Chapter 5 The Rejected Proposal

• — Baby! — Ericka coos into the phone, her usual sugary tone greeting me.
• — Hey, sweetheart. What are you up to? — I reply, — I'm on my way to your apartment.
• — Missing you terribly, — she says, sounding like a petulant child. — Of course, my love. I'll be waiting.
• — Be there in fifteen minutes, — I add.
• She blows a kiss through the phone, and I can't help but smile like a fool.
• The traffic isn't too bad, and I make it to the apartment in ten minutes. Ericka greets me with a passionate, fiery kiss, the kind that makes me forget my own name. I return it willingly, as we're alone in her home this time, a place where I've often explored every inch of her velvety soft skin.
• I revel in the warmth of her touch, like the dawn's first light, as her hands quickly undress me. Her bright gaze, like a star, ignites me, and I can think of nothing but merging my skin with hers, becoming one.
• After an intense scene of uncontrolled kisses, fiery caresses, and passionate moans, once our desires are sated, I find myself admiring her rosy cheeks. She looks at me and kisses me again as if her life depends on it.
• — I love you, Adrien — she whispers softly, as our eyes meet. — You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.
• — I love you too — I respond, aware that she has become my world — Even if the whole world thinks our relationship is a mistake, I know that you've been my best decision.
• I see her cheeks flush even more and she hides her face under the pillow.
• “Now or never” I thought. I decide to take a decision, gather all my courage, and blurt out without any hesitation:
• — Will you marry me?
• The impact of my words reflects in her surprised eyes, which are wide open like plates. I keep my gaze fixed on her, without doubting my feelings or my determination, sure that it's the right decision. After all we've been through together, and now that the clause in my grandmother's will requires me to be married to enjoy the inheritance, I didn't see any reason to keep putting it off.
• She remains in shock, still staring at me. Suddenly, the silence that had taken over the room is broken by a burst of laughter. I'm left bewildered, as it's the last reaction I expected to see.
• Recovering quickly, seeing the negative emotions on my face, she apologizes and tries to explain:
• — I'm sorry, my love. I didn't mean to laugh, but you know me. I don't want to get married yet, I'm not cut out to be a wife — she concludes, making a small pout.
• I stare at her, unable to believe what she's saying. Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water, leaving me stunned. With a voice barely above a whisper, I can barely stammer:
• — I thought you loved me.
• — Don't misunderstand me — she adds quickly, trying to calm me down —. I love you and I want to be with you, but not as your wife.
• Confusion takes over me as I try to process her words. Ericka looks at me intently, searching for signs of understanding on my face.
• — That's fine, my love — she continues —. We love each other and we're together when we want to, without the need for ties.
• I try to control the emotions that are threatening to overflow inside me after her direct rejection. I take a deep breath and confess about the clause in my grandmother's will, hoping she'll understand my situation and decide to support me.
• Ericka shows first shock and then anger at the news. — I can't believe that old woman is still causing trouble even after she's dead! — she spits out, filled with rage.
• — That's why I thought of asking you to marry me — I comment, trying to downplay her anger —. Of course, it was something I was going to do a bit later — I add quickly.
• She gets out of bed quickly, throws one of the pillows against the mirror, and starts to have a small tantrum. I wait patiently while she processes her emotions.
• It takes her a few minutes to calm down. She starts walking around the room and suddenly stops, looking at me with eyes shining with excitement.
• — I've got it! — she exclaims enthusiastically —. We'll find you a wife.
• I feel a punch to the chest as I hear her idea. I can't believe she's proposing something so absurd and disrespectful.
• — What? — I ask incredulously.
• — Yes, yes, yes — she says with enthusiasm —. We can find a woman who will marry you for convenience, and you'll be able to receive your inheritance without any problems. And we can continue to be together as always.
• — Are you crazy? — I say indignantly —. That would be a betrayal of my grandmother's memory. How could you even suggest such a thing? Don't you realize that I'm asking you to marry me because I love you and I want to share my life with you, because I think you're the right person for me?
• — Oh, Adrien, don't be so dramatic — she says impatiently —. It's just a role, it doesn't mean anything. What's important is what we feel for each other.
• — To me, it means a lot — I say firmly —. It's a commitment, a promise, an act of love. And I'm not going to betray the person I love so much in life. And if you don't understand that, maybe you don't love me as much as you say you do.
• She looks at me with incredulity and then with anger.
• — What? — she says, raising her voice —. How dare you doubt my love? Just because I don't want to marry you? Do you know what you are? You're a selfish one! A misogynist! A reactionary!
• She continues to insult me and I've had enough. Fed up with her absurd comments, I get out of bed and quickly get dressed. When she realizes I'm leaving, she changes her tone and softens her voice.
• — Adrien, wait — she says, trying to sound sweet —. Don't go like that, please. We can talk about it, we can fix it. I just expressed myself badly and that's why we didn't understand each other. I love you, baby, don't leave me alone, please.
• I ignore her and leave her apartment. I don't want to see her again. I feel betrayed, hurt and disappointed. She's not the woman I thought she was.