Chapter 112
Stella bolted onto the balcony with two boxes of stewed chicken in her hands, ready to give Mitch a piece of her mind. But then, something in the sky caught her eye
Barbara and I followed her out, and when we looked up, we saw a ton of drones in the night sky Each one was carrying a dazzling red rose, with lights twinkling above The drones were arranged into a neat heart shape
People from the nearby buildings were poking their heads out to catch this spectacle
I live on the third floor, se I could see the community garden from my balcony Tugging on Stella’s sleeve, I asked, “That’s Mitch, isn’t it?”
Stella leaned over the railing to look down Sure enough, there was Mitch, holding a big bouquet of flowers and wearing a suit, looking up at her.
“Stella, marry me! The moment Mitch set his eyes on Stella, he immediately dropped to one knee.
Off in the distance, the figures of Neil, Russel, and Cooper were just visible in the shadows of the greenery. True friends, all of them were here to bear witness to this proposal
Stella had been on edge these past few days, worried sick about what she would do if Mitch didn’t want to marry her.
But Mitch’s move was a real game–changer. He had literally flown here to propose to her.
Stella covered her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears, and then quickly ran downstairs. Barbara and I hurried to catch up
“Stella, I’m sorry. This proposal was a spur–of–the–moment decision. I’m not familiar with this place, so I couldn’t give you a grander engagement ceremony. But I promise, if you agree to marry me, I’ll make it up to you with the perfect wedding once we’re back home” Mitch was still on his single knee, and he looked really sincere.
I thought Stella would give Mitch a hard time, but she just laughed, grabbed the ring box from his hand, and slipped the ring on her finger.
Looking at the huge diamond sparkling on her finger, Mitch was grinning like a goof.
“Alright. What did your parents say?” Stella asked.
waste my time with women who aren’t right for me. It
seemed pretty proud of
enviable. I’d never
at Neil, feeling a touch of inexplicable loss. It seemed like he’d
his friend propose, what
me, or plotting how to make
out my phone to snap a picture of Stella and Mitch hugging.
the drones flew away, Mitch went upstairs with Stella. Neil and the others naturally followed. Suddenly, my cozy little two–bedroom flat
to the brim.
at home!” As the host, I put aside past grudges and
settled on the couch, while Cooper took a chair across from Stella
to the
Russel had followed me into the kitchen. “Why didn’t you tell
faucet and turned to face Russel.
a hint of sadness. “Don’t you
find goodbyes too emotional. That’s why I didn’t tell you,” I said,
me so much, and I had kept even my departure a secret from him. I
You didn’t answer any of my messages or calls. Were
“But why would you want to find me? You have more important
asked, “What
studying abroad? She’s here too. I’ve run into her. I think Neil came with her,” I reminded Russel, “You can’t compete with Ned
was about to reply when Neil’s cold voice interrupted us. “Compete with me
isn’t big. With both of these tall men crammed in here, it felt like the
to compete for them, I said, holding up
me a long look,
and went back to sit
the living room,” I said to Neil, keeping my
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