Chapter 2 The Strange Proposed 1

The gold and silver were enough to make her rich for life and encouraged her to keep the secret to herself until her death and she obliged. However, Phoebe made the family believe that she picked up the child from a farm and resolved to adopt her. Without the King's support, she raised Mirabel to her satisfaction. After her only child and son, Prince Churchill got married, his wife, Princess Irene, hated the six-year-old Mirabel. She saw her as a threat to her marriage and a blockade to her unborn princesses. “I won't condone that, my Prince,” she rejected when the Prince drew her attention to Mirabel's status as an adopted child. “Everyone thought that she was my little sister and not an adopted child. I will be glad if you keep it that way,” the Prince requested. “Well, I am not everyone. I am aware that she is not your little sister and I will not pretend about it,” she argued. Meanwhile, their argument about the existence of Mirabel was endless. Nevertheless, when Mirabel came of age at the age of sixteen, Phoebe organized a party for her with the support of her husband, who had quit alcoholism and was unaware of Mirabel's paternity. He truly believed that she was adopted by his wife to make up for her inability to have a daughter. Meanwhile, Princess Irene was not at the coming-of-age ceremony with her daughters, whom she had carefully banned from associating with Mirabel. However, the ceremony was attended by notable Kings and Irene was astonished. Thereafter, many suitors, who were mostly Princes, registered their interest in marrying her but developed cold feet when they understood that she was not the First Princess of the Churchill family. All thanks to Irene, who spread the news that she was merely an adopted child. Due to the humiliating disappointments, Mirabel decided to remain single when she discovered how dejected her grandmother felt whenever she returned from her blind dates very disappointed and narrated how her dates walked out on her. “Mirabel, you are a sweet girl,” her grandmother would always encourage her to ensure that her self-esteem was not destroyed. “You are right, Grandma, but to avoid further heartbreaks, I think it is a good idea to forget about the things that bring us sorrow and focus on the things that give us joy,” she pointed out. Now, her grandmother ran her eyes over her and ascertained the joy she radiated when she made her point. “I see. And what is that thing that would give us joy apart from seeing you love and being loved?” She asked anxiously. “Agriculture, Grandma. It is wonderful when we plant flowers and watch them grow. The beauty they add to our environments is inexplicable and I am not convinced that any man can give me such joy,” she explained happily. Momentarily, she agreed with her just to make her stable but prayed inwardly for the right man to come someday. “Oh! Your decision is phenomenal, Mira. How come I have never thought of it? Get dressed up and get the farming tools. We are leaving for the farm right away,” she announced with glee. Now, the excited Mirabel gave her a tight hug and appreciated, “Thank you, Grandma, for believing in me. I will always make you proud.” “I'm proud of you already, my dear. Get ready,” she emphasized and walked to her chamber. Then, Mirabel turned around, saw her Knight standing within hearing distance, and ordered, “Get the team ready, we are leaving for the farm at once.” Likewise, her knight genuflected and responded, “I got it, Your Majesty.” A few months ago, the twenty-three-year-old Alfred Walter, the successor of the Walter International Conglomerates, was new in town but was desperate to see his life fall into shape. He just escaped a political interest marriage from his country home, Nassau, the Bahamas, in the United States of America. That day, he and, Carson Gilmore, his twenty-two-year-old newest friend and the successor of the Gilmore Group of Companies, walked into a florist shop to pick a flower for Pearl, Carson's girlfriend. Subsequently, he was entrapped by the simple-looking florist, who they mistook for a shop attendant. They picked the flower and left, but Alfred did not leave with his heart – Mirabel took it and kept it. “Carson, I think I love that girl,” he confided to him after they got into Carson's car. “Which girl?” Carson inquired while he fastened his seatbelt. “The shop attendant,” Alfred made clear. “There were many shop attendants in the shop and I would not know which of them you are talking about.” “The one who helped us with the selection of the flowers.” “I see. If it is that one that your heart went for, be ready to pick up the pieces of it,” Carson warned and turned on his engine. “What do you mean by that, Carson?” the curious Alfred asked. “I have heard her stories. She seemed to be married to her job and nothing more. Breaking the heart of her admirers is her stock-in-trade.” “That makes the two of us. I'm good at breaking unguarded hearts, too,” Alfred declared proudly and Carson gave him a searching look. “Are you convinced that you are capable of getting her?” Carson, who had driven off, inquired with concern. “Certainly,” Alfred assured him. “Wow! I'm out to watch a raw movie,” Carson laughed ecstatically and Alfred laughed too. Nevertheless, they returned home and mapped out how to get Mirabel and keep her. “Your idea is good, Carson and if she fails to accept my proposal, I will crush her heart into pieces,” Alfred boasted. “And she would pick up the pieces of her heart instead of you,” Carson pointed out sarcastically and they laughed the more. Nevertheless, it was Pearl's birthday and they had planned a surprise treat for her. Therefore, they drove to her hostel that evening and sent for her. “A happy birthday to you, my love,” Carson announced, when she walked into his arms for a hug. “Thank you, my love,” the twenty-year beautiful Pearl responded, while Alfred looked on. After she disengaged herself from Carson, she looked at Alfred, who was smiling happily, and greeted, “Good to see you, Alfred.” “I'm glad to see you, too. A happy birthday to you.”