the longer this dragged on, the harder it would be for Winona to recover from childbirth.
Rebecca and Frank were furious. Such an important occasion, and he made such a rookie mistake. It showed he wasn't taking it seriously.
Austin was practically gloating, barely able to contain his laughter.
Everyone's reactions varied, but Anthony remained indifferent, as usual.
As time passed, the atmosphere shifted from tense to outright awkward. Who proposes without a ring?
Just as the proposal seemed doomed, Winona leaned forward and took the roses from Zachary's hand. "I accept."
Her words successfully dispelled the awkwardness of the missing ring.
Zachary hugged Winona, his face full of joy, but his worry didn't lessen. His memory was deteriorating, and his headaches were getting worse.
Seeing the couple finally settled, everyone gathered around to offer congratulations, wisely avoiding any mention of the earlier mishap.
The waitstaff began serving food, and the restaurant staff offered their congratulations, creating a festive atmosphere that masked underlying unease.
After dinner, no one was in a hurry to leave. In the hallway near the restrooms, Samuel took a deep drag on his cigarette. "What's going on? Forgetting the ring for a proposal isn't like you."
Zachary frowned, his cigarette almost burned out, but his mood hadn't improved. "I don't know."
Despite his words, he couldn't help but recall Timothy's dying words, saying he and Winona would never be happy. Considering his recent health issues, his frown deepened.
Could this be Timothy's doing?
Zachary took a deep drag, feeling agitated and frustrated.
Samuel said, "If there's a problem, you should go to the hospital sooner rather than later. Don't wait until it's something serious."
As they were leaving, Lydia wanted to say something, but held back. She pointed at Zachary, her face full of frustration. He was such a worry. Even getting married was difficult. Now that it was finally settled, the next step was having children. She hoped there wouldn't be any more issues. If infertility came into play, her already fragile heart couldn't take it.
The bouquet was too large to hold in the front seat without obstructing the view, so Winona placed it in the back.
As she straightened up, she noticed Zachary staring at the bouquet. "What's wrong?"
Zachary snapped out of it. "Nothing, let's go."
Winona closed the back door and sat in the passenger seat. She glanced at Zachary's hand on the gear shift and placed her hand over his. "The flowers are beautiful. I love them."
Zachary's voice was hoarse. "I had a ring prepared, but I forgot to bring it. I'm sorry. I can't believe I forgot the ring for such an important occasion."
Hearing the sadness in his voice, Winona teased, "Good thing you didn't bring the ring. If you had, I wouldn't have said yes."
Zachary's thoughts were diverted. "Why?"
"Such a big diamond, people usually keep those in a safe. Have you ever seen anyone flaunting it on their hand? Are you jealous of my pretty hands and want someone to chop them off?"
"And besides, I should pick my own engagement ring. The ring I'll wear forever has to be one I love. Proposing with these flowers was perfect."
Zachary asked, "You saw it?"
Winona felt guilty. "I peeked last night."
In truth, she hadn't seen it. Zachary had hidden it well to surprise her. She had heard about it from Frank, who had even gestured to show her. "I can't believe Zachary's taste. That ring is so ugly, how could he think it's suitable?"
She didn't mention this to Zachary, fearing it would depress him further after the ring mishap.
Zachary was speechless.
Winona smiled. "Let's pick out a ring this weekend, okay? I prefer smaller ones."
Zachary had nothing more to say.
Back at Regal Oaks, Zachary stared at the gray velvet box on the shoe cabinet, feeling deeply depressed. He really had forgotten it.
Maybe he should propose again?
He glanced at Winona, who was pretending not to notice him, and dismissed the idea. He'd wait until they picked out a ring she liked. But this ring was meant for her, and he had no use for it, so he handed it to her. "You can keep it."
Afraid she might refuse, he added, "Such a big pink diamond is rare. It'll definitely appreciate in value."
Winona opened the box and looked at the sparkling pink diamond inside. "Thank you, I do like it. It's just really big."
Now she understood Frank's feelings when he made that comment.
The next day.
Zachary had booked an expensive appointment with a psychiatrist. He arrived early and hadn't been called in yet.
The waiting room was crowded and noisy. He pressed his fingers to his temples, feeling drowsy.
"Is it really you?" A voice sounded beside him, full of surprise. Zachary opened his eyes to see a woman he didn't recognize, bent over and looking at him. He frowned. "Who are you?"
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