Chapter 3: An Unexpected Proposal

The next morning, Catherine woke with a splitting headache.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, making her regret every glass of wine she'd had the previous night.

As she rubbed her temples, flashes of memory returned.

The breakup.

The argument with her parents.

Meeting Shaun.

"Oh no..." she muttered.

"Please don't tell me I actually flirted with Ethan's uncle."

Her phone suddenly buzzed.

It was a message from Freya.

"Don't forget your dinner date tonight, Aunt Catherine."

Catherine rolled her eyes.

"You're impossible."

"I'm serious," Freya replied instantly.

"You actually have a chance to make Ethan regret everything."

"Then I won't waste it."

After ending the call, Catherine looked at the business card Shaun had given her.

Only one name was printed on it.

Shaun.

There was also an address for a luxury restaurant in the city center.

"Mysterious man," she murmured.

"Not even a company name."

That evening, Catherine arrived exactly on time.

The restaurant manager greeted her personally.

"Good evening, Miss Jones."

"Mr. Shaun has been expecting you."

She blinked in surprise.

"He told you my name?"

"Of course."

"Please follow me."

She was escorted into a private dining room overlooking the river.

Shaun was already waiting.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he looked even more handsome than the night before.

"You're punctual," he said.

"I don't like keeping people waiting," Catherine replied as she sat down.

"That's a good habit."

The waiter served dinner almost immediately.

"You ordered before I arrived?" Catherine asked.

"I asked someone to investigate your preferences."

She looked at the dishes on the table.

Every single one happened to be her favorite.

"That's... slightly terrifying," she admitted.

Shaun smiled faintly.

"I prefer to call it being prepared."

During dinner, they talked about work, travel, and life.

To Catherine's surprise, Shaun wasn't difficult to talk to at all.

He listened more than he spoke.

Whenever she became emotional, he simply watched her with calm eyes.

"You're staring at me again," Catherine teased.

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"It's because you're interesting."

"That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me today."

"Only today?"

"After yesterday... my standards aren't very high."

Shaun understood exactly what she meant.

"Do you still miss him?"

Catherine gently placed her fork down.

"I miss the person I believed he was."

"Not the man he became."

"That's an important difference," Shaun said quietly.

"Exactly."

After dinner, they walked outside.

The cool evening breeze carried the scent of flowers from the nearby gardens.

"Thank you for dinner," Catherine said.

"I actually smiled tonight."

"That's an improvement."

"It is."

"Yesterday I thought my life had ended."

"Today... it feels like a new chapter is beginning."

Shaun looked at her thoughtfully.

"Have you considered getting revenge another way?"

"What do you mean?"

"Success is always better than revenge."

"Become someone your enemies can never reach."

Catherine laughed softly.

"That's a beautiful idea."

"Unfortunately... I'm still petty enough to want both."

For the first time, Shaun laughed openly.

"You're surprisingly honest."

"Always."

"Even when it's embarrassing."

"Good."

"I dislike dishonest people."

They stopped beside the parking lot.

"Can I ask you something?" Catherine said.

"Go ahead."

"Are you married?"

"No."

"Girlfriend?"

"No."

"Fiancée?"

"Still no."

"Perfect."

Shaun raised an eyebrow.

"Perfect?"

"Because I have a proposal."

His expression remained calm.

"I'm listening."

"Let's get married."

Silence filled the air.

Even the bodyguards standing several meters away looked stunned.

Shaun simply stared at her.

"You're proposing to me?"

"Yes."

"You barely know me."

"True."

"But I know enough."

"You're handsome."

"You're calm."

"You're rich."

"And most importantly... you're Ethan Lowe's uncle."

"Imagine his face when he has to call me Aunt Catherine."

Shaun couldn't remember the last time someone had made him speechless.

"So... that's your reason?"

"Mostly."

"There might also be a tiny chance that I enjoy spending time with you."

Shaun looked into her bright eyes.

She wasn't pretending.

She was genuinely proposing marriage.

After several long seconds, he spoke.

"Marriage isn't a game."

"I know."

"Neither is revenge."

"I know that too."

"Then why are you doing this?"

Catherine's smile slowly faded.

"Because everyone I trusted abandoned me."

"I want to become strong enough that no one can ever treat me like that again."

"Even if it means making a reckless decision."

Shaun remained silent.

Then, unexpectedly, he reached into his coat pocket.

He removed a small black card and placed it in front of her.

"If you're serious..."

"Meet me tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."

"Where?"

"The Civil Affairs Bureau."

Catherine stared at him in shock.

"Wait... are you saying yes?"

"I'm saying..."

"Let's see whether you're still brave enough tomorrow."

With that, Shaun walked toward his car.

Leaving Catherine standing there with the black card in her hand.

Her heart was beating so loudly that she could barely think.

"Did..." she whispered.

"Did I just accidentally convince a complete stranger to marry me?"