With an elegant style, Ethan stepped out of his metallic

black porch. His good looks and luxury attracted the attention of many people,

men and women, who were just coming out or about to enter the hotel. The men

were envious, and the women secretly admired them and wanted to get closer.

Ethan handed his car keys to a valet and then casually

walked into the hotel. Tonight, he had a dinner appointment with his female

cousin, Sofia. It's not about ordinary conversation, but there's something

Ethan wants to take away. A surprise for the love of his life, which he

entrusts to Sofia.

Ethan arrives at the top floor of the hotel, where Sofia's

favorite restaurant is located. A young woman welcomed Ethan's arrival. The man

with the half-Asian and half-European face said Sofia's name, and responsively,

the young woman in her black and white uniform led Ethan to Sofia's table.

There was already Sofia with her cold face and her husband,

Daniel, who had a smiling face. After greeting Daniel and kissing Sofia on the

forehead, Ethan sat down eagerly.

"How was it? Did you bring what I ordered?" Ethan

asked Sofia enthusiastically.

But Sofia was silent with a sharp gaze, and she answered

Daniel instead.

"Of course we brought it. It's as ordered, and she

takes it seriously."

"Of course Sofia is the best. May I see it?"

Daniel looked nervously at his wife. He gently nudged

Sofia's arm, and she sighed, after which Sofia took out a small box from inside

her bag. Ethan eagerly reached for the small jewelry box, but Sofia held it

back.

"Just so you know, I regret having made it especially

for you," Sofia said.

Ethan's brow furrowed. Sofia's statement perplexed him.

"Did it turn out badly?" asked Ethan worriedly.

"Oh, of course not. It's even prettier than the

sketch," Daniel said hurriedly.

"If it didn't have that name, I could have advised you

to give it to another woman." Sofia said something odd and then handed the

small jewelry box to her male cousin.

Ethan received it still in his confusion. He looked at

Daniel, who returned a queer smile.

Ethan slowly opened the jewelry box, and his eyes grew wide.

Inside the box, there was a beautifully engraved ring that looked like a stream

of water, forming a symbol of love. In the center was a six-carat diamond,

which was set with smaller diamonds. On the inside of the ring were engraved

the words, 'My promise forever, Ethan, Bella'.

Ethan smiled happily. He caressed the ring very gently, as

if the gold ring were fragile.

"Are you sure you're going to propose to her?"

asked Sofia seriously.

"Like I told you, It's already serious," Ethan

replied with a happy smile.

"How long have you been with her?"

"Almost two years. That's long enough, isn't it?"

Ethan looked proud of the accomplishment.

"And in all that time, you haven't even been to her

house once. You don't even know who she is or her family," Sofia sneered.

"Hey, I've looked into her family background. Even if I

haven't met her family so far, it's because her parents are quite strict and

disciplined. The man who comes to her house must be the one who really wants to

marry her daughter," Ethan explained.

"Oh, yeah? And why haven't you been to her house since

long ago? Isn't it easy for you to marry her?"

Ethan gave a small smile with a shy face. He looked amused

at himself for answering his cousin's question.

"She doesn't know who I am. I've always been an

ordinary manager. And she wants me to succeed first and then come to her house.

She wants to introduce me to her family as someone who is willing to struggle.

Few women are willing to accept my persistent deficiency.

She's still always there for me and gives me everything," Ethan said with

implicit pride.

"It's not the other way around," Daniel replied

with a smile on his face.

"All this time, you've always done what she asked. From

cars to apartments in elite areas," Daniel continued.

"Seriously?" asked Sofia with a shocked face, and

she looked at her husband and his cousin in turn. "You bought her all that

without her being suspicious of your position as an ordinary manager?"

Ethan gave Daniel an annoyed look for spilling the beans.

Daniel himself kept smiling as if he didn't care, while Ethan, who was exposed

to Sofia's sharp gaze, could only grimace.

"I told her that I had a loan from the office,"

Ethan replied. "And she believed me?"

She's always trusted me." Ethan was confident when he

said it.

"Trust you or don't care about you, because for her,

what she wanted, she got." Sofia said it with dismay. She knew very well

that her male cousin was being fooled.

"Come on, Sofia. Don't be so sarcastic. I've been

testing her for almost two years now. She has proven her loyalty. What I gave

her wasn't coercion either. She just wanted something, and I made it happen.

That's all. She never forced me."

"Why would she force you? You're a fool," Sofia

said pointedly.

"Later, we need to have dinner together. When you get

to know Bella, I'm sure you'll like her," Ethan said confidently.

"No need. I don't want to meet a liar  face-to-fac," Sofia refused.

"Come on, Sofia. Don't be so cynical like that. You've

never met her or talked to her. When that time comes, I'm sure you'll make her

your best friend." Ethan was very sure about that.

"When are you going to go to her house and

propose?" asked Sofia.

"As soon as possible. I think next week."

"That's a long time. Why not tomorrow or the day

after?" challenged Sofia.

"She said there's a family event at her house. It's

like a small party because some distant relatives are coming."

"Maybe it's because of the wedding." Sofia leaned

forward, her smile crooked, and her eyes mysterious.

"No, no. His sister is still in college and has no

plans to get married."

Sofia smiled so wide that her well-groomed teeth were

visible. It made Ethan feel instantly uncomfortable. Sofia's mysterious

demeanor bothered him.

"What is your lover's family name?" Sofia asked.

"Steel. James Steel."

Still with her mysterious smile and eyes that could not be

separated from Ethan, Sofia extended her hand in an elegant way to her husband.

Daniel, who usually had a positive smile, immediately became morose. He took

the bright red wedding invitation card, then handed it to his wife. Stylishly,

Sofia gave it to Ethan.

"What's this?" asked Ethan as he accepted the

wedding invitation card with its fiery color.

"Read it yourself," Sofia replied with an even

wider smile.

With hesitation and a strange feeling, Ethan read the name

on the front cover of the wedding invitation card. In an instant, Ethan's face

turned stiff and pale. His hands trembled slightly as he opened the wedding

invitation card, and Ethan gasped with bated breath after reading the entire

contents.

***