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Chapter 2 : Flashback Three Months Ago

-Three months ago-

The ground was still damp from the rain that had fallen throughout the previous night, only stopping just before the ceremony began, as if the weather provided an opportunity for people to leave their homes and gather here to pay their final respects. The final farewell.

Aishleen stood between her mother and other family members who came to offer their support, her gaze fixed straight ahead at the casket placed in the center of the circle of guests, all dressed in black attire, their faces adorned with somber expressions, their eyes cast down, locking their gaze on what lay before them. The woman's eyes were fixated on the smooth wooden casket, coated in glistening black paint, a silver cross embedded on top that shone even under the cloudy sky, surrounded by scattered white roses and lilies, with only one placed on top.

The voice of the priest reciting verses of solace felt distant as Aishleen drifted away into her own sorrow and thoughts. Unconsciously, she touched her index finger to the ring on her finger, and as Aishleen felt the cold metal against her skin, she snapped back to reality. It was then that she realized her hands were trembling, and her tears moistened her cheeks.

Aishleen startled, blinked her eyes to wipe away the remaining tears beneath her beautiful eyelids, using the back of her hand to brush away the tears from her cheeks. However, as she opened her eyes again with a clearer view, the woman only saw a framed picture of the man resting inside the wooden casket, held by the man's sister who stood across from her.

Aishleen couldn't help but let his face continue to flicker in her mind. She still vividly remembered his smile, his laughter, and his fragrance. The woman's thoughts replayed the day he first greeted Aishleen and introduced himself, the day he asked Aishleen out on a date with rosy cheeks, and ultimately the night when he lowered himself to one knee, placing a ring that still encircled Aishleen's ring finger as he proposed to her, asking her to be his wife in the future.

Aishleen's attention was pulled back to the present with a slow breath escaping her lips, as the memories left a sharp pang of pain in her own chest, once again triggering tears to fall from the beautiful woman's eyes. The sister of the man suddenly lifted her gaze, and as their eyes met, Aishleen could see the deep pain and welled-up tears in the corners of her eyes. Her gentle sobbing was accompanied by the quivering of her shoulders, and Aishleen had to firmly plant her own feet on the ground to stop herself from running across and embracing her tightly.

As they both realized how much they needed each other for comfort, Aishleen could do nothing but stand there, across from each other, exchanging painful gazes consciously until their tears subsided. Almost an hour later, Aishleen found herself embracing the woman tightly. Her sobs began to calm down, while Aishleen's own sobs had faded much earlier, after everyone who attended the funeral started leaving one by one, not missing the chance to offer condolences as they passed by her.

"It hurts so much," the woman said just before Aishleen finally released her and bid her farewell. "It's so painful. I still can't believe he's gone."

"I know," Aishleen whispered to her, barely believing her own voice to speak any louder. "I feel it too. But we have to be strong, you know?"

She nodded, withdrawing herself. "Please don't become a stranger. Besides, you were already very close to my brother."

"I promise, I won't," Aishleen replied, responding with a thin smile.

Aishleen watched as she joined her family and future in-laws to leave the funeral. The woman's own family had left much earlier, but she chose to stay, feeling the need to bid farewell in their absence. However, as Aishleen was surrounded by silence, all she could do was stand there and gaze at the wooden casket without uttering a word.

"It's such a pity. He had a bright future ahead of him, not to mention the opportunity to start a family with his dream woman," a voice interrupted Aishleen's tranquility, diverting her attention from where her fiancé now lay in his peaceful rest. Aishleen turned her gaze to the person standing beside her, catching their eye as they turned to look at her simultaneously. Their face shimmered with sadness, reflected in their cautious smile.

"Keenan Seymour." Her smile warmed up as she heard the woman's voice before fading into her characteristic cold smile when the man nodded after greeting Aishleen.

"I don't want to disturb you. I thought you needed some time alone with her. But time keeps passing, and the sky is getting darker by the minute, so I felt I should inform you of my presence as a warning before you get drenched," he spoke to the woman with words full of warmth and comfort. "I share in your loss."

"Thank you," Aishleen smiled at him with gratitude. "I really appreciate you coming."

Keenan Seymour was certainly not a stranger to Aishleen, or to her family or her late fiancé. They grew up in the same town and were raised in the same environment. They even attended the same school during their younger years, until college came around and they had to separate to fulfill their respective duties as heirs to their families.

He wasn't the main heir, but he still went on to study business and all the other disciplines necessary for his family's company. Especially because he had cultivated his love and passion for the family business and had a strong goal in mind to do his best for his father's company.

On the other hand, Aishleen was the only child in the Valega family, which made her the sole heir to the large company and wealth of the Valega family, although perhaps not as substantial as the Seymour family's. Aishleen resented that, not because she despised the responsibilities and titles bestowed upon her since birth. What she hated the most was the lack of freedom to choose her own future. Even when Aishleen studied business, with a minor in history and the small industry, which were subjects of her own choosing, she still couldn't accept the fact that she would be given the title as her own father's sole successor. Not when her interests were focused on stocks and technology, she was more interested in.

"Wine?" Keenan offered, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yes, wine," Aishleen nodded with a proud smile on her face, her pride in sharing what she loved most was evident on her beautiful face now. "The wine-making industry, to be precise. I've been eyeing the perfect land to cultivate and produce my own winery for some time now, and I only have the opportunity to start its development before I have to start working at my father's company."

The man raised his eyebrows to show his interest. "That sounds really good," he pondered. "So the rumors about you not claiming what is rightfully yours are true. What does your family think about your choice?"

Aishleen paused for a moment, a flicker of sadness passing through her eyes. "My family... they have their own expectations and traditions," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation. "They believe that as the only child and heir, it is my duty to continue the legacy of our family's business. They see the wine industry as a mere hobby, something that doesn't hold as much value or importance as the business they have built over generations."

She took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I have tried explaining my passion for the wine industry and how I believe I can contribute to it, but it's been difficult to make them understand. They see it as a deviation from the path they have set for me. They expect me to conform and follow in their footsteps."

That's where Aishleen's late fiancé, Darrel Stone, came into the picture. Darrel was Aishleen's father's right-hand man, serving as his assistant, consultant, second opinion, and a bridge between him and their most important clients. He was trusted enough by her father to be given full control over the company in his absence, and later became the guardian of his daughter's interests as well. Darrel's work ethic, gentleness, and brilliant mind that matched his golden heart had captured Aishleen's heart completely. It had been decided by both of them, and by Aishleen's family, that her future husband would assume the responsibility of taking over her father's company after they got married. But now, everything had to change.

Silence hung between them after Aishleen revealed all the facts. The decision to appoint her late fiancé as the successor had become common knowledge within the business community, even though it had circulated as rumors and whispers among the executives, simply because there were many people paying attention to her father's business. So the news didn't startle or surprise Keenan with the mentioned facts. Keenan had the chance to meet the man himself several times before when he attempted to make business deals or special arrangements with Aishleen's father, and the late fiancé of the woman was sent to meet him on behalf of her father.

Several minutes passed, and just as Aishleen's thoughts and attention drifted back to the memories of the man who left her without a goodbye, while she herself still carried a heavy piece of her heart with that man, Keenan cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Ash-" he called out to Aishleen, pausing for a few seconds and licking his lips to erase his hesitation as you turned to face him, "I know this might not be the right time to bring this up. But I know that soon enough everyone will start pestering you about your future plans after you no longer have a fiancé, just as they did to me some time ago."

Aishleen looked at Keenan, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. She understood that he was about to bring up something important, something that might affect her future. Keenan finally captured Aishleen's full attention this time, and she turned her body to face him while waiting for him to continue. "What is it?" she asked.

Keenan turned to face Aishleen, studying her beautiful face with his lips formed in a tight line before he spoke. "I have a proposition," he said. "I know you might resent me for bringing this up now, but you need to listen to every word I say. Understand?"

Aishleen could only nod her head and reply, "Of course." The woman felt that nothing had been more surprising to her than the situation she had been facing throughout the year. She had never been so wrong.

Taking a deep breath, Keenan continued, "I've been thinking a lot about our conversations, about your dreams and aspirations, and how they align with mine. Aishleen, I know we have a deep connection, and I believe in what we can achieve together." Aishleen's heart skipped a beat, and she leaned in, eager to hear his words.

Keenan reached out and gently took her hands in his. "I've made a decision, Aishleen. I've thought long and hard about it, and I want to offer you an opportunity. I want us to build something together, something that reflects both our passions and allows us to create our own legacy."

"Marry me," the man suddenly said, completely surprising Aishleen.

Aishleen's eyes widened in surprise and excitement. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What?" Aishleen almost laughed upon hearing his sudden proposal, thinking that he was playing an absurd joke on her if not for the seriousness in his eyes.

"I'm offering you to marry me."

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