[Uncalled Engagement]

The sound of Cain's polished shoes echoed against the pristine tiles of the rehabilitation center's corridor. In his hand was a bouquet of white lilies and a box of Maria's favorite pastries—both props to play the part of the concerned benefactor. His jaw tightened as he approached Maria's ward. Her name on the door brought a faint scowl to his lips. This wasn't part of his plan, but damage control was necessary.

Maria sat on the bed, her hair disheveled, her face pale and sunken from days of turmoil. The moment her eyes met Cain's, a flood of emotionscrossed her face—relief, anger, and betrayal all at once.

"You came," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Cain entered slowly, placing the items on the bedside table. "Of course, I did. How could I not?" His tone was calm, calculated.

Maria's composure cracked. She sprang to her feet, her fists trembling at her sides. "How could you not?" she repeated, her voice rising. "Do you have any idea what they did to me, Cain? Do you know what I went through?"

She forcefully hugged him and cried.

Cain gently held her, letting her sob, against his chest. His voice was soft, measured. *"Maria, I came as soon as I heard about this. I wasn't in Asheville. I wasn't even in the state. I have proof—pictures, logs, even my location tracker. I wasn't here when it happened."*

Maria pulled back, her tear-streaked face full of suspicion. *"But I saw you, Cain! I know it was you. You brought me to the abandoned mansion.. I saw you, I felt it was you. How can you say you weren't here?"*

Cain frowned, his dark eyes meeting hers. *"Maria, I understand you're confused, but you must believe me. Everyone knows I was in City S. My assistant even posted updates from the trip."*

Maria's gaze faltered, her lips trembling. *"So... it wasn't you? Was I hallucinating?*"

Cain nodded gravely, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. *"You've been under an immense amount of stress, Maria. Your mind might be playing tricks on you. But I'm here now. And I promise to handle this. Tomorrow, I'll bring the lawyer and the necessary documents to start the process of getting you out of here. We need to do this legally, especially with the media and the public watching every move."*

Maria reluctantly nodded, her tears slowing. Cain's calm presence, though comforting, left a lingering doubt in her heart. As he left, her mind churned with unanswered questions, doubts simmering beneath the surface.

---

Back at the mansion, Claire was occupied in her room, lost in her work. It was almost dinner time when Cain walked in. His presence filled the room like a storm, drawing her attention instantly. Without a word, he crossed the space between them and pulled her into a warm hug.

*"You've been working all day,"* he said, his voice low and soothing. *"Let's have dinner."*

Claire nodded, unable to suppress a small smile at his unexpected tenderness. Dinner was a quiet affair, filled with the clinking of utensils and the unspoken tension lingering between them.

After they finished eating, Cain leaned back in his chair and looked at her with a seriousness that made her heart skip a beat.

*"There's something we need to talk about,"* he began, his tone steady but intense. *"My father spoke to to us about our engagement yesterday."*

Claire froze, her fork pausing mid-air. She placed it down carefully, her voice hesitant. *"Engagement? I didn't expect you to agree with him on this, Cain."*

His gaze was unwavering. *"I'm serious, Claire. This isn't just about my father's wishes. It's about us. I don't want to wait any longer. Give me a chance to prove myself to you."*

She looked away, her thoughts racing. *"I need time to think about this,"* she replied quietly.

Cain leaned forward, his voice firm. *"Time won't change how I feel, Claire. I'm not asking for anything unreasonable. I'm asking you to trust me."*

The conversation left her unsettled. That night, while Cain was out handling business, Claire lay awake, her mind swirling with doubts and unanswered questions. Sleep eluded her, and by morning, her thoughts were no clearer.

---

The next morning, the maids brought Claire a stunning dark green gown and an assortment of jewelry. They informed her that stylists were waiting in the lounge to help her get ready. Confused, Claire asked, *"What is this for? Where am I going?"*

*"Mr. Cain instructed us to prepare you,"* one of the maids replied with a polite smile.

Claire tried calling Cain, but his line was busy. Left with no choice, she allowed the stylists to work their magic. When she was finally ready, Mark arrived at the mansion to pick her up.

*"Mark,"* she asked, stepping into the car, *"What's going on? Where are we going?"*

Mark only smiled cryptically. *"You'll find out soon enough, Miss Claire."*

---

The car pulled up to an elegant venue, its grand façade decorated with flowers and twinkling lights. Claire stepped out, her breath hitching as she took in the opulence.

Inside, the room was filled with guests dressed in their finest. She spotted familiar faces—Cain's father, his aunt, grandmother, and even his grandfather. Everyone seemed as confused as she was, whispering among themselves.

*"What's going on?"* Claire murmured to herself as she entered the hall.

And then she saw him. Cain stood on the stage, dressed in a sleek black suit that accentuated his sharp features. His hair was perfectly styled, his expression calm and confident. When his eyes met hers, a small smile tugged at his lips.

Claire's heart skipped a beat as he approached her, his gaze never leaving hers. *"You look breathtaking,"* he said softly, taking her hand.

Before she could respond, Cain turned to the crowd, picking up a nearby microphone.

*"Thank you all for coming,"* he began, his voice commanding attention. *"Today is a special day. It's the day I've decided to take the next step in my life."*

The room fell silent, all eyes on him.

*"Claire,"* he continued, turning to face her, *"you've been my anchor in ways I can't even begin to explain. And today, I want to make it official. This is our engagement."*

Claire's breath caught in her throat. The world seemed to spin around her as his words sank in.

Cain's father looked amused, astonishment evident on his face. Just yesterday, he had been pressuring Cain to consider an engagement, and now, here they were, with Cain taking matters into his own hands.

A small box was brought to the stage, and Cain opened it to reveal a stunning ring. Taking Claire's hand, he slid it onto her finger, his eyes never leaving hers.

The crowd erupted into applause, but Claire stood frozen, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

Cain leaned in close, his voice low enough for only her to hear. *"Trust me, Claire. This is just the beginning."*

After Cain left, Claire thought and said to herself. 'Now you want me to trust you? How Cain? After all you made me go through things I didn't deserve, What are you Even thinking Cain, This is so unfair. Yeah I love him. But that doesn't mean that I can forgive and trust him again so easily.'

As the applause continued, Claire forced herself to smile, but inside, her heart raced with uncertainty. What had she just gotten herself into?

---