Chapter 8
Breathtaking Ring
A ripple of uneasy murmurs spread through the hall.
"Well… what happens now? If there's no ring, how can they proceed with the engagement?"
Another voice followed, softer but sharp, "He looked confident, but… does Dafa even have the ring?"
Several eyes flicked to Dafa. His clothes didn't match the grandeur of the event, black leather jacket, faded jeans. Yet something in his posture that calm, upright, certain made him impossible to overlook.
Suddenly Lev stepped forward, sneering. His voice cut through the hall like a blade.
"I bought that ring. You can't just walk in, steal my bride, and expect to take the ring as well.If you want to get married, prepare the ring yourself. Don't act like a beggar at the Halton family's table."
He crossed his arms, eyes cold and triumphant, as if he convinced he'd finally found a way to humiliate his stepbrother.
A hush fell. Several guests looked away, others leaned in. This wasn't just a scandal anymore, it was spectacle.
But Dafa didn't flinch. He stood steady, hands relaxed at his sides, expression unreadable save for the faintest shadow of a smirk.
"A beggar, huh?" he muttered softly.
I stepped closer, worried where this was going.
"Dafa, it's fine. You don't have to prove anything. It's just an engagement. We still have time until the wedding."
I said that because I was trying to diffuse the moment.
But Dafa turned to me, and the way he looked at me quiet but fierce, and stilled the words on my tongue.
"So you also think I can't provide a ring for my wife?" he asked gently, but his voice held a weight. "Let me tell you something, Alayna. When I say I will marry you, that means that I'm ready. To prepare everything."
My breath hitched. I bit my lower lip, guilt creeping in. I hadn't meant to doubt him not like others.
But Dafa wasn't hurt. He nodded slightly as if he understood what I had tried to do.
Then he lifted his hand to his chest, fingers grazing something beneath his jacket. A thin chain slipped free, and a glint of gold caught the chandelier light.
It was a ring with a pink diamond. Flawless, vintage, and stunning hung at its center.
"This belonged to my mother. She told me to put it on the finger of the woman who stands with me, not because I'm a Halton. But because I am… me," he said as unhooking the chain and closing his fist around the ring.
"Wow… the stone alone is incredible!" someone gasped.
A stunned silence swept the room. Every eye was on him now.
The ring… it was breathtaking.
Dafa turned to me, a gentle smile on his face. His eyes found mine. My heart skipped a beat.
He knelt slightly, offering the ring to me.
"Alayna. Will you accept this?"
My chest tightened. The room seemed to fade away. All the whispers, all the judgment, all the chaos, none of it mattered anymore. Only him. Only this moment.
I nodded, unable to find my voice. He slipped the ring onto my finger, and in that instant, it felt like the world had shifted.
The room was silent. The kind of silence that came before a storm or just after the impossible happened
And it was clear to everyone: Dafa wasn't here to beg. He came to claim.
I looked at my mother and father, tears glimmered in their eyes and relief mingling with something like awe.
But my sister… she stared at my ring, her expression unreadable and sharp. That small glint of gold seemed to ignite something in her. Maybe envy or i didn't know.
With a deep breath, I took Dafa's hand and we walked towards the stage. As we approached, I noticed the big sofa was adorned with fragrant flowers, their sweet scent filling the air. Mr. Halton sit there, his face stern and imposing. Mrs. Halton stood beside him, her expression tight and disapproving.
"It is a time when family elders bestow blessings upon those who join our lineage. It is a promise of guidance, prosperity, and unity."
Mr Haris Halton paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Alayna, are you prepared to honor their legacy and uphold our family's values?"
I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing. Was I truly ready to embrace this new role? Was I worthy of the blessings they were about to bestow?
But then I looked at Dafa, his eyes filled with a quiet strength. And I knew that I couldn't back down. I had come too far, risked too much.
"I am," I said, my voice clear and steady.
Mr. Halton nodded, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He turned to Mrs. Halton, who reluctantly stepped forward, holding a small, intricately carved bowl filled with fragrant water and flower petals.
She extended the bowl towards me. I knelt slightly, and she gently sprinkled the water over my head, the cool droplets a refreshing contrast to the heat of the room. Then, she offered me a handful of the flower petals, their delicate fragrance filling my senses. I pressed them to my forehead, a gesture of respect and humility.
Next, Mr. Halton stepped forward, placing his hands on my head in a gesture of blessing. His touch was surprisingly gentle, but his gaze remained intense.
"May you be blessed with wisdom, strength, and prosperity," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "May you always uphold the values of our family, and may your union with Dafa bring us honor and success."
Then, Mrs. Halton stepped forward again, this time holding a piece of intricately woven cloth. The cloth was rich with symbolism, each pattern representing a different aspect of family life: harmony, prosperity, and protection.
"This is family Cloth. It represents the bonds that tie us together, the traditions that guide us, and the legacy that we pass on to future generations."
Her voice still lacking warmth. Then she draped the cloth over my shoulders, its weight a tangible reminder of the responsibilities I was now undertaking. As the cloth settled around me, I felt a strange mix of emotions: pride, apprehension, and a deep sense of responsibility.
Finally, Mr. Halton turned to Dafa, his expression softening slightly. "Dafa, as the eldest son, it is your duty to guide and protect Alayna. Uphold the values of our family, and ensure that her place within it is secure."
Dafa nodded, his eyes meeting his father's with a newfound respect. "I will..." His voice stop. I didn't know why but it seemed he became emotional when he called the man in front of him, father.