Tangled By Fate

"Catherine…" Vincent started.

He couldn't finish what he had to say because Catherine interrupted him by saying, "Vincent, I'm sorry that I made you wait so long. Everything was happening so fast that I got scared…"

Vincent gently held her hands. "Catherine, it's okay. I don't mind that you took the time to answer. Rather, it made me happy that you took your time thinking about my proposal."

His voice was warm and his words were tender. He was gazing at her affectionately.

Catherine was touched by his generosity. Her eyes slightly welled up. "I'll take a break from work," she told him.

Feeling confused by her words, Vincent stared at her.

"Let's get married, Vincent," she added. "I'm ready to be yours forever anytime."

Vincent opened his mouth but was unable to utter a single word. He gazed at her. His eyes were saying many words at the same time but he couldn't express them properly.

Catherine blushed and grinned at the same time. "I'd love to become your wife, Vincent. Are you not happy with my answer?"

Vincent suddenly lowered his body and hugged her legs. Before she could say anything, he lifted her body.

"Ahh!" Catherine yelped as her vision changed quickly. She nervously looked around. In the bustling market plaza, people stared at them with an odd expression.

Embarrassed by their stares, she pushed Vincent. "What are you doing?! Put me down! Let go! What do you think people are thinking right now? They think we are insane!"

"There is no way I'd let you go when you finally agreed to marry me. I'm the happiest man alive!" Vincent replied loudly. His voice could barely contain the joy he was feeling.

"People are looking at us," Catherine told him. Her face was hot and her heart pounded hard.

Noticing how he expressed his happiness, her heart was delighted.

As if flowers bloomed before spring could arrive.

Vincent carried Catherine like that to a restaurant. The people inside were busy chatting, so they didn't bother to look at the excited couple.

He let her sit on a chair and then sat across from her. He had yet to let go of her hand.

With a joyful expression, he asked, "When do you want to hold the wedding? First, let's have our engagement. Then, we can get married a month later or so."

Catherine would hardly hold back her excitement. She lowered her head, not being able to look him in the eyes.

"I don't know. I haven't planned anything yet. We can have the engagement first. But is it all right to have an engagement and wedding ceremony? It will be too expensive."

"What are you saying? We are getting married only once in our lifetime. Of course, it has to have everything," Vincent told her. "I also heard women dream about lavish weddings. Don't you want a lavish wedding?"

"I…" Catherine was at a loss for words. "I did dream about my wedding but it wasn't lavish or anything. I wanted the venue decorated with flowers and bushes.

"I wanted butterflies swarming about the flowers. I dreamed of birds chirping happily at my wedding. Is that considered lavish?"

Vincent was surprised when he heard about her wedding dream.

"…That… sounds fantastic. In spring, flower blooms and butterflies roam around the flowers. Shall we hold our wedding in spring?"

Catherine was startled. "Spring? Isn't that too soon?"

"Is it?" Vincent asked. "I think a month was like an eternity. I could barely wait for your answer. Since you want to be mine, I'm ready to become yours."

Catherine hesitated and later gave in. "Then… we should meet your parents properly. And… we also have to plan our future before we start our journey together."

"Sure, let's meet from time to time and plan things together. But first, do you have time tomorrow? I will stay here tonight and take you to the resort tomorrow. Let me reintroduce my family to you once again."

'Tomorrow is the weekend, isn't it?' Catherine pondered. "Fine, let's do this. But I can't go empty-handed. I should buy gifts for them. But I don't know what they like. Will you help me to buy gifts for them?"

Looking at her panic-strike face, Vincent chuckled. "How can I let you buy the gifts alone? I cannot buy gifts for your family. So, let's buy gifts for my family together. After all, my family will soon become your family."

"All right… let's do that." Catherine agreed without a second thought.

After their shopping was done, it was almost departure time.

Veronica and Arthur came to their meeting place hand in hand. Watching Vincent and Catherine with tons of gifts, Veronica's eyebrow rose.

"Just what made you all buy so many items? Are you planning to buy a house around here and live there?" she asked.

"No, we are going to meet Vincent's family tomorrow. That's why we bought some gifts for them," Catherine replied. She didn't bother to hide her excitement.

"That means you already told him 'yes'! Congratulations!" Veronica hugged her friend tightly. She grinned ear to ear. She did not hide that she was happy for her friend.

For the first time in his life, Vincent accepted Veronica as his would-be wife's friend. For a girl friend to support their love, he could never dislike her after knowing that.

"Congratulations. I wish you two happiness of a lifetime," Arthur wished him.

"Thank you. Thank you," Vincent bowed while he thought, 'I'm surprised he can wish people like that. I thought he could only glare at people.'

At that moment, Arthur recalled how Veronica taught him how to wish Catherine and Vincent happiness for her future.

"What a drag. Why do I have to wish them happiness? I only care about our happiness," he complained to her back then.

Veronica laughed and replied in return, "If you want our happiness, you have to wish others happiness too. This way, others will wish us happiness from the bottom of their hearts."

"What nonsense! Only I can make you happy and only you can make me happy. What do other people have to do with our happiness?"

Veronica only giggled when he kept complaining.

He didn't like wishing people, and yet, he wished Vincent happiness.

Veronica's heart was flying to the moon.

In the tower, everyone found out about Catherine's decision and cheered for her.

Felix smiled at her. "Congratulations Catherine!"

Ovior looked at her with a poker face. "Congratulations."

Zinnia gave her a friendly hug. "Be happy Catherine!"

"If your husband doesn't listen to you, stop cooking for him for a month. He will become obedient," Darius advised her.

Zinnia shook her head. "Nah, just don't let him sleep with you in the same bed for a month. He will beg for forgiveness in three days. Trust me."

Catherine grinned. "Thank you so much, everyone. Yes, I will do that if necessary."

'I'm feeling sorry for Sebastian. That coward was too late to propose. Catherine's heart is already set for someone else," Darius muttered to Felix.

Felix replied in a low voice, "I'm sure he knew everything since he was guarding veronica. Shall we look for him?"

"Let's go."

They looked for Sebastian everywhere but he was nowhere to be found.

"Where did he go?" Darius sighed. "He isn't in his room or the dining hall or any other room. He didn't go swimming either."

"Maybe we need to look in the training ground. He might go there," Felix suggested.

"Well, that's the only place we hadn't looked. I will prepare some booze and women. We have to heal that precious boy's heart."

"If only that makes him feel better."

Felix was right. They found Sebastian in the training ground. He was training by himself. He didn't bother to look at them when they entered.

Darius spoke loudly. "Sebastian, I'm going out. I'm throwing a party after winning some gold coins in the gambling. Join me. It won't be fun if I go alone."

"Go by yourself. I'm not interested," Sebastian replied.

"Hey, stop tiring yourself out. You have duties in the morning. Just come with us." Felix came forward and grabbed his hand.

"Just leave me alone!" Sebastian shouted in frustration.

"We can't do that," Darius declined. "We have to make sure you feel like a new man after waking up tomorrow."

"We know you are having a hard time and that's why we want to accompany you. Come with us. Staying here and brooding alone won't make you feel any better." Felix patted his back.

"Sigh… fine…" in the end, Sebastian agreed.

They went to Darius's favorite place. He ordered his favorite wine and women. The women were delighted to have their favorite customer along with two handsome men.

"Master, what can we do for you?" the girls asked Darius.

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