Joyce instinctively retracted her hand.
No, she could not do that.
No matter how cruel this might sound, she could only say, "I'm sorry, Justin, thank you for your kindness. But I really can't accept it."
She reached out, put the ring back in its place, gently closed the box. She pulled him up off the floor, an apologetic smile on her lips, "I don't deserve it, you deserve better. Justin, you will find the girl who will love you with all her heart and treat you well. She's a better fit for this ring than I am."
A shimmer of sadness and despair suddenly came into Justin's eyes, and when he saw her trying to retract her hand, he hastily held her arm.
"Am I being too abrupt? I'm sorry, I was in a bit of a hurry. I can wait a little longer." It was not that he didn't hear her rejection, but he just didn't want to give up his last hope.
"There will be no other girl. I will never get married without you. The owner of this ring, can only be you." There was an unmistakable determination in his expression, "You know, I'll do what I say."
Joyce was inwardly shaken, when had he become so persistent?
"Justin, I'm sorry, I know you must have misunderstood what happened this morning. It's actually not like what the reporters said..."
"I know, and I trust you unconditionally." Justin interrupted her hastily.
He wasn't spurred on by the news to make a spur-of-the-moment decision to propose. He had asked her to marry him at St. Maria Hospital before his surgery. It was a rushed and hurried affair that ended badly, and he still had regrets.
At least, he had never expressed his feelings formally and completely.
"I owe you a formal proposal, whether you accept or reject it. Joyce, I'll wait and wait for you to come around. I will prove everything to you." He held her hands firmly, conveying his firmness.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: You Hit My Heart