An Unexpected Proposal
Ashley stepped into her apartment, exhaustion weighing her down like a heavy blanket.
The day at work had been relentless, and the constant pressure of keeping Demitri’s company afloat in his absence was taking its toll.
She dropped her bag by the door and kicked off her heels, sighing in relief as she sank onto the couch.
Her mind wandered to Demitri. It had been over a week since she left Texas, and despite her daily phone calls, her worry grew with each passing day. She had made up her mind—she was heading back to Texas tomorrow.
But first, she needed to tell her father she was going there for a meeting.
Dragging herself upstairs, she opened her bedroom door and collapsed onto the bed. Before she could relax, her phone buzzed. She grabbed it, smiling faintly when she saw it was Demitri’s mother.
“Mother,” Ashley greeted warmly. “How is he today?”
There was a pause before the older woman spoke, her voice trembling with worry. “Ashley, it’s been the same. He hasn’t moved, not even a twitch. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but… it’s so hard.”
Ashley’s chest tightened. She could hear the exhaustion and heartbreak in the woman’s voice. “He’ll pull through,” Ashley said softly. “Demitri is strong. We just have to keep believing in him.”
“I know,” She whispered. “But every day feels like an eternity. I just want to see him open his eyes, to hear him call me ‘Mama’ again.”
Ashley swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I’m coming back tomorrow,” she said firmly. “I’ll be there to help however I can.”
“You’ve already done so much, my dear,” Mrs. Torres said, her voice breaking. “Thank you.”
After a few more reassurances, Ashley ended the call, her resolve stronger than ever. She wouldn’t let her guilt or the overwhelming challenges stop her from supporting Demitri and his family.
A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she called out.
One of the maids entered, her expression hesitant. “Miss Ashley, your father is asking for you in the living room.”
Ashley nodded and stood, brushing her hair out of her face. She straightened her clothes, prepared for another lecture about the company or her personal choices.
But when she walked into the living room, she froze.
Sitting across from her father were Ethan and his father, Moreno. Ethan’s smug grin immediately put her on edge, and Moreno’s neutral expression didn’t help ease her discomfort.
“Father,” Ashley greeted cautiously. “What’s going on?”
Her father didn’t waste time. “Ashley, Ethan has proposed a union between your families through marriage. I think it’s a brilliant idea and a perfect opportunity for both our businesses.”
Ashley’s heart dropped. She stared at her father in disbelief, her eyes darting to Ethan, who looked entirely too pleased with himself.
“A marriage?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan stood, smoothing his suit jacket before stepping toward her. “Yes, Ashley. A partnership in every sense of the word. Business and personal. Think of the possibilities.”
Ashley’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I don’t recall agreeing to any of this,” she said coldly.
Her father frowned. “Ashley, this is about more than just you. This is about the future of our company and ensuring its stability. Ethan’s proposal is the best option we have.”
Ethan took another step closer, pulling out a small velvet box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing an extravagant diamond ring that sparkled under the living room lights.
“Will you marry me, Emerald Donaldson?” Ethan asked, his voice dripping with confidence.
Ashley’s jaw dropped as the room fell silent.