Chapter 299: Dropping Another Bombshell

Morgan’s words carried the frustration of a brother who wanted Isobel to be treated with the dignity she deserved.

Julian’s reaction was even more explosive.

"That damn man!" he snarled, his hands curling into fists. "There’s really nothing good about the Daltons!"

For one reckless moment, he was tempted to storm onto the stage and knock Kristoff’s handsome face sideways.

Who the hell did that man think he was?

First, he had dragged Isobel into a complicated arrangement. Then, after getting what he wanted, he had cast her aside as though she meant nothing to him.

And now...

Without even bothering to consult her, Kristoff put her under the scrutiny of every influential family in the ballroom.

Did Kristoff seriously believe that a public declaration could make up for everything he had done?

Julian’s jaw tightened.

If that arrogant Dalton thought acknowledging Isobel in front of the world gave him the right to decide her future, he was in for a rude awakening.

Isobel was his daughter. He might have only recently discovered her existence, but that did not make his feelings any less real.

And if Kristoff wanted a place in her life, he had better learn one thing first.

Isobel was not someone he could simply claim whenever it suited him.

...

Meanwhile, Kristoff felt a chill creep down his spine.

He didn’t need to turn around to know that he had earned the displeasure of the Foster family. Their glares were practically burning holes through his back.

His gaze met Morgan’s first.

As expected, his future brother-in-law—or perhaps not, depending on how the man intended to react—looked anything but pleased.

Kristoff then turned toward Julian.

The older man was glaring at him as though he were deciding where to land the first punch.

Instead of looking intimidated, Kristoff offered him a polite smile.

Julian’s expression darkened even further.

That damn brat is actually smiling at me?

If anything, that infuriating smile only strengthened his resolve to teach Kristoff a lesson.

Before the situation could escalate, Kristoff gestured toward the nanny.

Ella immediately approached and carefully took Alexander from Isobel’s arms.

Fortunately, the little boy didn’t fuss. On the contrary, he seemed unusually excited, kicking his chubby legs and waving his tiny hands as though he could sense that something extraordinary was about to happen.

His bright eyes darted around the ballroom, taking in the sea of unfamiliar faces.

He looked as though he couldn’t wait for the next part of the show.

And little did he know, he was about to become the center of attention once again.

...

With Alexander safely in Ella’s arms, Kristoff took out a small, exquisitely crafted box from his trouser pocket.

The moment the box appeared, several guests craned their neck forward.

He opened it slowly.

A brilliant ring caught the ballroom lights, sending tiny flashes of brilliance across its polished surface.

Then, under the stunned gazes of hundreds of guests, Kristoff Dalton lowered himself onto one knee before Isobel.

For the second time that afternoon, the ballroom erupted in shock.

"Oh, my God! Is he proposing?"

"He’s actually proposing to Isobel Lancey?"

"Wait! Does that mean the rumors are true? He’s serious about her?"

Excited whispers swept through the crowd, quickly growing louder as realization dawned on everyone.

Isobel stood frozen, staring at the man kneeling before her.

Kristoff lifted his head and met her bewildered gaze.

For once, there was no trace of his usual aloofness, no carefully maintained indifference to hide behind.

Only an earnestness that made it difficult for her to look away.

"Our relationship began as a transaction," he said, his voice carrying clearly through the ballroom. "And after Alexander was born, I made the worst mistake of my life."

Isobel’s breath caught.

"I cast you aside. I told you never to appear before us again, as though you were nothing more than someone I could dismiss once you had served your purpose."

A ripple of unease passed through the audience.

No one had expected Kristoff to expose his own shame so openly, especially in front of so many powerful people.

But he didn’t look away from Isobel.

"I was an arrogant fool," he continued. "I thought I could draw a line between us and go on with my life as though nothing had happened."

His fingers tightened around the ring box.

"But when you were gone, I realized how much your absence affected me. I found myself thinking about you when I least expected it, wondering where you were and what you were doing."

His lips curved into a faint, almost self-deprecating smile.

"Then our paths kept crossing. At first, I told myself they were coincidences. But after a while, I began to wonder if fate was giving me chances I didn’t deserve."

His gaze softened.

"Every time I saw you, I found myself liking you a little more. And somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing you as the woman who had given birth to my son."

He paused, allowing his words to settle.

"I began to see you as the woman I wanted beside me."

Isobel’s heart gave an erratic thud.

She never thought that Kristoff could speak such words eloquently.

The man who once dismissed her so coldly was now kneeling before her, admitting his mistakes in front of an audience that would undoubtedly dissect every word he said.

She didn’t know whether to believe him, much less how to respond.

Kristoff glanced briefly at Alexander, who was still happily waving his arms in Ella’s embrace.

"And our son likes you very much, too," he added, a trace of warmth entering his voice. "But I’m not asking you to marry me just because you’re his mother."

His eyes returned to hers.

"I’m asking because I want a future with you, Isobel. One that we choose together."

He drew a slow breath.

"So, will you marry me?"

For a moment, Isobel forgot how to breathe.

The ballroom seemed to recede into the distance. She could barely hear the whispers around her, much less process the fact that Kristoff was proposing to her in front of the entire city’s elite.

What am I supposed to do?

Her mind was in turmoil.

Only a short while ago, she was standing beside him, completely unaware that he intended to make such a dramatic announcement. Now, she was expected to give him an answer while hundreds of eyes bore into her.

Before she could even collect her thoughts, the crowd began shouting.

"Say yes!"

"Come on, Isobel! Don’t keep him waiting!"

"You already have a son together! What are you hesitating for?"

"Forget her! Marry me instead!"

Laughter rippled through the ballroom at the last remark, but the teasing only made Isobel’s cheeks burn hotter.

For once, she was grateful for the audience’s interference. Their shouts gave her a few precious seconds to recover from the shock.

Kristoff, however, remained on one knee, holding the ring box open as patiently as though he had all the time in the world.

He wasn’t going to withdraw his proposal.

Not without an answer.

Isobel swallowed hard.

Should I marry him?