Stealing the Heart of Mr. Steele
Heart 64

Chapter 64 [Clark]

My knees are growing sore as I wait for her response. She opens her mouth and then closes it as she thinks over her response. I realize this isn't the most romantic setting for this kind of proposal, and I did take her by surprise. Please let her say yes.

"You're joking, right?" Cordelia barks, trying hard not to laugh.

My heart shatters in a thousand pieces. She thinks this is a game.

Except I'm not playing. I'm serious. Very serious.

I've been more than a little bit in love with her since the first time I set eyes on her at my brother's engagement party 5 years ago. She was so lovely I didn't dare to go up to her and say hello. Maybe things might have gone differently if I had been a bit braver. Trying to muster up what little courage I have I try again.

"Cordelia, I'm serious." I stand, dusting off my knees and taking a step forward. "Marry me. It will solve.so many problems."

"But I'm not in love with you," She winces, realizing how harsh that sounds she adds, "I love you as a brother, Clark, but I've never had romantic interest in you. I'm sorry."

I look away, pretending not to care. "Neither do I," I laugh, "But who knows how long Atlas might have to carry on with this charade waiting for your sister to regain her memories. Will it be a week, a month, a year, ten? We have no way of knowing for sure. Are you willing to raise that child alone, without support, until he comes around?"

"Well, yes," she replies, affronted. "I am perfectly capable of raising this child without a father. That has been my plan all along. I had no intention of asking Atlas or anyone else to help me."

"But your sister will continue to have questions if we don't have a good answer," I explain. "Besides, do you really think Atlas or I would let you raise that child without our help? He or she is a future Steele. There are so few of us left. Your baby is the future of this family. We won't let you or that child suffer."

She holds out her hand for me to clasp and I take it. She smiles up at me sweetly although her tone has an icy edge. "Clark, I care for you, I really do, and I know you mean well, but this baby is mine. Mine and Atlas. It seems wrong to raise this child thinking that someone else is his father."

"Hopefully you won't have to," I go over the plan that the physicians and psychologists have prepared to help Angelica's memory. "None of this will be forever, besides," I gulp. "It would only be for pretend. We may not even need to get married in real life, and if we did, it would only be a contract wedding. You and I would be raising the child together, but I would only be a stand-in until Altas is free to be with you again."

Cordy closes her eyes but does not drop my hand. "This just feels so wrong," she admits. "So much lying. and for what? To save my sister's sanity. What about our sanity?" She opens her eyes as a tear rolls down her cheek. "What about our happiness?" I step closer to her. Wiping her cheek I ask, "I think we could be very happy together," I say gently. "We're already great friends. And friendship is important in a partnership. I would never do anything to hurt you. I

+25 BONUS Chapter 64

would always be loyal, even though our marriage wouldn't be physically romantic, and I would be there for you to lean on in the hard times. Besides," I laugh, "Would being married to me be that bad? I mean, I'm pretty good-looking." She snorts. "I thought you were being serious," she continues to giggle.

"I am being serious," I pull both of her hands to my chest, "I am asking you, Cordelia, to be my wife. Or at least, to be my fiance. I have never asked this of another woman. And I mean it with all of my heart."

"Clark," her voice drops to almost a whisper. "Are you sure about this?"

"Of course," I smile in a way that I hope looks reassuring. "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't sure."

"Then yes, I guess." she eventually answers. "I'll agree to this arrangement. But only until my sister regains her memory."

I nod, accepting her terms although, in my heart of hearts, I hope she changes her mind and chooses me in the end.

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Chapter 65

Chapter 65