Chapter 11: Forced Yes

All eyes were on me. The entire hall had gone quiet except for a few whispers. Alex stayed on one knee, ring box open, looking up at me with so much hope it almost hurt. The pressure felt heavy. Saying no right now, in front of Mum, Mark’s family, and all these important guests would create rumors that could spread fast. It would ruin Mum’s special day and hurt my reputation too.

I swallowed hard. It was too public, too beautiful a moment to destroy. I gave Alex a small sign with my hand, telling him to get up. But he didn’t move. He knew this was his only chance. If he let me walk away now, I might ignore him forever.

Seconds stretched into what felt like minutes. Mum watched from the stage with shining eyes. People started murmuring again.

“Come on, say yes!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. To protect my name and save the party, I let out a slow, soft “Yes.”

The hall exploded with cheers. Alex rose quickly, slipped the ring onto my finger, and pulled me into a hug. People clapped and whistled. Happiness filled the room like nothing had happened before. Mum looked overjoyed, dabbing her eyes. Even Mark smiled, but I could see his jaw was tight.

The rest of the party dragged on. Alex stayed glued to my side, smiling proudly like we were the perfect couple. He held my hand whenever someone came close. I had to play along, laughing at jokes and nodding when people congratulated us. Inside, I felt sick.

At one point, I couldn’t stand it anymore. While the music played and guests danced, I pulled Alex toward a quiet corner behind some tall plants.

“What the hell was that?” I hissed once we were alone. “You had no right to do that in front of everyone.”

Alex ran a hand through his hair. “Evie, I’m really sorry about what happened in the car that night. I lost control and I hate myself for it. But you haven’t given me any chance to talk properly. You’ve been ignoring my calls and messages. I had no choice but to do something big like this. I love you. I want to fix us.”

I shook my head, anger rising. “It was inappropriate, Alex. You didn’t think about what you put me in. This is Mum’s engagement party. Now everyone thinks we’re engaged again. You forced my hand.”

His face changed. Surprise turned to frustration. “What’s so bad about me loving you? Why are you behaving like this? I’ve been there for you for years as your best friend. We had something real before that stupid fight, even though it was only an agreement. Now you act like I’m nothing to you.”

The argument grew louder. Our voices rose as we stood close in the corner.

“You tried to force yourself on me!” I snapped, keeping my voice low but sharp. “That’s not love, Alex. That’s messed up.”

He stepped closer. “I said I was sorry. People make mistakes when they’re scared of losing someone. But you’re treating me like the enemy. What’s really going on, Evie? Are you seeing someone else? Is that why you’re pushing me away?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but the words stuck. The tension between us was thick. My hands trembled with anger and frustration. Alex looked hurt and determined at the same time, like he wasn’t going to back down no matter what I said.

Before I could say anything else, I felt someone watching us. I turned my head slightly and caught Mark’s eyes from across the room. He stood near the stage, drink in hand, staring straight at us with a dark, unreadable expression. Something in his look sent a chill down my spine.

I didn’t like how people were starting to glance our way. The whispers were getting louder. Alex was still talking, going on about how much he loved me and how we could fix everything. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Arrgh, gosh, you are so pathetic,” I muttered, cutting him off mid-sentence.

I turned on my heel and walked away fast, leaving him standing there with his mouth open. My heels clicked against the polished floor as I headed toward the restroom. I needed air. I needed to get away from everyone.

Mark’s grip tightened on his glass. He didn’t like what he had just seen, Evie and Alex arguing in the corner like that and the proposal. Especially not on this night. He leaned toward Evie’s mum with a calm smile.

“I’ll be right back, love. Just need to take care of something quick.”

She nodded, distracted by guests. Mark set his drink down and followed Evie at a distance. He moved smoothly through the crowd, keeping his eyes on her. Just as she reached for the restroom door, he caught her arm and pulled her gently but firmly down a narrow, empty hallway nearby.

I gasped in surprise. “Mark, what are you—”

He didn’t let me finish. He pushed open a side door to a quiet service hallway and guided me inside, closing it behind them. The noise of the party faded into a low hum.

“What the hell was that back there?” he asked, voice low and sharp. “You and Alex. In front of everyone. You said yes?”

I stared at him, heart racing. The hallway was dimly lit, just the two of us. “It’s none of your business, Mark.”

He stepped closer, backing me against the wall. His hand slammed on the surface beside my head, making me jump.

“It is my business,” he said, eyes intense. “I’m about to become your stepfather. I have every right to know what’s going on with you. So speak.”

I stayed silent, breathing fast. His closeness brought back memories I didn’t want right now. Then he grabbed my chin with his other hand, forcing me to look him straight in the eyes. His touch was firm but not rough. A second later, his hand from the wall slid down and grabbed my ass, squeezing possessively.

Heat flooded through me. I hated how good it felt, his strong grip, the way he looked at me like he owned me. I tried not to show it, keeping my face as blank as possible, but my body betrayed me with a small shiver.

“Mark…” I whispered.

He leaned in closer, lips brushing my ear.

Suddenly, a bright flash came from the far end of the hallway. Like the click of a camera or a phone flashlight going off. We both froze.

Someone was there. Watching. Taking pictures.

“Shit.”