Chapter 20%
Third Person’s POV
Clarissa had only planned to make sure Norris got into the car safely before heading home, but he suddenly said he wanted to have a meal with her.
She was just about to refuse when he beat her to it, half–jokingly using his injury to guilt her into saying yes.
Clarissa glanced at Grace standing nearby. After a short pause, she reluctantly nodded.”
On the way to the restaurant, Clarissa stayed completely silent. Only Grace made a few attempts at small talk. Clarissa distracted herself by pulling out her phone and texting Daryll to say she’d be home a little later than planned.”
She figured they’d have a quick meal and be done with it. But the moment they arrived near the plaza, she noticed that the streets were unusually empty.”
That felt off. It wasn’t a holiday, and even on weekdays, it was never this quiet. Still, she didn’t think too much of it until they turned a
comer.
As they stepped into the open plaza, people started approaching her, one after another, each handing her a single red rose.” A strange feeling settled in her chest.
Grace and Norris had both conveniently disappeared, claiming to use the restroom. Meanwhile, her hands were quickly filled with more and more roses, and the crowd in the plaza continued to grow.”
Clarissa grew increasingly uneasy. She turned to find a trash bin, wanting to throw the flowers away when suddenly, the massive screen in the plaza lit up with a loud buzz.
And then she heard her own voice echo across the square.
“Norris! I love you so much!“}
“Norris! Congratulations on our wedding!“}
“Norris…”
Each line echoed with memories, words she had once spoken with all her heart, long ago, in what now felt like a different lifetime.
The screen played a compilation of moments she had once recorded, piecing together the love she had once given so freely. Her chest soon tightened, and her eyes stung.
Then, the screen abruptly went black, only to light up again a second later.}
This time, it was Norris’s voice.
“Clarissa, I love you so much.”}
“Clarissa, I feel so lucky to have found you again. I lost so much time… let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Will you let me?”
The flowers slipped from her hands.
She lowered her gaze, suddenly uninterested in the spectacle playing out above her.
Just then, her phone buzzed nonstop. When she finally looked at it, she realized her social media was blowing up–everyone had seen it. Norris had paid a fortune to broadcast this video across every screen in the city.
Everyone was watching.
But instead of being touched, a cold wave of anger rose in her chest.}
The final scene froze on the words: [Clarissa, I love you. Can you forgive me?]}
The crowd started to chant. First in murmurs, then louder and louder.}
“Forgive him! Forgive him!”
A path then opened up through the crowd, and at the end of it stood Norris, dressed in a white tuxedo, holding a bouquet of preserved roses. His eyes sparkled as he made his way toward her.
Meanwhile, Clarissa stood still, expressionless, detached from the moment like she wasn’t really there.
Still, Norris dropped to one knee and held up an open ring box.
“Clarissa,” he said softly, “I got the ring back. Will you give me one more chance?”
Inside the familiar box was a simple ring, carefully restored. But it looked smaller than before, and if you looked closely, you could still see the tiny burn marks left on the band.
Clarissa’s eyes widened slightly, genuinely surprised.
Seeing her reaction, Norris pushed forward, encouraged.}}
“You don’t need to say yes right now,” he said quickly. “Just give me a chance, that’s all I’m asking. Let me handle the rest. You don’t have to do anything. Just watch.“%
Once again, the crowd roared, “Give him a chance! Give him a chance!”
Clarissa felt like she was being backed into a corner. Her patience was wearing thin.
She scanned the sea of people quietly, then lowered her gaze to Norris and asked calmly, “Can this be broadcast live to the city too?” Noms’s eyes lit up. He thought she was finally giving in.
He nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, of course.”%
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And just like that, their live feed appeared on every major screen in the city.
Clarissa gave a small, satisfied nod.”
Norris smiled with renewed confidence. “Come back to the US with me, Clarissa.“}
She looked at him calmly, then reached out her hand toward the ring box.
He quickly leaned in, offering it to her eagerly.”
But before he could even react, she flicked the ring box, sending the ring tumbling to the ground.” Nomis’s smile froze.§
He instinctively bent to pick it up, but just as he did, someone snatched the flowers from his hand.
Clarissa took the bouquet, gave it a quick sniff, then tossed it to the ground and crushed it under her heel, grinding the petals to a pulp.
20
