Chapter 8 An Unexpected Proposal

Before their lips met, the thudding of someone's feet echoed through the foyer and Audrey's usually giddy voice boomed from the grand stairs. "Hey, are you guys back already?"

Instantly, Juniper and Dylan tore away from each other, turning to face her. They smiled awkwardly as their voices croaked in perfect sync, "Hey, Audrey!"

Their sheer abruptness made Audrey flinch backward, her eyes darting from one to the other. "Uh. . . is everything okay?"

"Mm-hmm! Yeah, everything's great!" Juniper's words tumbled out in a forced cheeriness.

"Absolutely! Perfectly fine!" Dylan concurred in the same spirit.

Audrey dealt both of them a look of downright skepticism. "Okaaay. . ." she drawled in a raw monotone. Her tone was laced with doubt, but she seemed to dismiss her concerns, turning to Dylan with a request. "Anyways, Lanny, can I steal you away for a minute? I really need your expertise with something."

Dylan nodded obligingly. "Of course, Audrey!" As he turned to leave, he tossed a parting glance at Juniper, "See you later," his voice low and smooth, before following Audrey away.

Juniper stood frozen for a moment, watching them depart, wondering what had just transpired. As they disappeared through one of the doors, she hastily made a beeline to the safety of her room, slamming the door behind her.

She dove onto her bed, burying her face in a pillow to muffle a frustrated scream. Her mind raced with the implications of her actions, her thoughts became a jumbled blend of guilt, confusion, and unbridled attraction.

"What is wrong with you, Juniper?!" she berated herself, her voice muffled by the fabric. "That man is your sister's fiancé, for crying out loud! What were you thinking, almost kissing him?!"

That was just wrong and she knew it. All the more reason she wanted to beat herself up for being such a traitor.

No! She needed to put an end to whatever it was that just happened before it escalated out of control.

She had to avoid him Dylan at all costs. That was the only way she deemed possible to nip this forbidden attraction brewing between them in the bud.

* * * *

And "avoiding him" she did, or at least she tried to.

Keeping her distance from Dylan was not as easy as Juniper had assumed, given the fact that he was already entrenched as her plus-one at prenatal appointments.

How could she avoid when he was always just a glance away?

She appreciated that he'd been the best support so far, but what she didn't appreciate was her growing attraction to him which was why she found herself deliberately creating distance, avoiding moments alone with him, and struggling to maintain a safe emotional distance. However, Dylan's perceptiveness eventually kicked in, and he began to notice the subtle shift in her behavior towards him.

One fine afternoon, as Dylan pulled up to the mansion, Juniper shot him a sharp "thank you" and was about to take off to her room as usual, but his voice halted her retreat, "You're avoiding me, Juniper, aren't you?"

She slowed her pace, her heart skipping a beat, and turned to face him with a forced nonchalance. "No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are!" He insisted in a heartbeat. "Is it because of that near-kiss incident?"

Juniper gasped, her widened eyes swiftly scanning the foyer to check if anyone was there. . . and listening. Luckily, it was just a few distracted maids who were too busy with their tasks to pay attention to them.

With urgent strides, she covered the distance between them, her loafers thudding loudly against the marble floor. "Keep your voice down!" she whisper-yelled through gritted teeth. "What if someone hears."

Blatantly ignoring her warning, he urged on, "If it's any consolation, I wanted that kiss just as badly as you did."

Juniper's face contorted in distress. "Shut up!" she whispered fiercely, her eyes darting around the lobby once more before settling back on him. "Just because we both wanted it doesn't make it acceptable, Dylan. You were engaged to my sister, and she's only been gone for two months!"

"Are you worried about what would people think?"

"That's just the surface. Vivienne chose me to carry her child because she trusted me. And now, mere months after her passing, I'm struggling with feelings for her fiancé? It's a betrayal on so many levels, a violation of her trust, and a disgrace to her memory."

A pleased grin spread across Dylan's face. "So, you admit you have feelings for me?"

"That's not the point, Dylan!" Juniper responded in a low, fierce growl. Then, she threw up her hands, her frustration palpable, and turned to storm away.

But her feet froze in motion when Dylan's bold declaration echoed through the foyer, "Marry me, Juniper!"

Now that loud unexpected proposal hurled the attention of every single maid in the foyer. Juniper's face burned as she felt the weight of their gaze on her, their faces glowing with excitement and approval.

Wincing in embarrassment, she spun around and hastened back to Dylan, grasping his arm and practically dragging him out of the mansion. As soon as they were beyond earshot, she demanded in a snarl, "Have you lost your mind? What exactly did you mean by 'Marry me'?"

"I'm perfectly sane, Juniper," Dylan replied, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to her distress. "And I meant every word. I'm not taking it back."

"You can't be serious. You're not actually in love with me, are you?"

"Would it be so terrible if I were? Is it such an unthinkable thing?"

"Of course, it is," Juniper retorted adamantly. "Don't you see that this can not be?! My sister just died two months ago. Two freaking months ago. There's no way in hell I'm getting married to her fiance of all people!"

Dylan's gaze held hers for a moment, and then he let out a deep sigh. "Look, I understand your perspective, Juniper. I truly loved Vivienne, and her loss still hurts. But she's gone now, and there's me, you, and a child on the way. I want nothing but our son to have a complete family, raised by two loving parents and I'm pretty sure Vivienne would want the same thing."

Juniper exhaled in frustration. "The Clermonts are going to be there for him. They're his family too and I'm a hundred percent sure they'll shower him with whatever he wants."

"I don't doubt that either," Dylan retorted, his voice rising a notch. "But it's not the same as having two parents who can provide love, stability, and a sense of belonging. No one can replace what we can offer this child." His voice softened, his eyes locking onto hers with a persuasive gleam. "Let's do this together, hmm? I think you'd be a great mom to my child in every sense of the word than anyone else."

"Dylan. . ."

"Just think about it, Juniper! Really consider it," He interjected, snapping her protest away from her mouth. He stepped closer, his hand cradling her cheek as his eyes locked onto hers. "I'm not going to pressure you to accept my proposal, even though I think this is for the best. Take all the time you need, but I hope when you finally give me your answer, it will be the one I'm praying for. You would be an amazing mother to my son, Juniper. I can't imagine anyone better."

With a gentle kiss on her forehead, he turned and walked away.

* * * *

Dylan's words had rang in Juniper's mind for days in a never-ending frenzy until she finally came to a staunch conclusion.

SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY REFUSING HIS PROPOSAL!

At first, she'd wavered, unsure of her decision, but now she was certain she couldn't marry him under any circumstance.

Apart from the fact he was her late sister's fiance, she barely knew the man-if she was being honest with herself. Their acquaintance was merely a month old, that was hardly enough time to gain a deep knowledge of someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with-even though, he seemed genuinely nice.

Also, she had already mapped out her life's trajectory, and motherhood wasn't part of the plan-a reason she had initially turned to The Clermonts for rescue.

She wasn't going to throw that opportunity out the window all because of sympathy. She'd done her fair share of selflessness, and now it was time to prioritize her own desires and well-being.

Dylan would be fine, and so would the little guy growing in her womb. They'd all be just fine without her.

With that conviction in mind, Juniper left her room to find Audrey and Chloe who were supposed to accompany her to shop for new clothes. Her current wardrobe was getting increasingly snug these days, as her baby bump was now visibly growing, making it essential to update her attire.

As Juniper strolled into the foyer, she looked around, puzzled, seeing maids scurrying about, busy with one task or the other. She could also hear the rumble of cars pulling up to the mansion, and it sounded like a bunch of them were arriving at the same time.

Just then, Audrey popped out of nowhere, exclaiming, "Oh, there you are, Juni!" She hurried over to Juniper, gave her a quick once-over, and nodded in approval. "You look stunning! Just need to tweak your hair a bit."

With a few swift moves, Audrey loosened the band holding Juniper's hair in a messy bun, letting her luscious locks cascade down her shoulders in soft waves.

Juniper blinked in confusion. "Uh, hey, Audrey, what's going on?" She asked out of pure curiosity. "Why are the maids fussing around, and what's with all the cars showing up?"

Audrey let out a frustrated groan, her hands still busy with Juniper's hair. "Ugh, don't even get me started. Chloe's bringing her BF home unannounced. I mean, we never believed she was seeing someone, but seriously, no notice? That girl's always been a bit of a handful."

Juniper squinted her eyes. "Oh, that's cool, I guess- I mean, with her seeing someone," she said flatly, failing to see why it was a big deal.

Finally done styling her hair, Audrey stepped back, a knowing glint in her eye. "Mmm-mmm, Girl, you have no idea. It's beyond cool. You won't believe who she's bringing home."

"Well, who is this guy she's-"

Before Juniper could complete her statement, the Clermont family elders, maids, and security guards all assembled in the grand foyer, forming a straight line like soldiers at attention as they awaited the guest who obviously had everyone on their toes.

In that moment, the door opened and Chloe sauntered in, her arm intertwined with her boyfriend's, and Juniper froze as her eyes veered to the man standing next to Chloe.

IT COULDN'T BE!