Chapter 1631

Gideon didn't give Abigail a chance to respond; he confidently declared his intentions. Before Abigail could fully process what was happening, he pulled a beautifully crafted box from his pocket and knelt on one knee. As he opened the box, a stunning diamond ring sparkled inside. "This marks seven years since we met, and I've loved you for every one of those years. You said that if my girlfriend were someone else, we wouldn't be in this situation. But I want you to know there's no 'what if' for me—there's no one else. "Out of everyone in the world, you're the only one I see, and I want to be with you. More than wanting kids, I want to build a life together. "In the next seven years, 17 years, 27 years, all I want is to embark on adventures with you and explore life's unknowns together. Abigail, will you marry me?" His romantic and straightforward proposal caught the attention of shoppers in the mall, and they began to cheer. "Say yes!" "Marry him!" "Woo!" As Abigail gazed at Gideon's sincere expression, her thoughts went blank. He looked like a knight in shining armor, having stood by her through thick and thin. This was the kind of romance she had always dreamed of. But why did she feel so indifferent, even slightly tempted to escape? Meanwhile, at the mall's side entrance, Taylor walked in with his date. He spotted a crowd gathered, buzzing with excitement about something he had no desire to investigate. Not wanting to get caught up in the commotion, he led his date around the throng and onto the escalator. As they ascended, Taylor gradually got a clearer view of the scene below. Recognizing Abigail at the center of attention, a shadow fell over his youthful, handsome face. Downstairs, Abigail scanned her surroundings. When she finally looked up, her gaze locked onto Taylor's. After a few moments of this silent standoff, they both looked away, their eyes drifting to their respective dates. Abigail quickly returned her focus to Taylor, her expression a mix of defiance and hope. It was as if she was waiting for him to say something. For the first time, Taylor felt the weight of someone else's happiness pressing down on him. He knew Abigail was watching him. However, after a moment of inner conflict, he turned away, pretending not to notice anything. He wanted her to think he was a petty man, too proud to offer even a single word of congratulations. As he turned away, the spark in Abigail's eyes faded. In a moment of defiance, she reached out, her voice firm as she accepted Gideon's proposal. "I do! I want to be your wife!" After Gideon slipped the ring onto her finger, he spun her around, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Yet inside, Abigail felt a profound emptiness, her gaze drifting toward the escalator. Each round of applause struck Taylor like a series of sharp knives, each one digging deeper into his chest. Despite his inner turmoil, he held onto a facade of indifference as he ascended the escalator, guiding his date into a café on the fifth floor. As soon as they stepped inside, the woman released Taylor's hand and hurried over to the man by the corner table. They embraced tightly, sharing a kiss as if the rest of the world didn't exist. "Come on, you two, get a grip!" Taylor forced a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Thanks so much, Taylor!" the woman said, beaming with joy as she melted into the man's embrace. "Seriously, though! Can't you find someone else to cover for you while you're dating? This is ruining my love life!" Taylor flopped onto the couch, exasperation etched on his face. "I can't help it! You're the only one of our friends who's still single. Who else am I supposed to ask? Besides, I helped you out with that hotel situation last time, so you owe me!" the woman replied with a teasing smile.