ManyWriters

I proposed to Aria eighteen times.
She agreed every time, but after I gave her eighteen dowries, she still used all sorts of reasons to delay the wedding date.
"Caelan is taking his driver's test soon, I don't want to distract him."
"Caelan's cat at home is sick, wouldn't getting married now just add to his troubles?"
"Caelan's been in a good mood lately, let's wait a bit. It's rare for him to be happy!"
Caelan was her childhood sweetheart, and the man who had secretly loved her for eighteen years.
Later, Primrose tearfully begged me, "Honey, what about your nineteenth proposal? As long as you propose to me, we'll have the wedding right away."
I held my new bride's hand and boasted to her, "Who's your husband? I'm already married."
"Oh, and if you don't pay back the dowry from the first eighteen proposals soon, you might be facing a lawsuit."

Eighteen Marriage Proposals Later, I Give Up on Marriage

Aria let out a bitter laugh. "Brent, do you think I'm just after your money, that I'm only in it for personal gain?"


"No, that's not it at all. Everything I do is because I love you!"


"You're becoming more and more successful. I'm scared you'll abandon me, that you won't want me anymore. I'm afraid you'll look down on me for being poor. I can only try to earn some money for myself, so I don't fall too far behind you!"


"Brent, I feel so insecure! I need to constantly reassure myself that you truly love me! I love you so much, how could I possibly say no when you've proposed so many times? I was just afraid you weren't serious! If you don't believe me, propose one more time, and I'll say yes right away! Please, Brent?"


I pulled my hand away from hers and went into the room to pack my things, ignoring what she was saying.


But to my surprise, she had decorated the room like a proposal scene. She followed me in and dropped to her knees with a thud.


Chapter 10