Chapter 172

Chapter 172 I am always on your side Cinder’s question made me even more conflicted. I grabbed the wine bottle and refilled my glass.

I tilted my head back and downed the entire glass before wiping the wine from the corners of my mouth and sitting back down next to Cinder.

I gingerly placed my hand on the table. The pink diamond shone beautifully in the evening light.

Cinder blinked and her mouth opened in shock. “No way…”

“That’s what happened.” I nodded helplessly. “Aaron proposed to me today.”

Cinder’s eyes were wide. “He did that for real?”

I could hear the disbelief in her voice. I glared at her and poured myself another glass of wine. “Didn’t you take me to get dressed up before I knew he was going to propose?”

Maybe that was why Cinder was acting weird this morning. If I had known it was all because Aaron was going to propose, I wouldn’t have gone with Cinder.

Cinder didn’t tell me a thing! I was caught off guard!

Cinder blinked innocently. “Aaron just asked me to get you dressed up and send you there. He didn’t tell me the whole story. I just thought he wanted a nice, romantic evening with you. I had no idea he would actually propose!”

After many years of friendship with Cinder, I knew she wouldn’t lie to me about this.

My heart grew bitter when I realized that Aaron planned this entire elaborate proposal all by himself. I tightened my grip on my glass and took another sip.

Cinder held her glass toward me and asked me to pour her some as well.

When I finished pouring the wine, Cinder took a sip and continued to ask questions. “So, did you say yes?”

Was that a yes? I accepted the ring, but we both knew something was wrong.

After a moment, I shook my head. “I’m not really sure, I haven’t thought about it.”

My childhood left me with tons of insecurities, which made me scared of marriage. When Aaron proposed, I resisted him. But whenever I thought about the disappointment in his expression, I felt my heart twist like it was stabbed.

If only all this hadn’t happened. If only things could go back to the way they were before tonight. The whole ordeal made me want to curl up and disappear.

Cinder hugged me tightly, her eyes only filled with love. “Olive, you know that I’m always on your side, right?”

Her words and tight embrace made me feel warm.

I wrapped my arms around her and breathed in her gentle scent. “Cinder, what do you think I should do now?”

I was worried about what came next. What if Aaron tried to propose again? Would I have the courage to run away?

I didn’t want to make him unhappy, but I didn’t want to be unhappy either. How should I try to balance the two?

Cinder thought for a moment before asking, “Olive, how much do you care about Aaron right now?”

This was the first time someone had asked about my feelings for Aaron. Before today, I always felt like I loved and cared for Aaron lot, but I didn’t even have the courage to nod when he proposed to me.

I contemplated the question for a moment before shaking my head. “I don’t know; I just know that our relationship really makes me feel happy and relaxed right now.”

My relationship with Aaron was the opposite of my relationship with Vincent.

Aaron could make me feel completely at ease, and he always encouraged me to do anything I wanted to do but was too afraid to try. He was the one who helped me find myself and showed me that I could live my life how I wanted.

“Maybe someday in the future we could get married… but I’m only 27, and I’m still working on my PhD.

Marriage isn’t really something I want or need right now, and it’s not like I could handle it either.”

Cinder patted my head and coughed lightly. “It’s okay. Aaron will understand. I’m sure he realized that marriage is not supposed to be easy, and it’s quite the commitment. It’s good that you guys are taking the time to hash it out.”

She had always been a big-hearted and energetic person, but today she was gentle and serious. I appreciated the way she was talking this through with me.

I hesitated for a moment before voicing my other concern. “Also, with his family, marriage might be very complicated.

Cinder couldn’t refute this concern. After all, she was also born into the upper class, so she had known Aaron for many years and was aware of his family situation.

I smiled, not wanting to think about that issue anymore. “Forget it, I just want to drink some more.”

“I’ll drink with you.” Cinder carried two bottles of wine over. “Olive, I’ll keep you company tonight so you won’t get too drunk!”

“There’s no way you’ll get through tonight without getting drunk.” I raised my glass before drinking the entire thing.

I thought alcohol would calm my nerves, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.

With each glass of red wine, instead of growing relaxed, I just grew more and more anxious. The image of Aaron’s disappointed smile echoed through my mind.

I don’t know how much I drank, but Cinder suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Olive, that’s enough. You’re already drunk, you shouldn’t have more.”

“I want more.” I was depressed and didn’t feel drunk at all. If I was drunk, why was the image in my mind so clear?

Cinder sn*tched the glass from my hand and sighed. “You really shouldn’t keep drinking. It was a st*pid idea to stay up with you tonight.”

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