Chapter 35 – Sweet Uncertainty

Celeste remained frozen in place, still feeling the lingering warmth on her forehead from Alistair's brief kiss. Her emotions were in turmoil—anger, confusion, but above all, her heart was still racing.

Why did he always manage to make her lose control?

She took a deep breath and quickly picked out her clothes before her thoughts could wander any further. Once she was dressed, Celeste walked out of the room hesitantly. She hoped to avoid Alistair, but the moment she opened the door, he was already waiting outside, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

Alistair tilted his head slightly, observing her with an amused gaze. "Ready?" he asked, his voice sounding far too relaxed for someone who had just driven her insane moments ago.

Celeste cleared her throat softly. "For what?"

Alistair smirked. "We're going out for dinner."

"Dinner?" Celeste frowned. "Why all of a sudden?"

"I just want to spend time with my fiancée," he replied playfully, but there was something deeper in his eyes.

Celeste sighed. "I'm not hungry."

"But I am," Alistair shot back quickly, then reached for her hand, holding it tightly. "And I want you to keep me company."

Celeste opened her mouth to protest, but Alistair had already pulled her downstairs.

They arrived at an upscale restaurant with an undeniably romantic atmosphere. Dim lighting, soft classical music, and candles at every table made Celeste feel slightly uneasy.

"Did you purposely choose a place like this?" she asked suspiciously.

Alistair merely shrugged. "Why? Is it too romantic for you?"

Celeste scoffed. "For me, or for you?"

Alistair chuckled and pulled out a chair for her. "Sit down, sweetheart."

Celeste obeyed, though she continued watching him warily. Alistair took his seat across from her, leaning back casually as he studied her.

"You know," he said suddenly, "I'm starting to think that I like you more than I expected."

Celeste froze, her gaze locking onto his piercing eyes.

"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.

Alistair smirked, then leaned forward, closing the distance between them. "I mean, I want you to stay by my side. And I don't care about whatever happened in the past. I just want to make sure that you're not going anywhere."

Celeste swallowed hard. There was something in Alistair's voice that made it difficult to breathe.

He reached out, his fingers brushing against the back of her hand, stroking it gently. "I'm serious, Celeste."

Her heartbeat quickened. She wasn't sure what she was feeling anymore.

But one thing was certain—Alistair was slowly breaking down her defenses, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could resist.

Celeste could still feel Alistair's hand resting over hers. His touch was always commanding, as if she could never escape his grasp. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her heart continued to race.

Alistair's sharp gaze locked onto her, as if he was deep in thought. A strange unease settled in Celeste's chest.

"What is it?" she finally asked.

Alistair didn't answer right away. Instead, he lifted his wine glass and took a slow sip, savoring the moment. Then, just as calmly, he placed the glass back on the table and leaned back in his chair.

"Marry me."

Celeste froze. She thought she had misheard him.

"What?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

Alistair met her gaze head-on. "I said, let's get married."

Celeste nearly choked on air. "You're not serious, are you?"

"I'm very serious," Alistair replied in a casual tone, but there was something deeper in his eyes. "I don't like waiting, and I don't want anyone else trying to take you from me."

Celeste opened her mouth, then closed it again. She couldn't process his words. "You can't just decide this on your own."

Alistair gave a small smirk. "I can, and I already have."

Celeste shook her head quickly. "No. I can't marry you. We're not even—"

Suddenly, Alistair stood up and walked around the table. He pulled her chair closer, reducing the distance between them.

"You can," he murmured near her ear. "And you will."

Celeste's entire body tensed. "Alistair, this is ridiculous."

Alistair gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his dark eyes. "You've been mine from the start, Celeste. I just want to make it official."

Celeste shook her head firmly. "This isn't the right way!"

Alistair's smirk deepened. "Maybe not. But I don't care about the right way. I only care about making you my wife."

Celeste felt her world spin. How could Alistair expect her to accept this proposal so easily?

But what terrified her more was the whisper of her own heart—

That maybe, just maybe, she didn't really want to say no.