"X-Xander... Where are we going to eat?" She finally dared to ask him. But, for a while, she didn't hear a response from him, as if he didn't hear her.

"Are you okay, Xander!?" Scarlett slowly raised her hand and tried to poke his hand using her index finger, but before she could touch him, Xander turned to see her.

She was utterly shocked. Instantly her hand stopped mid-air.

Feeling awkward, she couldn't help but grin and slowly pull her hand away from him.

"Hmmm… Wait and see. You'll like it!" Said Xander without any expression, and then he looked ahead again.

Scarlett didn't ask anymore. She was also looking ahead but was surprised when she saw they were heading toward Riley's hotel.

'So, Xander brought me to dinner at Platinum Restaurant!?' She smiled inwardly. It had been a while since she had come to this place with Xander.

Before long, they arrived at the Platinum Restaurant.

Scarlett was surprised to see the beautiful decorations in the VIP room they used to use.

The room was beautifully decorated with pale pink roses. The dining table is set with a unique candle in the middle, making the room's atmosphere look so warm and romantic. She would have thought they were celebrating Valentine's Day if she had forgotten that now, still in September.

She could feel her heart beating faster and her mind running wild trying to guess what Xander wanted to do, why he decorated this place so romantically.

Then a greedy thought suddenly appeared in Scarlett's mind, 'Is he going to propose!?'

Instantly her cheeks heated up. She blushed. But then, her other thoughts reminded her there was no way Xander would propose!

She secretly took a deep breath and looked at Xander, who was already sitting on the chair and looking at her intently. Her pulse quickened as she stared back at him.

"Ms. Scarlett Riley... Why are you standing there?" Scarlett snapped in surprise when she heard Xander's gentle tone calling her. "Come in..."

Scarlett blushed even more. She immediately entered the room and sat right in front of him.

"Xander, this place is so pretty. Did you arrange it? What's the occasion today?" She smiled, trying to keep her expression; hide her nervous feelings.

A mysterious smile appeared at the corner of his lips before he said, "Guess what?"

"You want to propose to me, right!?" Scarlett wanted to say that, but of course, she couldn't. She just shook her head and sipped her red wine. To get rid of the awkwardness.

When Scarlett saw a charming smile appear on Xander's face, she felt tense.

"...I want to propose to you properly, Scarlett!" He said calmly but, of course, Scarlett choked badly upon hearing his shocking words.

She was utterly shocked at his words. The precious wine sprayed out from her mouth, and her face flushed.

What Scarlett had guessed was right! This man is going to propose to her.

"Y-You want to propose to me!?" She stammered as she wiped her mouth with a napkin and placed the wine glass on the table. "W-Why? Aren't we already married!?" She looked at him with confused looking eyes.

Xander was in no hurry to reply, but he blessed his eyes with her beautiful blushing face.

"X-Xander, you..." She clenched her fists under the table, unable to continue her words.

She is too embarrassed by what's going through her mind now. She thought this man was in love with her. That's why he tried to propose to her properly.

"Why did you stop your words, Scarlett?" He laughed lightly, "Just say it...don't be shy of me!"

Turning away from his handsome face, she said while looking at her glass of wine, "D-Do you want to take our relationship more seriously!?"

Finally, she gathered the courage to say what was on her mind.

Xander's eyebrows rose slightly, not expecting this girl to say that. However, as surprised as he was, he liked the idea. Gradually, his smile grew wider as a warm feeling tickled his heart.

"If you want to think that way, it's fine with me!" He said calmly, then lifted his wine glass and gracefully sipped it.

'Hah! What... What does he mean!? Why is this man twisting my words!?' Her eyes widened at Xander.

Seeing Scarlett looking annoyed, Xander chuckled. "You said you want to take our relationship more seriously?" He playfully teases her. "Did I hear wrong?"

Scarlett, "..."

She took a glass of water and finished it in one gulp to moisten her suddenly dry throat.

'Damn you, Xander Riley! How dare you twist my sentences?'

After being satisfied scolding Xander in her mind, and felt much calmer. She looked him in the eye and said, "You heard wrong, Xander! I didn't say that! But, I asked you..."

She was getting annoyed because Xander was trying to tease her.  Now she regretted asking him — this man was skillful at twisting her words. Gosh!

"Hahaha, relax dear!" He smiled and said, "I will indeed propose to marry you... you'll see."

Scarlett widened her eyes, staring at him.

"But... this proposal is just part of our deal..." Xander lied. He just wanted to test the waters, test her feelings toward him. "So, that later if someone asks how I proposed to you. You can tell them without lying..."

Scarlett, "..."

Seeing Scarlett no longer annoyed, Xander took a small black box from his suit's pocket.

"Scarlett Piers, will you stay with me until we grow old together!?" He asked in his charming and warm voice while his eyes stared lovingly at her.

Even though Scarlett was trying to keep her expression calm, she could feel the sound of her heartbeat increasing when she saw the beautiful pink diamond perched prettily on the black box.

She blinked a few times to make sure what she saw was real. It's not just her fantasy.

'Why... Why does he sound so serious!? Why does this feel so real!? And what does the question mean; will you stay with me until we grow old together!?'

Countless questions now appeared in her mind and confused her about whether this proposal was real or fake.