When I heard that, apprehension assailed me â I felt as though I was the person being interviewed. As I was afraid of hearing something I wouldnât be able to accept, my heart hammered wildly. Throughout it all, I held my breath in fear that I might mishear a single word.
With a hand propped under his chin, Christopher lounged on the sofa languidly. It was a simple posture, yet he emanated regality, making many of the women standing below the screen shriek in excitement. A few brazen women even started whistling, commending his good looks.
âIâll have to disappoint you about the engagement date. Iâll be taking legal action against the media channels that used groundless gossip to attract readers or viewers to protect my rights. Monica and I are good friends who grew up together. Our relationship is as close as siblings, and there are no romantic entanglements between us as rumored.â
All of a sudden, Christopherâs eyes turned cold and piercing. Stricken by terror, the reporter stammered, âUm⦠Then, what did it mean when you sent Ms. Martin roses during her piano recital?â
âThis sister of mine loves roses, so she wouldâve probably been displeased had I given her any other flowers. I didnât want to upset her, for she would complain to my mother, saying I bullied her. Honestly speaking, my mother loves her like a goddaughter, so Iâm also happy to have such a sister on whom I can shower my affections.â
Picking up his teacup, Christopher took a sip of tea. As he dragged his finger along the porcelain cup, the smile on his face widened. âSheâs very popular in Avenport, so please donât impede her from finding her own happiness with false reporting. That will really place me in a pickle.â
âOh, it turns out that the two of you are god-siblings. In that case, whatâs your requirement for an ideal partner, Mr. Lane? Would you mind telling us that?â the reporter inquired.
Lifting his head, Christopher looked right into the camera. His eyes shone with tenderness, and his gaze turned incredibly gentle. With a faint smile, he answered, âMy partner doesnât need to be incredibly smart. I find it adorable when she bumbles about. I like someone whoâll act coquettish with me and love eating my cooking. Even if itâs half-cooked, sheâll still eat it without any change in expression. Most importantly, sheâll only love me. Then, Iâll treasure, indulge, and protect her. I will make her the happiest woman in the world.â
âIt looks like your future wife will certainly be the happiest woman in the world, Mr. Lane.â
Right then, my heart was racing madly, threatening to pound right out of my chest. I couldnât control the smile blossoming on my face. As I placed my hand against my heart and sensed my heartbeat, my lips split into a grin, and I grinned like an idiot.
The truth is, Christopher was well aware of my concerns. He didnât use worthless words for trifling explanations to comfort me. Instead, he employed such a method to confess his abiding love for me on the huge screen!
His thoughtfulness hit me squarely in the chest, making me fall head over heels for him once more. If he were in front of me then, I would definitely throw myself at him and blurt out everything I want to tell him.
How can he be so good to me? He gives me everything I want in the best way possible.
I love you, Christopher Lane! I love you! These words echoed in my mind on a loop, and I sprinted all the way back to our house. Yesterday, I was wondering about moving out, but I now flung myself onto the bed like a child. A bubble of bliss enveloped me as I rolled all over the bed.
The urge to send Christopher a message to tell him of my present feelings hit me, but I then felt that it wasnât solemn enough. In the end, I sat on the bed and awaited his return foolishly with my cell phone in hand.
Even when I woke up in the middle of the night, groggy with sleep, Christopher still hadnât come back. Despite thinking that he wasnât returning that night, there wasnât a trace of dejection within me. Surprisingly, I felt at ease although he wasnât by my side. I spread out the canvas again and started painting. Shortly after, a light bulb went off in my head.
I should paint how happy I feel on this canvas and use it to join the youth art exhibition this time! Iâm going to show everyone my talent and no longer muddle through life. Most importantly, I want to transform myself into a woman whoâs worthy of Christopher instead of waiting for him to change my circumstances!