Chapter 326
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Though Cherise muttered “childish‘ under her breath, her feet, betraying her thoughts, moved forward nonetheless.
Stepping outside into the garden, she was greeted by a sea of flowers.
While the living room was filled with red roses, the garden was alive with vibrant yellow tulips.
Around the edges of the yard, a string of twinkling lights glowed softly, mesmerizing her for a moment. It was both childish and charming in equal measure.
And there was another directional sign.
From the moment her eyes fell on the red roses, Cherise felt her heart soften.
All she wanted now was to follow the signs and find the end of this strange path, sooner rather than later.
True to her expectations, the area near the main gate and the village road was lined with more blossoms–lilies, camellias, and roses in every color imaginable.
And then, there were the winding strings of lights, scattered like constellations, adding to the surreal beauty of it all.
It was breathtaking.
The village was unusually quiet–so quiet that all she could hear were the faint calls of insects high in the trees.
One, two, three, ten
She passed ten signs before the flowers, lights, and signs themselves suddenly disappeared. Without warning, the streetlights, which had been glowing softly, flickered and went dark.
Cherise stopped, refusing to take another step, her eyes locked ahead.
Night had nearly fallen, and in the soft embrace of the darkness, her skin looked almost ethereal.
Though Yasvissa’s nights weren’t as cold as Betrico’s, the evening breeze still carried a chill that nipped at her skin.
She wore a fitted pair of denim jeans, cream–colored casual shoes, and a loose, plush jacket that hung comfortably on her
frame.
Her long hair flowed naturally down her back, messy yet graceful
Before leaving the house, she’d grabbed a light brown knitted fisherman’s hat from the cabinet–a creation of Bella’s, with two tiny, playful cars on top.
From a distance, she looked like a soft, demure little girl, the kind you’d want to hold close.
And then, as if on cue, a hauntingly beautiful violin melody floated toward her.
The moment the prelude started, Cherise recognized the tune immediately–it was the same piece she had drunkenly played on the violur the first time at Ebb & Flow
As the song reached the chorus, it suddenly stopped, cutting out as if by design.
Cherise’s sharp musical ear caught a faint voice in the distance, vaguely recognizable as Truman’s, speaking in a lowered, muffled tone.
Chapter 320
Five, four, three, two, one–the music resumed.
And with the music came a cascade of shimmering stars, as if the night sky itself had opened up in celebration.
The path ahead no longer seemed shrouded in darkness.
A warm, golden light bathed Cherise, enveloping her in its glow
Not far ahead, at the end of the road, stood a modest–sized basketball court.
The court had also been transformed–flowers, balloons, and colorful streamers adorned it, and a banner was stretched between two trees, reading: [I love you!]
And standing in the center of it all was none other than Morris.
Apart from him, no one was in the basketball court.
Another beam of warm, golden light highlighted him, casting an almost ethereal glow around him. He was dressed in a well- tailored suit, with a sleek, fitted turtleneck beneath it, and his hair–immaculate as always–was styled with great care.
He looked just as striking, perfect, and captivating as ever.
In his hands, he held a delicate bouquet of flowers, his eyes fixed on Cherise, who stood in the distance, looking back at him.
As if by some unspoken connection, they both smiled gently.
For a moment, everything seemed frozen in time, as though a shared understanding passed between them.
Then, Morris began to walk toward her, his first step slow and deliberate. Cherise stood still, watching him approach, like a knight in shining armor–his presence bathed in a halo of light.
The softness she had felt when first seeing the roses deepened, and as Morris drew nearer, her heart pounded so hard she thought it might leap out of her chest.
For the first time, she felt a wave of nervousness–a frantic thudding in her chest.
When Morris was almost within reach, Cherise opened her mouth to speak.
But before she could, Morris dropped to one knee, pulling a small, elegant jewelry box.
He opened it, revealing a dazzling diamond ring, its brilliance gleaming under the dim light.
Cherise, startled by the unexpected turn of events, struggled to maintain composure as her mind raced.
“Cherise,” Morris began, his voice low but filled with conviction, being with you is my first experience of love. This is also my first proposal.”
He continued. “And this will be the only proposal I will ever make in my life. They say I am cold, ruthless, unfeeling. But that’s because all my tenderness is reserved for you.
‘I don’t know if I’m worthy of being a good husband–after all, you are so exceptional. I know you are still young, but I can’t wait any longer. I want to hold you close, forever, without end
“I admit it—I am ambitious. And from the very first moment I saw you, I knew you were the woman I wanted to marry in this lifetime. God has been kind, and has brought you to me.
“There are a thousand things I could say, but they all come down to this one: For the rest of our lives, I will give my all to be the husband you deserve. Please, let me take care of you, forever Will you?”
Chapter 320
With that. Morris hified the ring, his gaze soft yet intense, waiting
