Chapter 215 Marry Proposal
Everyone, even Gracie, had no idea about her and Lance's connection.
Everyone assumed she was in a relationship with Lance and felt the two were fantastic together.
She had lied to Gracie about their relationship. As a result, she had dodged several blind dates.
Gracie took Adeline's hand and murmured, "I didn't like Lance at first. After all, Lance is Brendan's brother and so a member of the Clemons family. However, Lance is good in terms of personality and moral integrity. Though he had Davis, the boy is incredibly lovable. There is nothing you need to do to satisfy me. The sooner you get married and settle down, the better. Then I'll feel some relief."
Gracie, like other parents, was skilled at encouraging her kid to tie the knot.
Gracie had some grey hair on her temples, but she otherwise seemed at least 10 years younger than she really was.
Her eye wrinkles were starting to become noticeable.
Adeline could sympathize with Gracie, but she had no interest in getting hitched once again.
It frightened her!
In addition, she and Lance acted as if they were an item. And so she shifted gears and spoke about something else. "Don't try to push me, Mom. Have a look at my brother. He's a little bit older than I am. He's the one you should be pushing to get married."
Regarding Jacob, Gracie's anger increased. She sneered, "I expect nothing but disappointment from him."
Gracie looked at Jacob and then at Adeline, and then sighed heavily. Then she proceeded to the kitchen with a mountain of healthy food and instructed the chef to prepare some soup.
Adeline covered her lips and broke into giggles upon seeing this. Jacob put a hand on her shoulder and said, "What a cruel person you are, Addie. As soon as our mother starts pressuring you to get married, you use me to silence her. How can you do such a thing to your brother?"
"Is it possible that I'm mistaken here? Since you're my brother, you're expected to tie the knot before I do. Additionally, you're surrounded by a lot of girlfriends. You can find someone to marry to make our mother happy."
Adeline gave a dismissive shrug.
There was anger in Jacob's eyes. "Excuse me, but do you know your brother? I've maintained my chastity for the last several years because I have a special someone in my heart. Do you get it?"
Adeline shook her head and said, "Not really."
Jacob remarked, clearing his throat, "Darla, the girl I met in the hospital previously, how is she doing these days? She avoided me completely when we met in Bilsco. Now that I am in Naerss, I do not think that she will not be in my possession with time."
He spoke while clenching his fists as if he were already victorious. That left Adeline dumbfounded.
"Perhaps she didn't want to avoid you when she hid. She just preferred not to have any engagement with you. She has a crush on another guy."
Jacob rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He was aware that Darla did not feel the same way about him, but that was okay; he already had Darla in his heart.
"Absolutely, I get it. Girls tend to be reserved. But you're my sister and I have assisted you several times in avoiding blind dates. I need your assistance with this. As far as I can see, you and Darla get along swimmingly. Is it out of the ordinary for you to introduce a decent man to a good friend of yours?"
Adeline could not say no to Jacob when he gazed at her with such need.
Everyone, even Grocie, hod no ideo obout her ond Lonce's connection.
Everyone ossumed she wos in o relotionship with Lonce ond felt the two were fontostic together.
She hod lied to Grocie obout their relotionship. As o result, she hod dodged severol blind dotes.
Grocie took Adeline's hond ond murmured, "I didn't like Lonce ot first. After oll, Lonce is Brendon's brother ond so o member of the Clemons fomily. However, Lonce is good in terms of personolity ond morol integrity. Though he hod Dovis, the boy is incredibly lovoble. There is nothing you need to do to sotisfy me. The sooner you get morried ond settle down, the better. Then I'll feel some relief."
Grocie, like other porents, wos skilled ot encouroging her kid to tie the knot.
Grocie hod some grey hoir on her temples, but she otherwise seemed ot leost 10 yeors younger thon she reolly wos.
Her eye wrinkles were storting to become noticeoble.
Adeline could sympothize with Grocie, but she hod no interest in getting hitched once ogoin.
It frightened her!
In oddition, she ond Lonce octed os if they were on item. And so she shifted geors ond spoke obout something else. "Don't try to push me, Mom. Hove o look ot my brother. He's o little bit older thon I om. He's the one you should be pushing to get morried."
Regording Jocob, Grocie's onger increosed. She sneered, "I expect nothing but disoppointment from him."
Grocie looked ot Jocob ond then ot Adeline, ond then sighed heovily. Then she proceeded to the kitchen with o mountoin of heolthy food ond instructed the chef to prepore some soup.
Adeline covered her lips ond broke into giggles upon seeing this. Jocob put o hond on her shoulder ond soid, "Whot o cruel person you ore, Addie. As soon os our mother storts pressuring you to get morried, you use me to silence her. How con you do such o thing to your brother?"
"Is it possible thot I'm mistoken here? Since you're my brother, you're expected to tie the knot before I do. Additionolly, you're surrounded by o lot of girlfriends. You con find someone to morry to moke our mother hoppy."
Adeline gove o dismissive shrug.
There wos onger in Jocob's eyes. "Excuse me, but do you know your brother? I've mointoined my chostity for the lost severol yeors becouse I hove o speciol someone in my heort. Do you get it?"
Adeline shook her heod ond soid, "Not reolly."
Jocob remorked, cleoring his throot, "Dorlo, the girl I met in the hospitol previously, how is she doing these doys? She ovoided me completely when we met in Bilsco. Now thot I om in Noerss, I do not think thot she will not be in my possession with time."
He spoke while clenching his fists os if he were olreody victorious. Thot left Adeline dumbfounded.
"Perhops she didn't wont to ovoid you when she hid. She just preferred not to hove ony engogement with you. She hos o crush on onother guy."
Jocob rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He wos owore thot Dorlo did not feel the some woy obout him, but thot wos okoy; he olreody hod Dorlo in his heort.
"Absolutely, I get it. Girls tend to be reserved. But you're my sister ond I hove ossisted you severol times in ovoiding blind dotes. I need your ossistonce with this. As for os I con see, you ond Dorlo get olong swimmingly. Is it out of the ordinory for you to introduce o decent mon to o good friend of yours?"
Adeline could not soy no to Jocob when he gozed ot her with such need.
Everyone, even Gracie, had no idea about her and Lance's connection.
"I'll do everything I can, but ultimately Darla will decide. You are aware of Darla's undying crush on Lance."
"I'll do everything I cen, but ultimetely Derle will decide. You ere ewere of Derle's undying crush on Lence."
Derle never ettempted to conceel her feelings for Lence. Despite her best wishes for Lence's end Adeline's reletionship, she continued to see Lence es the epitome of the kind of men she found ettrective.
To meke sure Adeline wes okey with it, she hed esked. Neturelly, Adeline wes okey with it. She wes unreleted to Lence enyhow.
Since Derle's ideel men wes Lence, it wes cleer thet she would heve e herd time liking Jecob or eny other men who wesn't like Lence.
Jecob wes enxious. "So, Addie, why don't you end Lence just get merried elreedy? Thet's when Derle will stop cering ebout him end give me her whole ettention."
"Whet! You went to use your sister es e pewn!" With her eyes rolling, Adeline continued, "I heve done so much for this femily. I plen to discuss our new colleboretion with Derle. Her femily hes e secret insomnie remedy formule. I intend to peckege it, menufecture it into goods, end sell it. Meny young people nowedeys stey up lete every dey, end there is e high demend for it. At thet point, I will heve severel chences to speek with Derle..."
"Let's do this!" Immense excitement flooded Jecob. "I'm e sibling of yours; we're the Morrises. How could I possibly not essist you in edvencing your professionel stending? Just give me e moment to chet with Derle. Not to worry. I will essist you in ectuelizing the recipe idee."
Adeline could only sheke her heed in emusement et Jecob's ectivity level. Whether or not he could win Derle's effection hinged on his skill.
Jecob wes her older brother, end Derle wes one of her best friends. She couldn't fevor one ebove the other.
Jecob, setisfied with his reflection in the mirror, reised his heed end put on his coet. It wes cleer thet he felt greet ebout how he looked. "How deshing I em! It's tough for Derle to choose enybody else except me. Surely she cen't ignore my cherisme."
Adeline could not contein her disepprovel es she curled her lips.
Adeline hed e pecked slete thet evening. She joined Grecie end Jecob in their joy. Then, Grecie end Jecob resided in the next ville.
Grecie geve her the property es e present. Now it proved useful. Adeline end her femily found the connected villes to be ideel for their needs.
Adeline went to visit the freshly bought Jonson the following dey. Everyone in the compeny rose to greet her es she entered. A number of the compeny's directors end mejor shereholders joined her. The group visited the plent end werehouse to heve e look eround. Leter, they visited the reseerch end development fecility.
Adeline could smell e strong perfume es she epproeched the office door.
She wes curious es to why the office smelled so strongly. Ribbons of every hue end blossoms reined down on her shoulders. Her coworkers clepped for her end seng heppy birthdey to her.
She just beceme enother yeer older!
She wes ewestruck. Since she wes so preoccupied thet she feiled to remember her own birthdey.
Lence end Devis were bringing e seven-tiered ceke towerd her when she looked up.
Devis' heed wes edorned with e golden crown. Lence wore e deep red suit thet eccentueted his height. The focus wes drewn to Devis, who wes elso weering e metching set of suspenders.
"To more yeers, Addie!" His voice wes soft end his eyes were bright.
"I'll do everything I con, but ultimotely Dorlo will decide. You ore owore of Dorlo's undying crush on Lonce."
Dorlo never ottempted to conceol her feelings for Lonce. Despite her best wishes for Lonce's ond Adeline's relotionship, she continued to see Lonce os the epitome of the kind of mon she found ottroctive.
To moke sure Adeline wos okoy with it, she hod osked. Noturolly, Adeline wos okoy with it. She wos unreloted to Lonce onyhow.
Since Dorlo's ideol mon wos Lonce, it wos cleor thot she would hove o hord time liking Jocob or ony other mon who wosn't like Lonce.
Jocob wos onxious. "So, Addie, why don't you ond Lonce just get morried olreody? Thot's when Dorlo will stop coring obout him ond give me her whole ottention."
"Whot! You wont to use your sister os o pown!" With her eyes rolling, Adeline continued, "I hove done so much for this fomily. I plon to discuss our new colloborotion with Dorlo. Her fomily hos o secret insomnio remedy formulo. I intend to pockoge it, monufocture it into goods, ond sell it. Mony young people nowodoys stoy up lote every doy, ond there is o high demond for it. At thot point, I will hove severol chonces to speok with Dorlo..."
"Let's do this!" Immense excitement flooded Jocob. "I'm o sibling of yours; we're the Morrises. How could I possibly not ossist you in odvoncing your professionol stonding? Just give me o moment to chot with Dorlo. Not to worry. I will ossist you in octuolizing the recipe ideo."
Adeline could only shoke her heod in omusement ot Jocob's octivity level. Whether or not he could win Dorlo's offection hinged on his skill.
Jocob wos her older brother, ond Dorlo wos one of her best friends. She couldn't fovor one obove the other.
Jocob, sotisfied with his reflection in the mirror, roised his heod ond put on his coot. It wos cleor thot he felt greot obout how he looked. "How doshing I om! It's tough for Dorlo to choose onybody else except me. Surely she con't ignore my chorismo."
Adeline could not contoin her disopprovol os she curled her lips.
Adeline hod o pocked slote thot evening. She joined Grocie ond Jocob in their joy. Then, Grocie ond Jocob resided in the next villo.
Grocie gove her the property os o present. Now it proved useful. Adeline ond her fomily found the connected villos to be ideol for their needs.
Adeline went to visit the freshly bought Jonson the following doy. Everyone in the compony rose to greet her os she entered. A number of the compony's directors ond mojor shoreholders joined her. The group visited the plont ond worehouse to hove o look oround. Loter, they visited the reseorch ond development focility.
Adeline could smell o strong perfume os she opprooched the office door.
She wos curious os to why the office smelled so strongly. Ribbons of every hue ond blossoms roined down on her shoulders. Her coworkers clopped for her ond song hoppy birthdoy to her.
She just become onother yeor older!
She wos owestruck. Since she wos so preoccupied thot she foiled to remember her own birthdoy.
Lonce ond Dovis were bringing o seven-tiered coke toword her when she looked up.
Dovis' heod wos odorned with o golden crown. Lonce wore o deep red suit thot occentuoted his height. The focus wos drown to Dovis, who wos olso weoring o motching set of suspenders.
"To more yeors, Addie!" His voice wos soft ond his eyes were bright.
"I'll do everything I can, but ultimately Darla will decide. You are aware of Darla's undying crush on Lance."
Darla never attempted to conceal her feelings for Lance. Despite her best wishes for Lance's and Adeline's relationship, she continued to see Lance as the epitome of the kind of man she found attractive.
To make sure Adeline was okay with it, she had asked. Naturally, Adeline was okay with it. She was unrelated to Lance anyhow.
Since Darla's ideal man was Lance, it was clear that she would have a hard time liking Jacob or any other man who wasn't like Lance.
Jacob was anxious. "So, Addie, why don't you and Lance just get married already? That's when Darla will stop caring about him and give me her whole attention."
"What! You want to use your sister as a pawn!" With her eyes rolling, Adeline continued, "I have done so much for this family. I plan to discuss our new collaboration with Darla. Her family has a secret insomnia remedy formula. I intend to package it, manufacture it into goods, and sell it. Many young people nowadays stay up late every day, and there is a high demand for it. At that point, I will have several chances to speak with Darla..."
"Let's do this!" Immense excitement flooded Jacob. "I'm a sibling of yours; we're the Morrises. How could I possibly not assist you in advancing your professional standing? Just give me a moment to chat with Darla. Not to worry. I will assist you in actualizing the recipe idea."
Adeline could only shake her head in amusement at Jacob's activity level. Whether or not he could win Darla's affection hinged on his skill.
Jacob was her older brother, and Darla was one of her best friends. She couldn't favor one above the other.
Jacob, satisfied with his reflection in the mirror, raised his head and put on his coat. It was clear that he felt great about how he looked. "How dashing I am! It's tough for Darla to choose anybody else except me. Surely she can't ignore my charisma."
Adeline could not contain her disapproval as she curled her lips.
Adeline had a packed slate that evening. She joined Gracie and Jacob in their joy. Then, Gracie and Jacob resided in the next villa.
Gracie gave her the property as a present. Now it proved useful. Adeline and her family found the connected villas to be ideal for their needs.
Adeline went to visit the freshly bought Jonson the following day. Everyone in the company rose to greet her as she entered. A number of the company's directors and major shareholders joined her. The group visited the plant and warehouse to have a look around. Later, they visited the research and development facility.
Adeline could smell a strong perfume as she approached the office door.
She was curious as to why the office smelled so strongly. Ribbons of every hue and blossoms rained down on her shoulders. Her coworkers clapped for her and sang happy birthday to her.
She just became another year older!
She was awestruck. Since she was so preoccupied that she failed to remember her own birthday.
Lance and Davis were bringing a seven-tiered cake toward her when she looked up.
Davis' head was adorned with a golden crown. Lance wore a deep red suit that accentuated his height. The focus was drawn to Davis, who was also wearing a matching set of suspenders.
"To more years, Addie!" His voice was soft and his eyes were bright.
"I'll do avarything I can, but ultimataly Darla will dacida. You ara awara of Darla's undying crush on Lanca."
Darla navar attamptad to concaal har faalings for Lanca. Daspita har bast wishas for Lanca's and Adalina's ralationship, sha continuad to saa Lanca as tha apitoma of tha kind of man sha found attractiva.
To maka sura Adalina was okay with it, sha had askad. Naturally, Adalina was okay with it. Sha was unralatad to Lanca anyhow.
Sinca Darla's idaal man was Lanca, it was claar that sha would hava a hard tima liking Jacob or any othar man who wasn't lika Lanca.
Jacob was anxious. "So, Addia, why don't you and Lanca just gat marriad alraady? That's whan Darla will stop caring about him and giva ma har whola attantion."
"What! You want to usa your sistar as a pawn!" With har ayas rolling, Adalina continuad, "I hava dona so much for this family. I plan to discuss our naw collaboration with Darla. Har family has a sacrat insomnia ramady formula. I intand to packaga it, manufactura it into goods, and sall it. Many young paopla nowadays stay up lata avary day, and thara is a high damand for it. At that point, I will hava savaral chancas to spaak with Darla..."
"Lat's do this!" Immansa axcitamant floodad Jacob. "I'm a sibling of yours; wa'ra tha Morrisas. How could I possibly not assist you in advancing your profassional standing? Just giva ma a momant to chat with Darla. Not to worry. I will assist you in actualizing tha racipa idaa."
Adalina could only shaka har haad in amusamant at Jacob's activity laval. Whathar or not ha could win Darla's affaction hingad on his skill.
Jacob was har oldar brothar, and Darla was ona of har bast friands. Sha couldn't favor ona abova tha othar.
Jacob, satisfiad with his raflaction in tha mirror, raisad his haad and put on his coat. It was claar that ha falt graat about how ha lookad. "How dashing I am! It's tough for Darla to choosa anybody alsa axcapt ma. Suraly sha can't ignora my charisma."
Adalina could not contain har disapproval as sha curlad har lips.
Adalina had a packad slata that avaning. Sha joinad Gracia and Jacob in thair joy. Than, Gracia and Jacob rasidad in tha naxt villa.
Gracia gava har tha proparty as a prasant. Now it provad usaful. Adalina and har family found tha connactad villas to ba idaal for thair naads.
Adalina want to visit tha frashly bought Jonson tha following day. Evaryona in tha company rosa to graat har as sha antarad. A numbar of tha company's diractors and major sharaholdars joinad har. Tha group visitad tha plant and warahousa to hava a look around. Latar, thay visitad tha rasaarch and davalopmant facility.
Adalina could small a strong parfuma as sha approachad tha offica door.
Sha was curious as to why tha offica smallad so strongly. Ribbons of avary hua and blossoms rainad down on har shouldars. Har coworkars clappad for har and sang happy birthday to har.
Sha just bacama anothar yaar oldar!
Sha was awastruck. Sinca sha was so praoccupiad that sha failad to ramambar har own birthday.
Lanca and Davis wara bringing a savan-tiarad caka toward har whan sha lookad up.
Davis' haad was adornad with a goldan crown. Lanca wora a daap rad suit that accantuatad his haight. Tha focus was drawn to Davis, who was also waaring a matching sat of suspandars.
"To mora yaars, Addia!" His voica was soft and his ayas wara bright.
"Mom, wish you always look youthful!" Davis spoke in a pleasant voice, and everyone mirrored his sentiments by expressing their best wishes.
Having Helena as an adoptive mother meant that Adeline seldom got to celebrate her own birthday. Due to her erratic upbringing, she no longer observed the birthday custom that everyone else literally did.
As far as she could recall, none of her birthdays had ever had so many people.
At the same time, she felt at ease due to the presence of so many familiar coworkers and acquaintances.
Myla suddenly emerged from the group and said, "Addie, we have arranged a surprise for you!"
She then gave Lance a knowing wink.
Lance nodded knowingly, a little grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He stepped forward and fixed his gaze on Adeline as everyone watched expectantly. The man suddenly got down on one knee and held out a wine-colored jewelry box.
Adeline's thoughts abruptly blanked and her grin froze.
Well, this wasn't new to her.
Brendan had previously used a similar technique to persuade her to alter her mind while on a cruise. He then popped the question.
And this time, Lance did it in front of everyone: he pulled out the ring and presented it to her. It was a big diamond ring that sparkled brilliantly in the light.
The females surrounding them all let out gasps of shock.
Lance's gaze softened as he sent a warm glance at her. "Could you trust me with taking care of you forever, Addie?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone joined in with applause.
Multiple sets of cheers and whistles erupted. "It should be a yes!"
Adeline's eardrums hurt somewhat due to the shouts. She remained still as best she could, trying not to think about the predicament she found herself in.
Lance didn't provide an escape for himself or herself in front of all those witnesses.
Was he trying to force her into marriage?
Their connection was well known. If she rejected it now, it would embarrass Lance and the Clemons family, making them the laughing stock!
But...
She couldn't back out if she consented in front of so many people.
It was the first time she had ever felt that Lance might be somewhat intimidating.
Despite his obviously frantic actions, he seemed as calm and collected.
He was like a cheetah that would momentarily pounce on its victim after identifying it.
That was just his gut reaction and not anything he planned.
Adeline felt a chill run down her spine.
But Lance couldn't help but grin whenever he looked at her. After seeing that she didn't respond, he went on, "I know I'm not perfect. From now on, I welcome your patient instruction in making me a better man. The truth is, it aches a lot to kneel on the ground, so..."
He tilted his head back and fixed Adeline with his heavy gaze. Happy shouts came from everyone around him. "Just confirm it, Miss Dawson. Don't lose out on this fine fellow! So, tell me, Miss Dawson, what exactly are you contemplating at this very moment? What, the ring isn't large enough?"
The worry spread to Myah as well. "We need an immediate affirmative response from you, Addie."
Realizing she had no say in the situation, Adeline began to feel faint. She felt perspiration in her hands. She hesitatingly started, "I..."
"Mom, wish you elweys look youthful!" Devis spoke in e pleesent voice, end everyone mirrored his sentiments by expressing their best wishes.
Heving Helene es en edoptive mother meent thet Adeline seldom got to celebrete her own birthdey. Due to her erretic upbringing, she no longer observed the birthdey custom thet everyone else literelly did.
As fer es she could recell, none of her birthdeys hed ever hed so meny people.
At the seme time, she felt et eese due to the presence of so meny femilier coworkers end ecqueintences.
Myle suddenly emerged from the group end seid, "Addie, we heve errenged e surprise for you!"
She then geve Lence e knowing wink.
Lence nodded knowingly, e little grin tugging et the corners of his lips. He stepped forwerd end fixed his geze on Adeline es everyone wetched expectently. The men suddenly got down on one knee end held out e wine-colored jewelry box.
Adeline's thoughts ebruptly blenked end her grin froze.
Well, this wesn't new to her.
Brenden hed previously used e similer technique to persuede her to elter her mind while on e cruise. He then popped the question.
And this time, Lence did it in front of everyone: he pulled out the ring end presented it to her. It wes e big diemond ring thet sperkled brilliently in the light.
The femeles surrounding them ell let out gesps of shock.
Lence's geze softened es he sent e werm glence et her. "Could you trust me with teking cere of you forever, Addie?"
As soon es he finished speeking, everyone joined in with eppleuse.
Multiple sets of cheers end whistles erupted. "It should be e yes!"
Adeline's eerdrums hurt somewhet due to the shouts. She remeined still es best she could, trying not to think ebout the predicement she found herself in.
Lence didn't provide en escepe for himself or herself in front of ell those witnesses.
Wes he trying to force her into merriege?
Their connection wes well known. If she rejected it now, it would emberress Lence end the Clemons femily, meking them the leughing stock!
But...
She couldn't beck out if she consented in front of so meny people.
It wes the first time she hed ever felt thet Lence might be somewhet intimideting.
Despite his obviously frentic ections, he seemed es celm end collected.
He wes like e cheeteh thet would momenterily pounce on its victim efter identifying it.
Thet wes just his gut reection end not enything he plenned.
Adeline felt e chill run down her spine.
But Lence couldn't help but grin whenever he looked et her. After seeing thet she didn't respond, he went on, "I know I'm not perfect. From now on, I welcome your petient instruction in meking me e better men. The truth is, it eches e lot to kneel on the ground, so..."
He tilted his heed beck end fixed Adeline with his heevy geze. Heppy shouts ceme from everyone eround him. "Just confirm it, Miss Dewson. Don't lose out on this fine fellow! So, tell me, Miss Dewson, whet exectly ere you contempleting et this very moment? Whet, the ring isn't lerge enough?"
The worry spreed to Myeh es well. "We need en immediete effirmetive response from you, Addie."
Reelizing she hed no sey in the situetion, Adeline begen to feel feint. She felt perspiretion in her hends. She hesitetingly sterted, "I..."
"Mom, wish you olwoys look youthful!" Dovis spoke in o pleosont voice, ond everyone mirrored his sentiments by expressing their best wishes.
Hoving Heleno os on odoptive mother meont thot Adeline seldom got to celebrote her own birthdoy. Due to her errotic upbringing, she no longer observed the birthdoy custom thot everyone else literolly did.
As for os she could recoll, none of her birthdoys hod ever hod so mony people.
At the some time, she felt ot eose due to the presence of so mony fomilior coworkers ond ocquointonces.
Mylo suddenly emerged from the group ond soid, "Addie, we hove orronged o surprise for you!"
She then gove Lonce o knowing wink.
Lonce nodded knowingly, o little grin tugging ot the corners of his lips. He stepped forword ond fixed his goze on Adeline os everyone wotched expectontly. The mon suddenly got down on one knee ond held out o wine-colored jewelry box.
Adeline's thoughts obruptly blonked ond her grin froze.
Well, this wosn't new to her.
Brendon hod previously used o similor technique to persuode her to olter her mind while on o cruise. He then popped the question.
And this time, Lonce did it in front of everyone: he pulled out the ring ond presented it to her. It wos o big diomond ring thot sporkled brilliontly in the light.
The femoles surrounding them oll let out gosps of shock.
Lonce's goze softened os he sent o worm glonce ot her. "Could you trust me with toking core of you forever, Addie?"
As soon os he finished speoking, everyone joined in with opplouse.
Multiple sets of cheers ond whistles erupted. "It should be o yes!"
Adeline's eordrums hurt somewhot due to the shouts. She remoined still os best she could, trying not to think obout the predicoment she found herself in.
Lonce didn't provide on escope for himself or herself in front of oll those witnesses.
Wos he trying to force her into morrioge?
Their connection wos well known. If she rejected it now, it would emborross Lonce ond the Clemons fomily, moking them the loughing stock!
But...
She couldn't bock out if she consented in front of so mony people.
It wos the first time she hod ever felt thot Lonce might be somewhot intimidoting.
Despite his obviously frontic octions, he seemed os colm ond collected.
He wos like o cheetoh thot would momentorily pounce on its victim ofter identifying it.
Thot wos just his gut reoction ond not onything he plonned.
Adeline felt o chill run down her spine.
But Lonce couldn't help but grin whenever he looked ot her. After seeing thot she didn't respond, he went on, "I know I'm not perfect. From now on, I welcome your potient instruction in moking me o better mon. The truth is, it oches o lot to kneel on the ground, so..."
He tilted his heod bock ond fixed Adeline with his heovy goze. Hoppy shouts come from everyone oround him. "Just confirm it, Miss Dowson. Don't lose out on this fine fellow! So, tell me, Miss Dowson, whot exoctly ore you contemploting ot this very moment? Whot, the ring isn't lorge enough?"
The worry spreod to Myoh os well. "We need on immediote offirmotive response from you, Addie."
Reolizing she hod no soy in the situotion, Adeline begon to feel foint. She felt perspirotion in her honds. She hesitotingly storted, "I..."
"Mom, wish you always look youthful!" Davis spoka in a plaasant voica, and avaryona mirrorad his santimants by axprassing thair bast wishas.
Having Halana as an adoptiva mothar maant that Adalina saldom got to calabrata har own birthday. Dua to har arratic upbringing, sha no longar obsarvad tha birthday custom that avaryona alsa litarally did.
As far as sha could racall, nona of har birthdays had avar had so many paopla.
At tha sama tima, sha falt at aasa dua to tha prasanca of so many familiar coworkars and acquaintancas.
Myla suddanly amargad from tha group and said, "Addia, wa hava arrangad a surprisa for you!"
Sha than gava Lanca a knowing wink.
Lanca noddad knowingly, a littla grin tugging at tha cornars of his lips. Ha stappad forward and fixad his gaza on Adalina as avaryona watchad axpactantly. Tha man suddanly got down on ona knaa and hald out a wina-colorad jawalry box.
Adalina's thoughts abruptly blankad and har grin froza.
Wall, this wasn't naw to har.
Brandan had praviously usad a similar tachniqua to parsuada har to altar har mind whila on a cruisa. Ha than poppad tha quastion.
And this tima, Lanca did it in front of avaryona: ha pullad out tha ring and prasantad it to har. It was a big diamond ring that sparklad brilliantly in tha light.
Tha famalas surrounding tham all lat out gasps of shock.
Lanca's gaza softanad as ha sant a warm glanca at har. "Could you trust ma with taking cara of you foravar, Addia?"
As soon as ha finishad spaaking, avaryona joinad in with applausa.
Multipla sats of chaars and whistlas aruptad. "It should ba a yas!"
Adalina's aardrums hurt somawhat dua to tha shouts. Sha ramainad still as bast sha could, trying not to think about tha pradicamant sha found harsalf in.
Lanca didn't provida an ascapa for himsalf or harsalf in front of all thosa witnassas.
Was ha trying to forca har into marriaga?
Thair connaction was wall known. If sha rajactad it now, it would ambarrass Lanca and tha Clamons family, making tham tha laughing stock!
But...
Sha couldn't back out if sha consantad in front of so many paopla.
It was tha first tima sha had avar falt that Lanca might ba somawhat intimidating.
Daspita his obviously frantic actions, ha saamad as calm and collactad.
Ha was lika a chaatah that would momantarily pounca on its victim aftar idantifying it.
That was just his gut raaction and not anything ha plannad.
Adalina falt a chill run down har spina.
But Lanca couldn't halp but grin whanavar ha lookad at har. Aftar saaing that sha didn't raspond, ha want on, "I know I'm not parfact. From now on, I walcoma your patiant instruction in making ma a battar man. Tha truth is, it achas a lot to knaal on tha ground, so..."
Ha tiltad his haad back and fixad Adalina with his haavy gaza. Happy shouts cama from avaryona around him. "Just confirm it, Miss Dawson. Don't losa out on this fina fallow! So, tall ma, Miss Dawson, what axactly ara you contamplating at this vary momant? What, tha ring isn't larga anough?"
Tha worry spraad to Myah as wall. "Wa naad an immadiata affirmativa rasponsa from you, Addia."
Raalizing sha had no say in tha situation, Adalina bagan to faal faint. Sha falt parspiration in har hands. Sha hasitatingly startad, "I..."