Semua Bab The Unexpected Proposal: Bab 61 - Bab 70

CHAPTER 61: Secret Begins Simeon drives down the winding roads; his grasp on the wheel is firm yet distracted, the faint hum of the motor filling the quiet. Beside him, Elizabeth leans her head against the window, the rhythmic passing of houses and trees a blur. Simeon, however, is not gazing at the view. His mind is miles away, deep in his past, somewhere he has worked so hard to forget.A face's flicker. An abandoned dialogue. Without warning, the memory stirs, sharp and unyielding, clawing its way to the surface. Uninvited, the recollection rushes over him, and he blinks, breath-catching. A dark figure, a room full of shadows, the corner's fire flickers. His heart races, the pulse of fear intensifying. He shakes his head to ignore it.Feeling the abrupt tightness in his body, Elizabeth moves next to him. Simeon's voice, though mild, is enough to distract him. Though it's already too late, he doesn't react immediately and resists the desire to seek the memory again. The past is not

CHAPTER 63: The Weight of the PastAt the balcony's edge, Simeon stands, the cool breeze pulling at the seams of his shirt and his thoughts as stormy as the clouds above. Before him, the city below spreads out, lights twinkling like stars trapped in a dark ocean. Behind him, the past hovers like a shadow, its weight on his chest pushing with every breath, a reminder of the decisions he confronts.Elizabeth is behind him, her presence anchoring him at this moment. Though the tightness in his body does not go away, he feels her palm softly resting on his back, a little relief. Her voice is soft, a gentle murmur against the raging wind. "What's on your mind?"Haunted, he turns to look at her. "The truth," he says, his voice tight. Elizabeth, it's all coming apart. Every choice I have made, and every lie I have buried is all coming to light.Elizabeth moves nearer, her gaze probing his. You don't have to go through this by yourself. We'll confront it jointly.Simeon, however, shakes his h

CHAPTER 65: The Hidden Dangers Elizabeth gently replies, her voice just above a whisper. Her words linger like a prayer, a plea, and a promise. Her eyes meet his, brimming with both dread and will. Though neither can turn away, the quiet between them seems unending.As she grabs his hand, Simeon senses the tremble in her touch and questions whether she has the same significant burden on her shoulders as he does. Should she realise there's no turning back once they take this step? Their life, their world, will never be the same.His throat is stiff as he gazes at her. Exposing everything runs the danger of losing it all. Our safety, my family, all we have created.Her gaze unflinching, her hold tightens. "We must," she claims. The reality is larger than all of that. We both merit it—that much.Simeon's thoughts fly through the hazards, the risks, and the outcomes that lay ahead. His fingers tighten around hers as if clinging to this last security thread before they enter the unknown.

CHAPTER 67: The Return Of Enemy Flipping through papers, Simeon leans against the desk, his eyes narrowing in search of anything indicating their next move. The unexpected ping of his phone pierces the quiet, its piercing, harsh tone echoing across the room like a bell tolling for something evil.A message from a contact, a little line of text sufficient to make his heart race: "Alex is making his move. He is coming for you.Simeon's fingers freeze across the screen. His neck tightens, and the room appears closed around him briefly. Looking up at Elizabeth, he hardens his features.He is no longer sitting back. Alex is beautiful, and this time it's personal.Elizabeth turns from the window, breathless. What does he intend? What is he doing right now?Simeon grits his teeth and looks at the papers strewn on the table. Everyone is coming together; Alex has been waiting for the appropriate time to start a full offensive. And now it has come. Simeon feels queasy. This time, it's not on

CHAPTER 69: The Final Face OffStill looking at the papers in front of her, she answers, "The clock is ticking." We cannot afford errors.Simeon stops dead and gapes at her. Though her voice is confident, her hands are a little shaky as she sifts through the final elements of their plan. He knows she is as ready as he. They have gone through so much together, but now... this battle will determine all.Simeon exhales sharply. He murmurs, his voice full of desperation, "We have one shot at this." We have to be successful.He gazes at the board strewn with notes, links, and pictures—a map of all Alex has accomplished, all they have found. The image is complete, yet it still feels wanting. Some pieces of the puzzle are missing, and those missing ones are the most dangerous.Elizabeth gets up, her eyes locking with his, and pushes away from the table, her fingers clawing into the wood. I understand, she softly replies. We are, nevertheless, doing this for the right causes. There is more to