CHAPTER 8: WILL YOU MARRY ME?

Chapter 8

Will you marry me?

Leonardo became speechless. He glared at her. 'Also deny me,' that phrase echoed in his ears repeatedly.

"Where did you hear that from, Viola? He demanded slowly.

"Oh, so it is true! I knew that there must be some elements of truth in what they said."

She again tried to push him off her path to exit, but her strength was too weak to even move a bucket of water.

Tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably.

How can she explain this to her parents?

Although it just happened once, she was 90% sure that she would definitely get pregnant because he didn't use any protection on her.

"Viola, I love you, and I don't know what you are talking about. Please, I know that I've messed up big time in my past, but don't use that to judge me." He placed his hands on her shoulders and whispered.

"What I feel for you is different. All other ladies, I've always approached them only with the mind of flirting, but  you, He paused.

"You approach me with the mind of sex at first encounter, right?" Viola said abruptly.

"Hmmmm." He took a deep breath and paused, placing one of his hands on his waist and the other on his forehead.

"You know what? This is pointless!" Leo declared and drifted from the door, giving her the opportunity to pass.

There's no possible explanation he could give to make her trust his words.

Fast forward to the next morning. Viola woke up to a knock on her door.

She was hesitant to respond, but then Mrs. Van's voice echoed, "Viola, please, I need your help!"

Viola stumbled out of bed; her eyes were blurry and red from the sleepless night she had.

All her night hours were spent on regret. She wished it was possible to turn back the hands of the clock; she had pictured herself how she would have been wise and careful not to have fallen into his trap.

But that was not going to help anyway. She has to accept her fate and see it as a normal thing. Besides, she can't remember Leo forcing himself on her.

She hastily entered the bathroom to clean her face.

"Good morning, ma'am." She greeted me as she opened the door.

"Morning Viola,"

"Please, I need your assistance. There's this cloth I'm looking for, but I couldn't find it. I've searched everywhere. Can you please help me check it out? Maybe my eyes were deceiving me."

Viola huffed. She wished she could easily turn down the request, but she had no choice but to adhere to her plea.

"Okay, ma'am, I'll be right behind you." She nodded.

Still dressed in her night clothes, she marched slowly behind Mrs. Vans.

As they reached the doorstep, Mrs. Vans stood still.

"Oh, sorry,"Viola said and stepped in front of her.

Of course she doesn't expect the almighty Mrs. Vans to open the door for her.

Viola gently pushed the door open and switched on the light. "Oh my God!" She screamed.

Violawas startled at the sight of the figure before her; she opened her mouth in awe.

"Viola Gomez, would you do me the honor of being my wife?" Leonardo asked softly while his knees were on the ground, holding the diamond ring worth millions.

His excessively white gap teeth and dimples, which are very evident when he smiles, were enough to make Viola blush unstoppably. 

She didn't see that coming. Indeed, what he feels for her is different!

Confused, she turned and looked at his mother, who was standing at her back. The joy and smiles on Mrs. Van's face were nothing compared to a person who had just won a lottery.

"Ma'am, you planned this?" She asked softly. Her earlier troubled, worrisome mind was instantly tranquilized.

"You caused Leo a sleepless night, Viola. He came to me crying like a baby, explaining how he's afraid things are turning out to be between you two." 

Pausing to take a deep breath, she continued, "I've never seen my son so much in love like this before. Leonardo loves you, Viola." She explained calmly.

Viola blushed ceaselessly, seeing the massive love from both mother and son. That was the type of marriage she had always prayed for: to have a loving and caring mother-in-law, unlike her mother, who was unlucky to have a terrible mother-in-law.

"Oh, mummy, I promise I'll always make you proud. By God's grace, our family will cease to be poor from now on." She thought inwardly with a smile on her face as she watched the youngest billionaire in town kneeling down before her with a ring. 

"Yes, I'll marry you, Leo," she said joyfully, stretching forward her fingers to receive the ring.

"Thank you, Viola." Leo happily stood up after putting the ring on her fingers and embraced her in a tight hug. "I love you, Viola. Thanks for making me the happiest man in the world," he whispered into her ears.

"I love you too, Leo." She responded swiftly.

Mrs. Vans stood at the door, watching at the two lovebirds. Hiding her disdain, she puts on a pretentious smile of happiness, but deep down in her mind, there was no element of joy in seeing her son entangled with Viola.

"You've just made the worst mistake of your life, Viola. I've warned you against my son, but you won't listen!"

Mrs. Vans said inwardly.

"Let's wait and see who wins!" She added