THE RELUCTANT FIANCEE HOAX

imagined his proposal

woman he had planned to spend his life with-only to see panic flicker across her face. The small velvet box in his hand fe

ions had died down, forks and knives had paused

o was suppos

he had just asked her to walk

ely above a whisper, but he

rves. He had expected maybe even a fe

ou. We've been together for two years, and I want to s

s hung i

ucked in

edges of the white l

worst possible

ook he

o-but a slow, conflicted sha

G

champagne flutes hesitated mid-step. Even the pianist in the corner, wh

her voice filled with

roat w

ca

how it was s

ay yes, and throw her arms around him. Where the restaurant would break in

ng in hand, as the woman he loved

ying to process what was ha

efore meeting his gaze. "I me

. "We've been toget

ugh her hair. "And I love you, Ethan. But

" he said, voice clipped.

nd this-" She gestured around them, the candlelit table, the champagne buc

led into a fist

lo

ed this mome

s proposal a hundre

ver imagi

." The words felt li

"I'm saying...

't matter. It still

her eyes was

his pocket, and reached for his wallet. The moment he dropped a few

an,

already stepping away. "Enjoy

love of his life, a table full of uneaten f