Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 A Ridiculous Proposal

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“Bang-” The door to the event room was slammed open from the outside.

A man rushed in with a look of panic, calling out, “Something happened to Lydia!”

With that one sentence, the room–filled with flowers and ribbons, buzzing with the warmth and excitement of the proposal–went dead quiet.

The guy at the center of it all–the star of the moment–was still down on one knee, ring in hand. He whipped around, eyes wide.

“What did you just say?”

Quade Zimmer, with his arrogant blue hair, urged impatiently. “It was Mrs. Lancaster who called. Lydia’s been in a car accident. She’s at the hospital right now.

The words barely landed before the room blew up–chairs scraping, heels clacking, people bolting for the exit.

It wasn’t an exaggeration: Lydia Wallace was the golden girl of their crowd, gorgeous, sweet. talented–and heartbreakingly delicate. People adored her and pitied her. And now that their goddess was in trouble, who had the heart to keep celebrating a proposal everyone already knew the answer to? Even the guy proposing dropped everything and ran.

“Jasper-” The voice floated from behind, so light it was almost a whisper.

Only then did it hit everyone: the woman being proposed to hadn’t said a single word this whole time.

In the chaos, someone must’ve hit the lights. The room dimmed, leaving just the soft glow from the strip lights along the walls.

Pushed into the corner, Claudia Lancaster’s face was half in shadow, half in light. No matter how many times one looked at her, she was strikingly beautiful. But tonight, she was unnervingly calm, her expression unreadable.

“You don’t want to hear my answer?”

Just a minute ago, Jasper Fenton had asked, “Will you marry me?”

Jasper fruze at the door. In his rush to get to Lydia, he hadn’t even waited for his would–be fancer’s reply.

He didn’t answer her. He tried to soothe. “Claudia, I’m sorry. I have to get to the hospital. Go home first, ukay?

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Chapter 1 A Ridiculous Proposal

“What if I don’t let you go? Jasper, you know I hate her.”

Jasper sighed helplessly. “Claudia, this isn’t the time to dig your heels in.”

“My answer… you might only get it once,” Claudia said, voice steady.

Jasper frowned. Something about her was off tonight.

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Normally the second Lydia’s name came up, Claudia would blow. At the very least, she’d sneer and wish Lydia dead. But tonight she was calm and detached. Like she’d seen this coming.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, unease crept into his chest.

“Oh, cut the act,” Quade butted in, impatient. “You’ve been glued to Jasper for, what, twenty years? You’re crazy about the guy. He finally proposes, and we’re supposed to believe you’d say

no?”

Others chimed in. “Yeah, someone’s life might be on the line. You can propose any other day.”

“The families arranged the marriage ages ago. The whole proposal’s just for show anyway.”

Accusations and dismissive remarks rang out, but Claudia didn’t flinch. Her dark, clear eyes stayed locked on Jasper, waiting.

Jasper sighed and walked back. Like he’d done a hundred times, he mussed her hair like she was a kid and looked down at her. “Be good. Don’t make a scene. Lydia could be in real danger. This isn’t the time for a tantrum.”

It was always the same. Whenever she clashed with Lydia, he never asked who was right or wrong. He’d apologize to Lydia first, then turn to Claudia and scold her gently, like a spoiled child who didn’t know any better.

In love, when someone talks down to you from a pedestal, even your anger gets treated like it’s cute–never taken seriously.

As for this proposal? It was nothing more than a formality. Jasper had never even considered that there could be another answer.

As for this proposal? It was just a formality. Jasper had never even considered there could be another answer.

“Oh, screw this–I can’t keep my mouth shut!” Whitney Sawyer finally exploded. She’d been seething since Quade barged in, and she couldn’t swallow it anymore.

“Jasper, are you a doctor or her personal 911? How come every time Lydia has an ‘accident,‘ she calls you always at the perfect moment. Last time it ruined a date, now it’s your proposal.

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Chapter 1 A Ridiculous Proposal

What, she couldn’t hold off dying five more minutes?”

As Claudia’s best friend, Whitney had spent weeks helping plan this proposal.

And once again, at the last second, Lydia wrecked it.

And Jasper, that coward, ditched Claudia for her. Again.

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Whitney’s fury spared no one. “And you people! Rushing out like that–are you headed to visit her or bury her? At the rate Lydia lands herself in the hospital, she should’ve died a hundred times by now!”

“Whitney!” Usually calm and gentle, Jasper’s face darkened, eyes flashing a warning. “Watch your mouth.”

“Oh, spare me,” Whitney shot back, only angrier at his defense of Lydia. “Can’t stand to hear your precious Lydia criticized? Jasper, do you even remember who your girlfriend is?”

Seeing his expression ice over, Claudia grabbed Whitney’s arm and said quietly to him, “If you walk out tonight, we’re done.”

Too much time had already been wasted. Jasper pinched the bridge of his nose, tamped down his anger, and spoke in that soothing, promising tone, “Don’t say something you’ll regret. Claudia, we’ll talk when I get back.”

He turned and strode out without another word.

He didn’t know how badly Lydia was hurt. He told himself, When I get back, I’ll give you an even better proposal to make up for this.

He’d also remind Claudia to keep her distance from hot–headed Whitney–no doubt Whitney had gotten in her ear.

The room sagged under the weight of it all. Even the ones annoyed by Claudia’s stubbornness or Whitney’s mouth kept quiet. After all, one was Jasper’s future wife, the other was a Sawyer. Who wanted that smoke? One by one, they slipped away.

In minutes, the lively proposal scene looked wrecked.

Crushed petals and ribbons underfoot, toppled wine bottles, overturned chairs, smeared desserts–like the mess itself was mocking how ridiculous this botched proposal had been.

As the crowd thinned, one hanger–on suddenly blinked. “Wait–Lydia’s the Lancasters‘ adopted daughter, right? So she and Claudia are cousins. How come nobody called Claudia to go to the hospital too?”

“Call her? So Lydia can flatline from the shock?”

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