The Runaway Luna's Heartless Mate

8-The Proposal

Love Cameron:

"I enjoy the taste of mint chocolate," Darren remarked, savoring a spoonful of his ice cream. We hadn't left the car, and he'd been consistently courteous throughout the evening. I'd chosen my usual favorite, a combination of strawberry and blueberry ice cream.

"You've been pretty quiet since we got in the car. Is something on your mind?" He finally picked up on my attempt to act nonchalant.

"You weren't anywhere near the apartments, were you?" I released a deep breath and turned to meet his gaze. I observed how he set down his spoon and took a deep breath.

Obviously, Nena was right.

"Why did you deceive me? Or perhaps I should ask, why did you invite me to join you?" I inquired, likely coming across as a bit overdramatic. But for us werewolves, things were different. It wasn't common for an omega like me to go out on outings with handsome, wealthy bachelors without some hidden agenda.

"I've never encountered a woman who's reacted with such panic to a simple invitation," his reply made me furrow my brows and lean back in my chair. It seemed like he was quite relaxed about admitting that he'd initially intended it to be a date.

"It's true I wasn't near the apartments, and it's also true that I wanted to invite you on a date," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. He shifted slightly, now facing me.

His gaze lingered on my face for a moment, and the awkwardness made me lose the staring contest as I looked away from him.

"Do I come across so awful that I've asked you out?" he inquired, and I closed my eyes to collect my thoughts.

Was it that horrible?

"No," I responded once I had composed myself, "it's just that my past makes me question the intentions of others," I explained. When I opened my eyes, I noticed his head tilted, as if he expected me to elaborate on my comment.

"Love, I don't know about your past, but now that you've brought it up, I must confess I've often wondered if there's something that's been troubling you. But I want to be honest with you about myself now," he nodded, giving himself the go-ahead to come clean about his intentions.

"I've been observing you in the office for the past two years, and even though we hardly spoke, my eyes were always on you. I realize this might sound like I'm a stalker or worse, but it's not like that at all. The first time I saw you was with Hilla, in some store where you both were shopping for clothes. I asked her about you, and she mentioned that you were her friend and not looking to date anyone at the time. I was disappointed because I had really taken a liking to you. So, I asked her to convince you to work for me. I know it sounds bad, but the job offer wasn't about keeping you close; it was about trying to help you," he confessed.

Everything he said left me feeling a bit dazed. I found myself staring at his face as if I'd never seen a man before.

All this time, I had no idea that a CEO had a crush on me? How oblivious had I been?

"And then, recently, you became my assistant, and I thought to myself, 'How foolish am I to hire you when I have a crush on you?' It's true that I asked you out today for a date, but it's not just any date. I don't want to waste our time going on ordinary dates or anything--" He hadn't even finished when I interrupted him.

"Then what do you want from me?" I must have had a puzzled expression on my face because he paused and laughed, as if he thought I was being silly.

"I wanted to propose to you," those words from his lips nearly made me choke on my own saliva.

“What!” I gasped.

"You heard me correctly. I initially intended to orchestrate a grand proposal event, but then Hilla cautioned me about your feelings and made me realize I shouldn't put you in a difficult spot without knowing if you even want to be with me. So, this little ice cream date was planned to allow us to sit and discuss our feelings without involving others and potentially causing embarrassment," he explained. This time, I let him speak, and when he finished, I just stared at his face, my expression blank.

"So?" he raised an eyebrow when my silence lingered.

"I'm flattered," I began, nervously fiddling with my fingers. It was genuinely heartwarming that he was such a gentleman, but there was an issue.

Even if I were to accept his proposal, I still hadn't told him about my kids, and if I sensed even a hint of hesitation from him, I might never give him a chance.

The truth was, I had finally come to terms with moving forward, convinced that I didn't have to let my past define my life. Out of all the people in the world, Darren had managed to make me feel a certain way, but now I felt trapped.

"But... I can't be with you," my words made him lean back and relax his muscles.

"Why?" Even though his body language appeared relaxed, his tone carried a hint of aggression. It was clear that he didn't take rejection well, or perhaps he was simply hurt.

"You're an amazing person, and I'm ready to move on, but I don't think you should be with me," I began, hesitating mid-sentence as I remembered that my kids were not ordinary babies; they were werewolves. I couldn't enter a relationship with someone who had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

"Love, I want to be with you," he smiled and attempted to hold my hand. I pulled my body away from him.

"I don't know how to respond," I whispered in a soft tone. I would have loved to be with someone like him, but my life was far from simple. It was filled with secrets, and even more secrets.

"What is it? Is it the class difference? If I were to build a new company for you and make you the CEO of it, would you accept me then? If I eliminate all the class distinctions, would it work then?" He was willing to invest a lot into our relationship, while I was merely concealing the truth from him, which was making me increasingly anxious.

"Darren, the point is I simply can't be with you. Could you please take me home now?" My anxiety was taking over, and I began to fear the impending confrontation. He gazed at my face for a few moments before nodding and starting the engine. It was a decision I didn't want to make, but one I felt compelled to.

I couldn't bring myself to be with someone who had no idea about my kids or who might ultimately regret wanting me after learning about them.

The idea of us being together had never crossed my mind, which was why I had never shared anything about my family with him.

He dropped me off near my apartment, and I exited the car without saying another word to him. When I hurried upstairs, I was taken aback by the scene inside my apartment. It was not what I had expected to come home to.