The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 4

Evelyn woke up before the sun had fully risen, the faint light of dawn seeping through the hotel room's heavy curtains.

She blinked a few times, disoriented, before the events of the previous night came rushing back to her.

Derrick lay beside her, his arm draped across her waist, breathing deeply in his sleep. She gently lifted his arm, careful not to wake him, and slipped out of bed

Her clothes lay neatly folded on the dresser. She didn't remember picking them up from the floor but she was glad he did.

She quickly picked them up, dressing in silence. Her heart pounded in her chest as she moved towards the door. She paused, seeing her car key on the table by the door, and hesitated, glancing back at Derrick. He remained asleep, his face peaceful in the dim light.

She contemplated leaving him a thank you note but decided against it as she grabbed the key, took a deep breath, and quietly slipped out of the room.

She hurried down the deserted hallway to the elevator, and out of the building. The cool morning air hit her like a slap as she stepped out of the building. Relief washed over her as she spotted her car in the valet lot, looking slightly worse for wear but intact.

As she got into the car, she froze. Her phone lay on the passenger seat, its screen glowing with missed notifications.

She picked it up and saw countless missed calls from her parents, Michael, and Sandra. Evelyn's heart sank as she stared at the screen, but she didn't return any of the calls.

Each number represented a conversation she wasn't ready to have, a judgment she wasn't ready to face.

With a clenched jaw, she tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, started the car, and drove off, the events of the past day playing on a loop in her mind.

to her house, it was early enough that the neighborhood was still shrouded in a quiet morning calm, but her house was bustling

the frantic energy - felt like a punch to the gut. This wasn't her reality anymore. This was a fantasy

lies.

the front door, it swung open, and her father

her father, his face contorted in fury, and a

looking equally relieved and worried. Michael reached out to her, his face etched

She walked past them and

shower," her stepmother said, her tone gentle

announced, her voice steady and loud enough

room. Michael's face

do you mean?" he finally managed to ask. "I mean exactly what I said," Evelyn replied, her voice unwavering. "I am

red Evelyn had never seen before. "What do you mean you re not getting married? How can you spend the night before your wedding God-knows-where, come back reeking of male cologne, and then say you're not getting

expression one of concern. "Evelyn, what's wrong? Are you having cold

clear as day. How could

realize what a calculating bitch you are?' she thought,

through her thoughts, loud and angry. "You will go upstairs, get ready, and marry Michael, or

father's words. It hurt that he cared more

get married, and now I no longer want to get married. You can do whatever

never come