Chapter 4: The Proposal She Refused

As dusk fell, porch lights began to glow at the Whitmore residence. Harrison sat at his desk, writing in his journal. Ever since his second chance, he’d written down everything—except this time, it wasn’t Emily who fell in.

His study was lined with leather-bound journals, each one filled with neat, careful script. But tonight, nothing felt right.

Harrison had always been precise and disciplined, never allowing mistakes. He hadn’t planned to change anything in this new life—just to follow the same path, keeping things on track. But this time, he did something different—he didn’t jump in.

He tapped his pen against the page, replaying the moment over and over. That choice haunted him.

While he locked eyes with Emily, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. The question that stuck: Did it matter if Emily wasn’t his wife?

He’d never considered it before. The thought unsettled him. Like missing pages in a book. For the first time, the future felt uncertain.

The thought blindsided him. By the time he came to, the person in the water had already been rescued. Weirdly, he felt relieved.

He exhaled, tension draining from his shoulders. He hadn’t expected relief, but there it was.

That night, he added a line in red ink to his notebook: "Marry Emily Miller." He stared at the words, bold and final.

She was his wife in the last life, so she should be again. Otherwise, everything would go off track. Harrison was certain that nowhere in the world could he find another woman as capable as Emily Miller. For decades, she’d been his anchor, calmly handling all the family affairs. Just being near her brought peace.

He recalled her quiet strength, the way she kept the household running, her unwavering calm. She kept him steady.

He was convinced that the future of the Whitmore family depended on Emily. He hated losing control.

At Riverside Tower, she’d joked with another man. "Em"? "Nathan Carter is remarkable"? Shameless. It felt like an insult.

The memory burned in his mind, jealousy flaring. He’d never felt so rattled.

Harrison barely restrained himself from clenching his fists to dust. He sent someone to dig into Nathan Carter.

He paced the study, restless. Every new detail about Nathan made him angrier.

"Mrs. Miller is very pleased with him?" Harrison gritted his teeth and drafted a proposal.

He didn’t wait for permission, didn’t consult anyone. For once, he acted on impulse. He wasn’t going to lose her.

The aide was shocked. "Shouldn’t you talk to your parents first?"

The aide raised an eyebrow, but Harrison waved him off. He didn’t have time to wait.

"No need," he said. Only with Emily did he feel at peace. The Millers would never turn down a match like this, and his parents weren’t sticklers either, so acting first was no problem.

He straightened his tie, resolved. This was his future, and he was going to take it.

He waited.

When the aide returned, it was nearly dark. Harrison picked up his pen, ready to cross out the red line. But the news left him stunned for a long time.

He stared at the aide, searching his face for any sign of a joke. The silence dragged on.

"Maybe I misheard," Harrison said, forcing a smile, hardly able to believe it. After a moment, he composed himself and said in a low voice, "Tell me again."

His voice was tight, barely controlled. He gripped the desk, knuckles white.

The aide, looking miserable, repeated, "Miss Miller said… she’s not marrying you."

The words landed like a punch. For the first time, Harrison was at a loss, staring down a future he couldn’t control. Outside, the porch lights flickered on, casting long shadows across the empty halls.

He’d never been told no before. He wasn’t sure what he’d do next.