Chapter 26: I need some time to think about it

The Royal Spare Café was never meant to be a place of vulnerability. It was my sanctuary—a refuge from the relentless demands of my high-powered life. Yet here I was, sitting across from Elena, my heart pounding like a trapped bird.

Elena. The name echoed in my mind, and I wondered how someone so seemingly ordinary could unravel my carefully constructed facade. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. Her eyes held secrets, and her smile was like a stolen kiss. I had met countless people, but none like her.

As I listened to her talk about her love for painting and the outdoors, I realized I was in uncharted territory. My usual aloofness had deserted me, replaced by a strange warmth. And then, like a fool, I blurted out those words: "So marry me."

What madness possessed me? I had no business proposing to anyone, let alone Elena. I was cold, calculating—a shark in a designer suit. But there it was, hanging in the air, and Elena's shock mirrored my own.