Chapter 1789
No.1
Just as guests prepared to mingle, the banquet hall plunged into darkness.
Gasps rippled through the blackout.
A power outage at the Kingsley banquet? Either a disaster—or something extraordinary...
Evelyn tightened her grip on Sophie's hand.
She'd stayed with Sophie all evening while Alexander entertained guests. Any approaching men had been politely declined.
Please, no mishaps now...
"Look, Sister!" Sophie suddenly exclaimed.
No.2
A blue glow flickered in one corner.
Like a luminous fish, it trailed a shimmering tail as it descended from the ceiling.
Every gaze followed.
Upon closer look—it was a butterfly. A butterfly with phoenix-like resplendent wings.
Its fluttering wings scattered flecks of light like falling stars.
The specks swirled midair, transforming into rose petals that drifted downward.
Reaching hands found the petals passing through palms, landing soundlessly.
No.3
An intricately designed hologram.
Where petals touched the ground, blue ripples spread, rising to ankles, waists, overhead...
The entire hall seemed submerged underwater.
The butterfly circled once before alighting on Alexander's hair.
In a flash, it became an arrow, cleaving through the "sea" to pave a pearlescent path.
By the time Evelyn realized, it was too late to retreat.
The arrow dissolved back into a butterfly before her eyes.
No.4
Now all could see—the butterfly carried a ring.
Alexander stepped toward Evelyn.
He raised his hand. The butterfly settled on his fingertip, its wings bursting into radiant light that coalesced into a velvet jewelry box.
Silence held the room.
Evelyn's breath caught.
She'd never imagined...
Dared not guess what lay inside.
No.5
Dared not anticipate what came next.
She'd once envisioned countless proposal scenes—always in solitude, him quietly sliding a ring onto her finger.
Later, she stopped dreaming, content just to remain by his side.
In her lowest moments, she'd only begged him not to cast her aside...
Alexander cradled the box in his left palm, his right hand lifting slowly.
Evelyn recognized the motion.
He stepped forward.
No.6
Next would come the kneel, the opened box—
"Madeline Kingsley! Call an ambulance!"
A scream shattered the silence.
Eleanor Kingsley's frantic voice followed: "Stay calm! Fetch the doctor first!"
Simultaneously, Sophie collapsed heavily against Evelyn's arm...
"Sophie!" Evelyn Sinclair caught her collapsing sister.
The lively young girl who had been bouncing around moments ago now lay limp in her arms like a broken marionette.
No.7
Alexander Kingsley strode forward, gathering Sophie securely in his strong arms. "Call the doctor."
"But your grandmother—"
News of Madeline Kingsley's sudden illness had just arrived. As the heir, Alexander should rush to her side immediately.
"Grandmother has enough attendants." Alexander carried Sophie swiftly toward the elevator. "She needs medical attention first. Call an ambulance if necessary."
Evelyn hesitated only a moment before following.
Sophie's eyes fluttered open before the doctor arrived.