The 100th Proposal

I, Isabella Norton, had proposed to Julian Lawson 99 times.Every time I stood by the city hall's entrance, Julian would be off somewhere with his mistress, Natalie Mayer. Some days, they would be found having the time of their lives at an amusement park. Other days, they would be seen at a concert.They would even get their marriage certificate, only to pull some strings and file for a divorce the very next day for the thrill of a quick marriage.It'd been a dream of mine to marry Julian. Yet what I'd desperately longed for came as easily to Natalie as a snap of her fingers.I let the phone screen fade to black. Then, I sat by the roadside as I waited for my ride. But no matter how long I waited, the car never arrived. All that came through was Julian's call.His icy voice cut through the line the moment I answered it. "It's already so late. Why aren't you at home yet? Have you ever considered how I would feel when my fiancee was outside late at night? Where on earth are you?" he

I didn't return home after the concert ended, choosing to take a stroll down the beach instead. The sky lit up in a display of fireworks, yet I remained completely unmoved.My phone buzzed nonstop, but not a single one of them was a text message from Julian. All the notifications I received were news of the fireworks he'd set off to celebrate Natalie's birthday.By the time I reached home, it was already midnight. The living room's light was still on, casting a glow on Julian, who had fallen fast asleep on the couch.Had he been waiting for me?In the five years we'd been together, he would always drink until he got wasted outside. Fearing that he might get into trouble while inebriated, I would call him over and over again without end. Worried that he would drink too much and get an upset stomach, I would even prepare some chamomile tea beforehand. Julian told me countless times that he hated it whenever I did all that for him, claiming that it made him feel old.Lost in though

I let out a long breath the moment the plane lifted off. It felt as though I'd finally fulfilled a wish of mine that I'd suppressed in my heart for years.Closing my eyes, I switched my phone to airplane mode before I let myself drift to sleep. I'd waited far too long for a rest like this.My favourite light music played on repeat in my earphones, and the gentle tune almost made me forget all the pain I'd suffered in the past.My voice trembled as I whispered to myself, "You're finally free, Isabella."For years, I'd been consumed by my love for Julian to the point that I'd lost all sense of self. I was willing to do anything for his sake, but every proposal I'd made up to the 99th attempt had only led to rejection and disappointment.Even then, I'd never thought of giving up. I believed that my devotion would move his heart as long as I loved him deeply enough.But I was completely wrong. To him, my affection was nothing more than a laughable one-sided obsession. Perhaps he woul

She walked right up to Julian and handed him a slip of paper with the word "proposal" written on it."I heard you've been waiting here all day. I know how upset you must be feeling right now, so I came to keep you company. If you wish, we can head in and register our marriage immediately." Natalie gazed affectionately at Julian as she spoke. Her eyes shone with expectation as she awaited his response.However, Julian seemed oblivious to her presence. His gaze was hollow, and his face was devoid of any expression."Scram," he spat out. His voice brimmed with disgust and fury.Natalie's smile froze at his response. She hadn't expected him to treat her that way. With me gone, Natalie was convinced that she'd emerged victorious in this relationship. But it seemed she was mistaken.Tears welled up in her eyes. She considered herself to be better than me in every way, so why did all her efforts fail to capture Julian's heart?What was it about me, a good-for-nothing, that managed to

I gradually began to adapt to my new life here. With Trevor's help, I found a job and even made some new friends. Over time, my life slowly got back on track.Once, I met a charming man who spoke with remarkable poise at the company gathering. He offered to drive me home after the meal had ended."Are you from Lutheria by any chance, Ms. Norton?" the man asked as he drove."Yes, that's right. How did you know that?" I was caught by surprise."I could tell from your accent. Besides, your last name isn't exactly common around here." He let out a chuckle."My name's Aaron Sampson. I'm a Lutherian as well," he introduced."It's nice to meet you, Aaron," I replied politely. I had no intention of getting involved any further with him."What a small world! I never expected to meet a fellow countryman abroad. Just let me know if you need any help in the future." I could see the genuine sincerity in Aaron's eyes when he spoke."Thank you." A gentle surge of warmth washed over me. It f