Chapter 4 The proposal

Elena had spent the entire day on her feet, working at the diner. Her back ached from the long shifts, and her tired eyes struggled to stay open as she wiped down tables for what felt like the hundredth time. The tips were decent today, but all she could think about was getting home. It was the only thing that kept her going.

She glanced at the clock as she scrubbed the last of the sticky counters. Almost midnight. The other wait staff had already clocked out, leaving her alone in the dimly lit diner. But she couldn't complain. After all, the extra hours were necessary to make up for the lost time in school and the bills that seemed to keep piling up at home.

When she finally stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of the world seemed to press on her shoulders. She was tired, physically and emotionally drained, but she pushed through, walking the short distance back to her house. It wasn't until she reached her front door that something felt off.

There were more cars parked outside than usual, their expensive, sleek shapes standing in stark contrast to her modest home and the whole environment at large. Elena paused, her stomach tightening. Who could be visiting at this hour? What in the world had happened now?

She pushed the door open slowly, the noise from the kitchen filling the space as the faint voices of her parents reached her ears. But it wasn't just her parents in the living room. Standing there, dressed impeccably in a dark suit, was none other than Ethan Sinclair.

A man she had only ever seen in magazines was there in her home.

Elena's heart skipped a beat. What was he doing here?

Her mother stood next to him, her face flushed with a mix of nervous excitement and something else Elena couldn't quite place. Her father, sitting on the couch, looked unusually quiet. The sickness was taking its toll on him and he looked way older but whatever made him quiet didn't have to do with his illness. Elena's breath caught in her throat as she realized her parents were having an intense conversation with Ethan Sinclair before she came in.

Ethan turned toward her as she entered the room. A soft, knowing smile spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with a confidence that made Elena's pulse race.

"Elena," he greeted smoothly, moving towards her as if his presence were something to be expected. "It's good to finally meet you in person."

Elena didn't know how to respond. She was still processing the shock of seeing him here. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice betraying her confusion.

Ethan chuckled, the sound smooth and almost comforting. "I know this must all feel strange."

"I've been wanting to talk to you, Elena. I've heard so much about you from my sister, Claire. I must admit, she talks about you a whole lot I couldn't help but be curious about you. That what brought me here."

"I did a little digging about you but I must confess being here, seeing you face to face..." He sighed.

"I want to get to know you better Elena." Elena's mind raced. Why was he here? What was he really after?

Before she could formulate another question, her mother stepped forward, her hand resting on Elena's shoulder. "Honey, Ethan is a good man," she said softly, almost as if trying to reassure herself as much as Elena. "He's come to talk to us about something important."

Ethan's gaze never left Elena's, and he continued. "I've seen many women come and go, but when you know, you know. And I know you're the kind of woman I need. I'm a traditional man, Elena. I believe in building a life with someone, growing together, creating a family." He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a quieter, more intimate tone. "I believe that with you, I can build something lasting, something real. That's why I'm here, to ask for your hand in marriage."

Elena stood frozen, her mind spinning, her mouth hanging open. She wasn't sure what shocked her more: Ethan's proposal or the fact that her mother didn't seem shocked at all. In fact, her mother's face looked almost relieved, hopeful.

"Think about it, sweetheart," her mother urged. "You've worked so hard for this family. You've sacrificed so much. Maybe it's time for you to think about your future, your own happiness. You deserve comfort. You deserve a life that isn't about constant struggle."

Elena opened her mouth to respond, but no words came. She was trapped in a whirlwind of emotions, trying to understand how this was even happening.

Later that night, after Ethan had left, Elena lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Her mind kept replaying the words Ethan had spoken. He seemed sincere, but she couldn't help feeling like there was more to the situation than what he was letting on. Her mother had been so quick to accept the proposal. Was this truly the answer to everything?

Before she could fall asleep, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a text message.

She opened it and saw that it was from her former boss at the diner. Are you available for more shifts? We need someone for the late night rush tomorrow.

Elena smiled a little. Work was the only constant she had right now. She texted back a quick confirmation before tossing the phone aside.

The next morning, the news hit the tabloids. Ethan Sinclair Finally Ready to Settle Down, His Eye on Elena Carter. The headline screamed in bold letters. Beneath it were two photos, one was a photo of Ethan smiling and another of Elena was plastered across the page. The article went on to talk about Ethan's past relationships, emphasizing how women had always thrown themselves at him, but he'd never been interested in settling down. Until now. It even went further detailing her life on paper, luckily the gruesome parts were missing.

Elena's stomach twisted as she read through the piece. It felt like everything was happening too fast. She hadn't even said yes, but the world was already watching her. Even her co workers were watching and whispering, the customers were also staring a little too much than is Norma.

Just then, her phone buzzed again. It was a message from Ethan. I hope you saw the article. I'll be by tomorrow. I'd like to discuss things further, if you're ready.

Elena sighed, rubbing her temples. She wasn't sure if she was ready for anything, when she woke up this morning she had thought it was all a dream some mirage her tired brain has conjured up and she had cast it aside but now she knew she couldn't ignore the situation. It seemed like it was bigger than both of them now.

Meanwhile, in his office, Ethan sat back in his chair, flipping through the tabloid magazine. He wasn't surprised by the media attention. He knew how it worked. He'd built an empire for his family, and everything he did was under scrutiny. But this? This was different, luckily he had been able to intercept the article before it came out. He didn't want all the nitty gritty about his future bride to be splashed out for the whole world. Now he just had to get her to say yes.

The door to his office opened, and Claire Sinclair walked in, her expression one of frustration.

"Ethan," she started, her voice sharp. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Ethan set the magazine down slowly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at his sister. "What do you mean?"

"Don't act like you don't know," Claire snapped. "You're already in the tabloids with her. You're proposing to her? Elena Carter? I asked you to get rid of her not make her my sister in law. And ehat about Ava?" Her voice rose, her frustration clear. "You can't just do this!"

Ethan stood up, his posture calm but firm. "You don't need to understand, Claire. This is the best solution, and Ava laid her bed. She gets to lie on it now."

Claire crossed her arms, her lips curling into a scowl. "No, I know you, Ethan. You're doing this because you think it'll solve everything. But you're not thinking about the consequences."

"Trust me," Ethan replied coldly, "I'm thinking of everything."

"How does this solve anything..."

"Elena will be out of school, that takes care of your situation. Ava will be jealous of Elena, that takes care of Ava's situation. All this with Elena will be over in two to three years, that enough time for the both of you to get things right."

Claire's gaze softened, but only slightly. "Fine, then. If this is the plan, I'll support it. But you'd better make it count."

Ethan looked at her, his jaw tightening. He didn't need her support. But in the world they lived in, it helped to have it. He nodded curtly. "I'll handle it."

As she left the office, Ethan stared at the tabloid again, a smirk curling on his lips. His plan was falling into place. Now, to get Elena to say yes.