The Extraordinary Bride Of The Wyndham Family (Isla and Gabriel) novel Chapter 156

**Extraordinary Bride 156**

“What on earth are you doing?” Betsy exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock, as if she had just been splashed with icy water. The disbelief etched on her face was unmistakable. Ben, still on one knee beside her, looked up at her with an expression of innocence, much like a puppy unaware of the trouble it was in.

“Marry me,” he stated simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to say.

“Oh my God! It’s a proposal!” Diana declared, her voice ringing out with a mix of surprise and amusement that filled the air like a pop of confetti.

Time seemed to freeze around the table. Forks hung suspended in mid-air, drinks paused halfway to lips, and a thick silence enveloped the gathering.

No one blinked. No one dared to breathe.

Isla’s mouth fell open, her thoughts momentarily unplugged, as if she had just witnessed something utterly unfathomable.

Sofie, unable to contain herself, clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes sparkling with disbelief and glee.

Betty and Maya exchanged delighted glances, their smiles wide—this was far more entertaining than anything Hollywood could offer.

Carl and Luke looked on, their expressions a mixture of confusion and awe, as if Ben had transformed into a superhero or perhaps a fool. The line between the two was as blurry as ever.

And Peter… well, Peter maintained his usual inscrutable expression, but a hint of amusement flickered at the corner of his mouth, even as he tried to mask it.

“What on earth is he doing?” Peter muttered under his breath, shaking his head slightly.

If looks could kill, Betsy’s glare would have sent Ben straight to the grave, right next to Alfred.

“I truly mean it,” Ben pressed on, undeterred by the storm brewing in Betsy’s eyes. “Marry me, Betsy, and I swear I’ll treat you right.”

She remained silent, her gaze fixed on him as if he had just crossed every conceivable boundary in the history of relationships.

“Betsy,” Charles interjected, stroking his chin thoughtfully, like a wise old judge weighing a crucial decision. “A man is on his knees, proposing to you in front of all of us. This is serious. You owe him an answer, dear.”

Betsy’s expression turned icy, so frigid it could have frozen the barbecue grill nearby.

“I can’t,” she finally managed to whisper, her voice barely above a breath. “I can’t marry you.”

Once again, silence enveloped the group, thick and palpable.

“Aunt Isla, can I go play now?” little Jeff piped up, clearly unimpressed by the adult drama unfolding before him.

Isla blinked, then smiled warmly, running her fingers through his hair. She bent down to plant a gentle kiss on his nose.

“Yes, sweetheart, you can go. But be careful out there.”

With that, the boy bolted away, eager to escape the tension that hung in the air like a heavy fog.

Ben leaned in slightly, still kneeling, his expression earnest. “Why can’t you marry me? Deep down, you know you love me.”

“What makes you think that, Ben? Don’t be delusional. I don’t love you. And for heaven’s sake, stop this melodrama.” Her words came out sharp and commanding, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Ben took a deep breath, gathering his courage before he dropped the bombshell.

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