Chapter 35 Proposal
Adeline stood in front of the mirror in her office, her eyes fixed on her reflection as if she were studying someone else entirely. She looked exactly how she wanted to look, controlled, and impossible to read. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail that showed off every angle of her face, and her makeup was bold, her eyes dark and defined, her lips painted in a deep shade that made her look even more serious than usual. Instead of her usual suits, she had chosen a black dress, something simple but striking, something that made a statement without needing too much effort. It was not soft, it was not gentle, and it was not meant to be. It was meant to show power.
Today was not just any day. Today was the day she would stand in front of the press and take control of the story that had been spiraling out of her hands since that night. She knew exactly what she was going to say, she had gone over it again and again in her head until every word felt natural. She would address them directly, without hesitation, and make it clear that she was not hiding anything. She would tell them that she and Julian Hale were engaged and that her marriage to Patrick Sterling was already being dissolved. Simple, direct, and impossible to twist if she delivered it the right way.
Still, under the calm surface she was presenting, there was a small knot of nerves sitting low in her chest. She knew how the press worked, and she knew they would not make it easy for her. They would ask questions meant to trap her, to expose weakness, to force her into saying something that could be used against her later, and she also knew that most of those questions would be directed at her, not Julian. She would be judged more harshly and questioned more aggressively simply because she had been the married one in the situation.
She inhaled slowly, then exhaled, watching her own reflection carefully as if checking for any cracks in the mask she had built. There were none. There would be none.
Julian was supposed to be here by now. The press conference would start in less than thirty minutes, and they had agreed to go over their story one last time before stepping out together. She had expected him to arrive earlier, or at least on time, but the silence of her office told her otherwise. Her fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the desk as she glanced at the clock, irritation slowly replacing the focus she had been holding onto.
“Of course he’s late,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head slightly.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, there was a knock on the door. Before she could even respond, the door opened, and Julian stepped inside like he owned the space. The moment he entered, the air seemed to shift enough for her to feel it.
He looked exactly like himself, confident, composed, and effortlessly put together. His suit fit him perfectly, dark and sharp, his hair slightly tousled in a way that looked intentional. There was something about him that always seemed too controlled, like nothing could truly shake him, and it was both impressive and annoying at the same time.
For a moment, he didn’t say anything.
He simply looked at her.
His gaze moved slowly, taking in every detail, the dress, the way her hair was pulled back, and the intensity in her eyes, and something about the way she looked made him pause without meaning to. A soft breath left him, almost like a gasp that he didn’t bother to hide.
Adeline Carter was truly beautiful, not just in the usual way people described beauty, but in a way that stayed with you. Her face was sharp and striking, her features balanced in a way that made it hard to look away, and her body, the way that dress fit her, the way it hugged her waist and fell just right, made something in him tighten before he could stop it.
It annoyed him.
It annoyed him that no matter how many times he saw her, it still affected him. It annoyed him that he had to remind himself, over and over again, that she was not someone to admire. She was his enemy. The woman he planned to marry, yes, but still someone he intended to destroy in the end.
Adeline broke the silence first, her voice calm but edged with curiosity. “What are you looking at?” she asked, turning slightly to face him fully.
Julian blinked once, as if snapping out of something he hadn’t meant to fall into, before a small smile formed on his lips.
“You,” he said simply. “You look incredible.”
He didn’t bother dressing it up or making it sound like a joke. There was no point pretending otherwise. It was obvious, and denying it would have been pointless.
Adeline held his gaze for a second before a small smile appeared on her lips, softer than the expression she had been wearing before. She didn’t say anything about the way he had said it, but she accepted it all the same.
“Are you ready?” she asked after a moment, her tone shifting back to business.
Julian’s smile turned into a smirk, something more familiar. “I was born ready,” he replied lightly.
He stepped further into the room as he spoke, closing the distance between them without hesitation. His confidence filled the space easily, like he had no doubt about what was coming next.
“What about you?” he added, his eyes still on her.
Adeline turned back to the mirror briefly, her gaze meeting her own reflection again. For a second, she studied herself one last time before giving a small nod.
“I’m ready,” she said, and there was no hesitation in her voice.
Julian moved closer, stepping right behind her until there was no space left between them. She could feel the warmth of him at her back, the presence of him pressing close in a way that made her aware of every small movement. Before she could say anything, his head dipped slightly, and his lips brushed against the side of her neck.
The contact was soft, almost teasing, but it sent a quick reaction through her body.
Adeline let out a small gasp, her fingers tightening slightly against the edge of the table as the feeling settled in. It was brief, but enough to remind her of everything that existed between them beyond just business and strategy.
Julian didn’t pull away immediately. His lips lingered for a second longer before he straightened, his hand moving gently to turn her around so she was facing him.
He looked at her closely, his gaze focused, almost thoughtful now. “Something’s missing,” he said.
Adeline frowned slightly, confusion flickering across her face as she looked down at herself, then back up at him. “What do you mean?” she asked.
For a second, he didn’t answer. Instead, he reached into his pocket slowly, his movements calm. When he pulled his hand back out, there was a small case resting in his palm, and the moment Adeline saw it, her expression shifted.
She knew exactly what it was. Her eyes moved from the case to his face, searching for something, anything that would tell her what he was thinking, but his expression gave very little away.
Without breaking eye contact, Julian stepped back slightly, creating just enough space between them. Then, in one smooth motion, he got down on one knee. The movement was so sudden, so unexpected, that for a brief second, Adeline just stared at him, her mind trying to catch up with what was happening.
He opened the case slowly, revealing the ring inside, simple but elegant, something that caught the light just enough to draw attention without being too loud.
Then he looked up at her. “Adeline Josephine Carter,” he said, his voice steady, clear, and just loud enough to fill the quiet office, “will you marry me?”