Page 37 of Surrendering to the Obsession

Christie rolled her eyes, continuing in irritation, “Do you even know how much effort he put into this, Janet? He called in favors, used connections just to get us entry to this yacht. Do you know how hard it is to get an entry here? He did all this justto make you happy, and look at you. But clearly, this isn’t good enough for you.”

Janet froze, her mind suddenly going blank. ‘My birthday…?’ she thought, stunned. ‘Yes, yesterday was my birthday. How did I forget something so important?’

Victor, oblivious to her distant look, gently tugged her hand. “Come on,” he said cheerfully. “I have a surprise for you. Since I missed your birthday, I’ll make it up to you in a better way.”

He grinned as he led her toward the deck, his face glowing with excitement — while Janet followed silently, her thoughts heavy and unreadable.

Janet stumbled slightly as Victor tugged her along, her heels clicking against the floor of the yacht. She followed him downstairs, her heart still unsettled. They stopped in front of a closed door at the end of a short corridor. Victor turned to her, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“You’re going to be so happy,” he said with a broad grin that almost reached his ears. Then, without another word, he pushed the door open and gently pulled her inside.

The moment Janet stepped in, she froze.

Chapter 7 A Photo

The room was decorated with red and white balloons floating near the ceiling. A small cake sat neatly in the center of a round table, its candles flickering softly in the dim light. Streamers hung from the walls, and the faint scent of roses filled the air.

Her eyes flicked around the room, landing on several familiar faces and some friends she hadn’t seen in months. They were all smiling at her, whispering and giggling among themselves.

Victor turned toward her with excitement glowing in his eyes. “Surprise!”

Janet’s expression didn’t change. Her eyes flicked around the room. The cheap balloons, the crowded space, the smell of frosting and cheap wine — and settled back on Victor with a blank, almost bored look.

Before she could even catch her breath, Victor caught her hands in his. His palms were warm, gentle, trembling slightly. “These past few years with you have been the best time of my life,” he said earnestly, his voice soft and full of emotion. “You’re incredible, Janet. And I finally want to be with you forever.”

Janet blinked, her lips parting in shock as Victor suddenly dropped to one knee and pulled out a small velvet box. Gasps and excited murmurs filled the room.

Her heart started pounding. ‘He’s proposing?’

Victor opened the box to reveal a small silver ring, his eyes full of hope and love.

Inside Janet’s mind, thoughts began racing. ‘I’ve imagined this scene so many times. My boyfriend, the man I love, proposing to me… I thought I’d feel happy, that I’d finally be able to call him my husband, start a family, live the life I dreamed of.’

Her hands trembled slightly. ‘Every time I imagined this moment, I hated Alexander even more.’ Her expression darkened for a fraction of a second. ‘If it wasn’t for him, for that damn contract, I wouldn’t have been forced into pretending to be his girlfriend at those luxurious parties for money. I could’ve been with Victor openly. I could’ve been his wife by now. I wouldn’t have to smile beside a cold, merciless man who treated me like property.’

Her heart clenched. ‘That damn contract… Alexander Graves… he ruined my life!’

And yet… standing here, with Victor on one knee, all she felt was a strange emptiness.

Victor’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Janet?” he said softly, still smiling up at her.

The crowd began clapping and cheering, their voices echoing through the small room.

“Say yes!”

“Marry him!”

“Do it, Janet!”

The noise filled the room, echoing against the walls.

But Janet didn’t move. She stared at Victor blankly, her lips parting slightly, her chest tightening with confusion. Her fingers twitched in his grip.

Her lips trembled as she opened her mouth. “I… I don’t want to—”

The words slipped out before she realized, barely louder than a whisper. The sound of her own voice startled her. Her eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. ‘What did I just say?’

She quickly stopped herself, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. ‘How can I say something like that?’ she thought desperately. ‘This is what I wanted all along, isn’t it? To marry Victor? To be free from Alexander?’