Chapter 247 I Do Not Agree to This Marriage
Alexander still looked at her with hopeful eyes, quietly waiting for her answer, patient to the point of stubbornness.
Caroline finally lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You... you should stop cutting... you're ruining all the flowers..."
Alexander froze, looking down.
Only then did he realize that in his nervousness, he'd completely lost control and had already butchered Caroline's carefully tended roses.
Nearly all the intact blooms had been snipped off at the stem, scattered across the ground. Only sparse, half-opened buds remained on the branches.
His hand trembled, and the shears slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
The movement was too sudden—his body swayed, he lost his balance completely, his knees buckled, and just like that he dropped to his knees right in front of Caroline.
Caroline jumped at the sudden movement, her body swaying. She quickly stood up, took half a step back, and stared at him wide-eyed.
Alexander knelt on the ground, looking up at the shocked girl, and decided not to bother getting up.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet ring box.
Something he'd prepared long ago.
He opened it. Inside was a simple yet elegant ring, catching the evening light.
He held the ring with both hands, carefully presenting it to Caroline.
"I don't know if you'll say yes," he said seriously, "but since I've decided to propose, I need to do it right."
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Caroline, will you marry me?"
Caroline's face instantly flushed even deeper, the color spreading down to her neck in an obvious pink wave.
She was so nervous her words came out tangled, her voice full of panic and shyness.
"Who... who proposes like this! Everyone else gets down on one knee, you... what are you even doing?"
"One knee is too ordinary." Alexander remained completely serious. "I need to kneel on both to show I'm serious enough. To show you're worth it."
He thought for a moment, then added quite earnestly, "If you really don't like it, I can lie flat on the ground too."
Caroline finally couldn't hold back. Laughter burst from her throat, spilling out despite herself.
Seeing her laugh, the weight in Alexander's chest lifted, but what followed was even stronger nervousness.
"So will you... say yes?" he asked again, carefully.
Caroline lowered her head, looking at his fingers trembling slightly from nervousness but still gripping the ring. Tears finally slid from her eyes, slowly falling down her cheeks.
All those emotions she'd suppressed for years surged out in this moment, like a tide breaking through the composure she'd been trying to maintain.
She lowered her eyes, filled with shyness and uncertainty, but still slowly raised her hand, reaching toward him.
"I will."
Alexander froze for several seconds, as if his brain had briefly short-circuited. After a beat, he finally processed what she'd said.
Then he fumbled to take the ring from the box, trying to slip it on Caroline's finger. Before he could even align it properly, his hand was shaking so badly from excitement he nearly dropped it more than once.
After finally managing to slide the ring onto her ring finger, he was so happy he nearly lost it. He jumped to his feet, wanting to pull her into his arms.
A sharp pain suddenly shot through his knee, as if something had pierced straight through.
He looked down and only then realized he'd been kneeling right on the fallen shears. The sharp edge had cut a deep gash in his knee, and blood had already soaked through his pant leg.
But he'd been so nervous he'd lost all sensation—he hadn't even noticed he was bleeding.
"Ahhh—!"
Alexander let out a sharp cry, his whole body lurching to the side on one foot.
Caroline was caught between worry and laughter. She quickly reached out to steady him, guiding him onto a wooden bench nearby.
"Don't move! I'll get the first aid kit!"
She turned and ran to the small storage shed in the corner of the garden, grabbed the medical kit, and ran back, crouching directly in front of him to carefully treat his wound.
"How can you be so reckless? It's cut this badly and you didn't feel anything?" She couldn't help scolding him, her tone full of concern.
But her hands were extremely gentle, her movements as delicate as if handling something fragile.
Alexander hissed from the pain, his face all scrunched up, but the corners of his mouth kept lifting uncontrollably, nearly reaching his ears. He was grinning so wide he couldn't stop.
Watching Caroline bandage his knee and finally tie a secure knot, Alexander couldn't hold back anymore. He reached out and grasped her wrist, giving it a gentle tug.
Caroline tumbled into his arms, caught off guard. Before she could react, Alexander had already lowered his head and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
Then a second one.
Followed by a third.
In the blink of an eye, as if he couldn't stop himself, he kissed every inch of skin within reach—her cheeks, forehead, everywhere he could find.
"Alexander! You... let go!" Caroline's face turned completely red, and she frantically pushed against him.
"No." He had no intention of backing down, instead holding her even tighter, burying his face against her neck.
"I'll never let go. Not for the rest of my life."
Caroline was so flustered by his warm breath against her skin that her whole body went weak. Her heartbeat was so erratic she could barely breathe. Finally unable to bear the close-range torture, she broke free from his embrace and ran toward the garden exit.
After running a few steps, she still couldn't resist stopping and looking back.
Alexander sat on that little bench, smiling so hard his whole body was trembling slightly, as if he was too happy to fully process it.
Caroline bit her lip, the corners of her mouth lifting involuntarily, but still shyly looked away and fled the garden.
By nightfall, the Neville family's living room was already brightly lit, soft warm light filling the entire space.
Damon personally stood at the entrance to greet Armando.
The two old friends who'd known each other for years shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Damon led him into the living room while instructing the staff to bring coffee and refreshments.
"Armando, what brings you here today?" Damon asked with a smile. "You're not usually one to drop by unannounced."
Armando's expression was somewhat stiff, forcing out a slight smile as he sat down on the sofa.
Isabella sat upright in an armchair nearby, her posture elegant and restrained, but her gaze swept back and forth between Armando and Alexander, who had followed him in. She'd clearly already sensed that tonight wasn't just an ordinary visit.
Alexander didn't sit.
He simply nodded slightly, greeted the Nevilles, then stood quietly to the side. His gaze swept discreetly across the living room, as if confirming something, or perhaps steeling himself.
Damon noticed the tension in the air. Just as he was about to find a light topic to break the silence, Armando had already cleared his throat.
"Damon, Isabella." When he spoke, his voice carried obvious restraint.
"I came tonight to talk to you about our children."
Damon paused. "Who do you mean?"
"Alexander and Caroline." Armando practically ground out the names through clenched teeth.
"They've grown up together since childhood and have always been close. I'd like to... arrange an engagement between them."
The living room fell briefly silent.
Damon's expression showed clear surprise at first, then his whole demeanor lit up like someone had flipped a switch. He slapped his thigh and laughed heartily. "This is wonderful news! Of course!"
He stood up excitedly, paced around the living room a couple of times, then turned back to Armando.
"Armando, I could tell ages ago! Caroline has always cared deeply about Alexander, she's just too shy to ever admit it. Now that they both have feelings for each other, settling things early is good for both of them."
What's more, when Alexander had come to their home before, he'd said outright that he liked Caroline. Damon had understood then that Alexander truly had Caroline in his heart. A marriage alliance with their family—he was genuinely pleased with that.
But just as Damon's words fell, a calm and firm voice suddenly cut through the enthusiasm.
"No."
Isabella stood up from the sofa, not a trace of hesitation in her tone.
"This marriage—I don't agree to it."
The smile on Damon's face instantly froze. He frowned at his wife. "Isabella, what do you mean?"
"I've already arranged a fiancé for Caroline." Isabella's attitude was unusually firm, leaving almost no room for discussion.
"He's the son of the Simmons family, the oil tycoons. This match is extremely suitable in terms of social standing and resources, and it's the best choice both for the Neville family and for Caroline's future."