Sacrifice For an Achievement

Edward turned his car into a restaurant and stopped the car. Anna frowned at Edward in confusion.

"Why did you stop here?" Ask Anna directly.

"I'll take you to breakfast," Edward said casually.

"I've had breakfast at home." Reply to Anna.

Edward did not heed Anna's words, instead, he opened the door for Anna while holding out his hand.

"Then just accompany me," Edward said again.

"Ed, I still have a lot of work to do."

"Axel won't fire you just because you're late for your work," Edward said annoyed.

"Ed, don't be like this. I—"

"Come on, Anna. You're going to give me a cramp if you don't take my hand soon." Edward complained.

"I have a hard time finding your free time, Anna, you are always busy with Axel. This time I have to get your time even if it's only a few minutes to accompany me to breakfast." Edward said and managed to make Anna sway.

"Okay, Ed. Let's just say it's your lucky day when I was planning to beat you up because you just disappeared at the party that night."

Even though she said that Anna still took Edward's hand. They held hands and entered the restaurant.

***

"You don't want to eat, Anna?" Edward asked, chewing the waffle in his mouth.

"No thanks. I'm full."

"Even when it's just the two of us I still can't get your attention, you're more interested in your cell phone," Edward grumbled.

Instantly Anna stopped her activities and chose to stare at Edward without a word. Anna sensed that Edward was acting strangely.

Edward wiped his mouth with a tissue and then pulled his plate to the side. He had finished eating his breakfast.

"Can I have your attention for a moment? I have something to tell you." Edward said seriously. Edward's impression of always being indifferent and dismissive was completely invisible now.

Anna nodded, still trying to comply with Edward's request. Let's just hope it doesn't get weirder and unreasonable.

"We've grown together. Even though you've been abroad for a long time but we can still understand each other so far." Edward said.

There was a pause in heavy breathing before Edward opened his mouth again.

"We have worked hard for Axel all this time, we often even sacrifice our happiness just because we have to put Axel first." Edward continued.

Anna wondered what Edward wanted to say, but she still didn't make a sound because she was afraid that she would ruin the atmosphere and atmosphere that Edward had created.

"You must have something you want to achieve? You must have a desire to pursue your happiness, right?" Edward noticed Anna's movements, which seemed to have noticed her strange behavior.

"I also hope that I can pursue my happiness without changing my current state." Edward's voice was low.

"Everything has to be sacrificed for something else. If you pursue happiness without changing your current state it seems impossible." Anna said for the first time.

"Then I'll take the risk," Edward said confidently.

Anna was stunned. He knew that Edward would say those words. Of course, Edward would take all kinds of risks if he had made up his mind. His nature is not that much different from Axel's.

"I wanted to say this on your birthday, but I can't wait. I'm afraid I'll lose my chance anyway." Edward's words finally referred to his main purpose this morning coming to pick up Anna.

Anna frowned. She felt a bit of a strange pressure when Edward spoke his last sentence. Edward took out a red velvet box and placed it on the table.

Edward slowly pushed the box closer to Anna.

"I've been meaning to say this for a long time," Edward said then took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Edward opened the velvet box and showed it to Anna. There is a diamond ring in it.

"I love you, Anna. Will you be my lover?" Edward said.

Anna was stunned. She didn't think this would happen. She never thought that this day would come. Anna struggled to inhale oxygen to supply air into her suddenly empty lungs.

Anna is not a stupid woman. Of course, she knew what Edward and the ring in her hand meant. Edward proposed to her? Should Anna accept it?

Although not as well-off as Axel, Edward is still a son of a respected family. His parents and Axel's parents were friends just as Axel and Edward were friends now. These two families each have great influence in the business world even though Edward prefers to work as Axel's confidant in the Emperor Group.

Anna was thinking hard considering the man who was now in front of her. A handsome man who is an ideal man for every woman. They had known each other since childhood, it wouldn't be difficult if Anna accepted it and said "yes". And maybe after that, the whole world will praise her as the luckiest woman. But in fact, doubt dominates Anna. He didn't find the slightest confidence to say "yes".

"Ed ...." Anna whispered.

Edward waited for Anna's answer with an erratic pounding in his chest.

"This is not an easy thing. I'm used to us being like this. I'm not like you who would take any big risk for a sacrifice to fulfill your wishes. I can't be like you."

"Then let me bear all the risks," Edward said firmly. Anna nodded slowly.

"It's not that easy, Edward." Anna's voice was muffled with a hint of bitterness in her voice.

Edward understood. He understood that maybe this wasn't the time. That may be the sacrifice was still not enough. So he won't force Anna's decision. He will accept it graciously. Just one refusal would not make Edward back down. He will try even harder.

"I understand." Surrender Edward. Despite feelings of disappointment, Edward still couldn't seem weak.

"Accept." Edward gave the box containing the blue ring to Anna.

"I can't take it, Ed."

"Think of it as a birthday present for you. I'm not proposing to you." Edward said representing Anna's thoughts.

"I'm sorry. Can I ask for another gift?"

Edward smiled. He had anticipated a situation like this.

"I'll give you anything you want. Tell me what do you want me to give you?"

"I want us to, um… you forget what happened this morning. I don't want us to be awkward." Anna said.

Let's just say that Anna is heartless because it's the same as asking Edward to forget the incident where Edward confessed his feelings. Even though he was rejected as a result, for Edward it was a day where he managed to muster up the courage to express his heart. But now he was forced to forget it just like that.

Edward smiled. Even though Edward was forced to keep trying to make that smile look as natural as possible.

"Yeah. I don't want you to suddenly walk away from me either." Edward's words ended with a chuckle.

"Okay, let's go to the office. I'm afraid the boss will fire us if he finds out we conspired to be late, haha..." Edward was cheerful again.

I don't know if he's okay or he's good at hiding his feelings. Only he and God know.

"Oh, I'm afraid I'll have to kowtow to the boss to come back to hire me if I get fired." Anna joined in joking.

"Shhh…, that's it. I'm afraid he'll choke if we keep talking about him. What are we talking about him for anyway? We'd better talk about carp." Edward exclaimed.

"Why carp?" Anna asked.

"Yeah. Looks like he could be the main dish for your birthday party tomorrow. Can be grilled or cooked anything, looks delicious." Anna laughed.

"Haha ... all you have in mind is food, Ed."

"Yes, because life requires food."

"Okay, this time I agree with you."

"Come on, let's go."

"Let's go."

***