A Crazy Proposal

Before either of them could recover from being abandoned at the altar, a new disaster came crashing through the courthouse doors.

The courthouse hallway fell silent, Alex and Regina stood side by side as Ethan rushed toward them, his face pale with panic.

“Mr. Harrington, we’ve got a problem.”

Alex rubbed his temples.

“What.’

“Considering my bride just abandoned me, you will need to be more specific.”

Go straight to the point, Ethan swallowed.

“The reporters found out.”

Alex expression immediately darkened.

“ Found out that What?”

“They are outside. Word is spreading online. Some guests have already started talking.”

The social media is full, A curse escaped Alex lips, Regina watched the billionaire close his eyes briefly.

For the first time, she realized how exhausting his life must be, How much his feeling the pain.

When ordinary people got their hearts broken, only family and friends knew.

When billionaires got dumped?

The entire country found out, the internet spread the news.

“How many reporters?” Alex asked.

“At least twenty.”

Oh.

It’s alright.

“Wonderful.”

Ethan hesitated.

“And your grandfather doctor called.”

Alex looked up immediately.

“What happened?”

“The stress affected him.”

Fear flashed across Alex face, Real fear. The kind that couldn’t be hidden behind money or power.

“Is he okay?”

Hope he his still fine.

“Stable for now.”

Alex released a breath.

“For now?”

“The doctor said he needs peace, sir.”

Regina noticed Alex jaw tighten.

Peace.

How could anyone find peace today?

Not him, Not her, Not after everything that had happened, Ethan quietly stepped back to answer another call.

The hallway fell silent again, For several moments neither Regina nor Alex spoke.

Then Regina laughed unexpectedly, A small laugh, A broken laugh.

Alex looked at her.

“What?”

“What happened?”

“Why are you laughing?”

*What’s funny?

She shook her head.

“I was just thinking.”

“I was thinking about something.”

“Dangerous thing to do on a day like this.”

That earned the tiniest smile from her, the first real smile she would managed all day.

Regina stared down at her bouquet, the flowers suddenly looked ridiculous.

Everything looked ridiculous, The dress, The makeup, The heels, Hair, The decorations, The guests.

The dreams she has spent years building, Gone, Just gone. Everything is gone just like that.

One confession from Collins and everything had disappeared.

“What are you going to do now?” Alex asked quietly.

Regina shrugged.

“I honestly don’t know.”

The answer scared her Because it was true, She had planned her entire future around Collins.

Now there was nothing, No wedding, No husband, No future she recognized Just uncertainty.

Alex nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

Regina looked at him.

“You do?”

“My entire family expected a wedding today.”

His eyes drifted toward the window.

“My grandfather has been talking about it for months.”

He keeps disturbing me, Pain flickered across his face.

“He wanted to see me married before.”

He said he want grandchildren, That he want to see his grandchildren Before he dies.

Neither of them said the words, They didn’t need to, The sadness was obvious, Regina felt a sudden ache in her chest.

Despite everything, Alex seemed more worried about disappointing his grandfather than losing his bride.

He doesn’t care much about the bride, He only care about his grandfather Just to do what is going to make him happy.

That said something about him, A lot, actually.

“You must really love him.”

Alex smiled faintly.

“He practically raised me.”

“What about your parents?”

His expression darkened.

“They were always busy.”

He is the only one beside me, He care for me, Regina nodded, She understood, Not completely But enough.

Silence settled between them again, Comfortable this time Not awkward.

Just two strangers sharing the wreckage of their lives, Sharing their true live story.

Then a crazy thought entered Regina mind, A truly ridiculous thought.

The kind of thought people only had when exhausted, emotional, and slightly delirious, She laughed again, This time louder.

Alex frowned.

“What?”

Regina covered her face.

“Nothing.”

“That doesn’t sound like nothing.”

Hmmm

Tell me.

“It really is.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

Alex crossed his arms.

“Now I am curious.”

Regina groaned.

“Trust me. It’s stupid.”

“I’ve had a terrible day. Entertain me.”

Despite herself, she laughed, Alex was right, Today couldn’t get much worse.

Could it?

Finally she lowered her hands.

“Fine.”

Alex waited.

Regina pointed between them.

“You got abandoned.”

He nodded.

“I got abandoned.”

Another nod.

She gestured toward their wedding clothes.

“We’re both standing in a courthouse dressed for weddings.”

Alex’s brow furrowed.

“Okay…”

Regina shook her head.

“I told you it was stupid.”

It doesn’t make sense.

“Continue.”

She laughed nervously.

Then said the words.

“Maybe you should marry me instead.”

Silence, Complete silence, Regina immediately regretted everything.

“Oh my God.”

She covered her face again.

“I can’t believe I just said that.”

Am so sorry, Alex stared at her, Unmoving, Expression unreadable, Regina wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

“I was joking.”

Just joking.

Nothing.

“Mostly joking.”

Still nothing.

“Okay, maybe not completely joking but definitely not serious.”

Alex continued staring.

Her embarrassment grew.

“Forget I said anything.”

Still silence.

“Please forget I said anything.”

I did not mean it.

I did not mean every part of my word.

Don’t take my word serious.

Then something unexpected happened, Alex didn’t laugh, Didn’t dismiss the idea.

Didn’t tell her she was crazy Instead He looked thoughtful, Dangerously thoughtful. Regina slowly lowered her hands.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

As if Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly, As if he were considering something, Calculating, Analyzing.

“No.”

Regina pointed at him.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Whatever you Ade doing right now.”

Alex looked away briefly.

Then back at her.

“You were joking.”

Are you sure.

Are sure of what you are saying.

“Yes.”

“But theoretically.”

Regina eyes widened.

“Oh no.”

“Theoretically,” Alex continued,

“it solves several problems.”

She blinked.

“What?”

“My grandfather gets his wish.”

Regina stared.

“The media gets a wedding instead of a scandal.”

Her jaw dropped, Alex continued thinking aloud.

“The guests don’t leave disappointed.”

“Alex.”

“And technically we are both already here.”

“Alex.”

The corner of his mouth twitched.

“With wedding clothes.”

“Alex Harrington.”

Now he was definitely serious, Regina couldn’t believe it.

“You are not actually considering this.”

“Am I?”

“Yes!”

He tilted his head.

“Maybe.”

She laughed in disbelief.

“You have completely lost your mind.”

“Possibly.”

“This is insane.”

“I agree.”

“Absolutely insane.”

“Probably.”

Regina threw up her hands.

“Then why are we discussing it?”

Alex expression softened For a brief moment, she saw vulnerability there, Real vulnerability.

“Because I don’t know what else to do.”

The honesty hit her unexpectedly hard For the first time all day, neither of them was pretending.

Neither of them was strong, Neither of them had answers.

They were simply two wounded people trying to survive the worst day of their lives.

Alex looked down.

“My grandfather doesn’t have much time.”

Anything can happen anytime, I don’t wish him bad But I need to act, Act very fast.

Regina heart squeezed.

“And I’m running out of ways to make him happy.”

Time is going, The pain in his voice was impossible to ignore.

Suddenly this wasn’t about money or status or convenience.

It was about family, Love, Regret, Fear. Regina swallowed hard.

“You barely know me.”

Alex nodded.

“True.”

“And I barely know you.”

“Also true.”

“This is still a terrible idea.”

A faint smile appeared.

“It really is.”

For some reason, that made her smile too Then Ethan returned, His face looked even more worried than before.

“Sir.”

Alex turned.

“What now?”

Ethan glanced between Alex and Regina Then handed Alex his phone.

“It’s your grandfather.”

Alex accepted it immediately, the old man weak voice echoed from the speaker.

“Alex.”

The billionaire straightened.

“Grandfather.”

“Tell me the wedding happened.”

The hallway froze, Alex closed his eyes, Regina felt her stomach twist, the old man voice trembled.

“Please tell me I didn’t miss it.”

Alex couldn’t answer, he couldn’t uttered any word and somehow that silence was more painful than any words.

Then the elderly man spoke again, A sentence that changed everything.

“If there’s any way to save today do it.”

The call ended, Alex slowly lowered the phone, His gaze moved to Regina.

Regina’s breath caught Because this time there was no uncertainty in his eyes.

No confusion, No hesitation, Only one impossible question, One life changing question.

One proposal neither of them had expected to hear, Alex took a step toward her.

“Regina.”

Her heart started pounding and before she could prepare herself, He dropped to one knee.

With the entire courthouse watching, Alex kneels before Regina and opens his mouth to speak.

Will he actually ask a complete stranger to marry him?

Or is there another shocking proposal about to change both their lives forever?