#Chapter 277: Upping the Stakes

Abby It was a warm spring day, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, casting a soft, pink hue over the entire park. Karl and I had been dating for three months now, and our wedding was fast approaching. Our marriage was arranged, and we were fated mates, but neither of us had uttered those three little words yet. But lately, I had been thinking about it more and more. I wanted to tell Karl that I loved him, but the fear of rejection always held me back. What if he didn’t feel the same way yet? What if I scared him off? These thoughts haunted me, but today, as we strolled through the park hand in hand, I couldn’t help but feel that the time was right. We found a quiet spot under a canopy of cherry blossoms and spread out a picnic blanket. The scent of the delicate pink flowers filled the air, and the soft rustling of leaves added to the serenity of the moment. We shared a box of pastries, our fingers brushing as we reached for the same one. And then Karl looked a