Unexpected Proposal

The morning after her father’s announcement, Christabel woke with a restless mind. The sunlight struggled through the heavy curtains, casting faint shadows on the walls of her room, but it couldn’t brighten the dark cloud hanging over her thoughts. The news was still fresh—she was to marry Michael Ransom, the son of the man who had brought her family so much pain and suffering. The very idea made her stomach churn.

At breakfast, the usual laughter and chatter were replaced by silence. Her mother’s eyes kept flickering to her, full of worry, but she said nothing. Her siblings whispered quietly among themselves, casting furtive glances her way. The air felt thick, like the calm before a storm. No one wanted to say aloud what everyone was thinking: How could she marry their family’s enemy?

Later, desperate to clear her mind, Christabel stepped into the garden. The fresh air did little to soothe her. The flowers swayed gently in the breeze, their beauty a sharp contrast to the turmoil inside her. As she paced the stone path, a sleek black car pulled up to the gate, its engine humming softly. Her heart skipped a beat.

The car door opened, and out stepped Michael Ransom himself, tall and impeccably dressed, his presence commanding immediate attention. Christabel’s breath hitched, but she quickly masked her shock with a cold glare. She had seen his arrogance before, and she refused to show any weakness now.

Michael’s eyes locked onto hers, his gaze intense and unreadable. “Christabel Okoro,” he said, his voice calm yet firm. “I assume you know why I’m here.”

She crossed her arms, matching his stare. “Yes. Your family’s plan. Or should I say your father’s plan.”

He chuckled, a low, dry sound. “You’re sharp. I’ll give you that. But this isn’t just his decision anymore. I have a say.”

Christabel raised a brow, skeptical. “And what do you want, Mr. Ransom?”

“To be honest,” he said, stepping closer, “I don’t want this marriage any more than you do. But it’s the only way to end the war between our families.”

She narrowed her eyes. “So we’re just pawns in their game.”

“Maybe,” he admitted. “But maybe… we can be more than that.”

Her heart twisted with confusion. Was he offering hope? Or was this another layer of the complicated trap they were caught in?

“I’m not your enemy, Bella,” he said softly, using the nickname like a key trying to unlock something inside her.

Her breath caught. The familiarity unsettled her, but a small part of her wanted to believe him.

“Maybe you’re right,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Maybe we don’t have to be enemies.”

For the first time, Michael’s expression softened. “Then let’s find a way to make this work. Together.”

Christabel looked away, uncertainty swirling inside her like a storm. Could she trust the enemy’s son? Could they build a bridge over a chasm carved by years of hate?

As the sun climbed higher, the impossible truth settled in: their lives were now intertwined in ways neither of them wanted, but both would have to face.

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