My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Their Union
Kisha waited impatiently for only 10 minutes as Duke finished his shower. They emerged from the room, freshly dressed and smelling pleasant. Avoiding eye contact with anyone, Kisha couldn’t help but sense the judgmental stares directed her way. What made it worse was that she had been the one to pull Duke into the room, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable to the assumption that she was the needy one in their eyes.

She believed she had shed all her shame in previous lives, yet she could feel her face growing hot with embarrassment. All it took was this subtle indication for everyone to confirm what had transpired inside the room.

“Congratulations, my grandson!” The Patriarch’s laughter broke the silence as he warmly congratulated his grandson. Unfazed, he recalled his own and his son’s past daring endeavors to win over their wives, understanding that such boldness ran in the family. Nevertheless, he hadn’t anticipated his grandson’s decisive action happening quite so soon. As Duke and Kisha remained in the room for over an hour, the lack of soundproofing in the apartment allowed Duke’s pleasure-filled groans to echo throughout the space, audible to those nearby.

Duke wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. In fact, he considered them witnesses, ensuring that Kisha couldn’t evade the situation unless she genuinely abhorred the thought of being his wife. Yet, he felt assured that Kisha didn’t harbor such feelings, as he sensed her care and had some level of interest in him.

As Kisha’s face grew warmer under everyone’s gaze, she felt an urgent desire to leave the room and proceed with their intended plans. However, Duke had other ideas and was determined not to let her escape so easily.

“Mother, Father, Grandpa,” Duke addressed them solemnly, “I want all of you to bear witness as Kisha and I mark this day as the beginning of our union as husband and wife. While we’ll have a formal wedding once we return to the base and things settle down, I would like to obtain your agreement and have you as our witnesses for this moment.”

Kisha felt a protest bubbling up inside her. It seemed that Duke was making a mountain out of a molehill by taking things this far. She hadn’t even had a chance to process what had happened inside the room, let alone consider how her grandparents and little brother might react if they found out about this sudden proclamation.

“As long as this is truly what you desire,” Mrs. Winters spoke first after Duke’s announcement. Initially, she had hoped to unite her son with the Evans family due to her deep friendship with Emma. However, this had strained her relationship with her son. Despite the tension, he continued to show respect for her, silently expressing his love for his parents. Mrs. Winters felt a profound sense of gratitude towards her son and also heartache for neglecting his feelings for her friendship.

Now that her son had found someone he truly wished to spend his time with, and considering that Kisha was not a bad person herself and was actually a good match for her son in terms of temperament and thinking process, Mrs. Winters felt relieved. She was willing to take on the task of explaining the situation to her best friend, Emma, and face any potential anger from her. What mattered most was her son’s happiness, especially considering that social norms and status seemed irrelevant now that everything had been thrown into chaos.

The Patriarch approached Duke with a tender expression, producing a velvet box from his pocket and presenting it to his grandson as though offering a cherished treasure. “This was the wedding ring I gave to your grandmother when we got married. She hoped to pass it on to your future wife. Now that you’ve decided to tie the knot with this young lady, I wish to give this to you and your wife as a memento of your grandmother. Please take good care of it.” He then turned to Kisha with a warm smile. “Welcome to the family.”

Kisha’s cold indifferent face broke into a smile as the Patriarch showed the same doting smile her own grandfather gave her, she now found herself in the predicament of accepting it or not.

“Host, quit the charade of hesitation. I’m well aware of the feelings you harbored for Duke in your previous life. Shouldn’t you be rejoicing now that he reciprocates those feelings?” 008 hijacked Kisha’s thoughts, causing her hesitation. It wasn’t that she didn’t care for Duke; rather, she feared jeopardizing what they already shared. This Duke wasn’t the one she knew from her previous life, nor was he the one who had stood by her in life-and-death situations. Yet, she couldn’t deny her fondness for the Duke standing before her.

“But they’re still the same person, so his feelings stem from the same heart. That means, whether it was in the past or now, I doubt his actions would change. If he stood by your side through thick and thin before, then he’ll undoubtedly do the same in this life. Although the Duke you encountered in your previous life may have been slightly different, it was only because of the experiences they went through. You can always test his feelings for you in this life, their depth and sincerity,” 008 added solemnly.

“Oh! When did you start becoming so mature in your thinking process, and now you’re even speaking up for Duke? Were you bribed?” Kisha teased 008 after hearing its take on the matter. Despite the jest, 008’s words struck a chord with Kisha, and she felt the weight on her heart been lifted.

While Kisha found it difficult to trust anyone besides her family, she held a deep-seated belief in Duke’s reliability and sincerity. With her mind now cleared of unnecessary worries, she realized that she had already resolved to make Duke’s life better than it was in his previous life and to protect him at all costs. In light of this, taking their relationship to the next level seemed like a natural progression.

Moreover, Duke was the one who initiated the proposal, and Kisha hadn’t employed any manipulative tactics to coerce him into marriage. His earnestness indicated his genuine feelings for her, a notion that stirred a delightful flutter in her stomach.

“Since the elder has already spoken, I’ll reluctantly accept Duke’s proposal,” Kisha declared, playfully flashing a teasing smile in Duke’s direction. Since she can’t escape, she resolved to savor the moment instead.