The whole audience was in an uproar. Everyone knew that Eloise and Mario had never gotten along since they were young. Whenever they met, it was either arguing or fighting. No one had expected that the person Eloise was waiting for would be him. Ronald's face turned pale instantly, and he strode forward, saying, "Eloise, what do you mean?" Eloise ignored him, her gaze fixed on Mario the whole time. The latter stood a few steps away from her, hands in his pockets, looking indifferent. But Eloise keenly noticed his eyes quickly scanning between her and Ronald. "I said, I choose him, Eloise said, raising her hand and pointing directly at Mario with her slender fingers." This sentence exploded like a bomb in the banquet hall. The guests were in an uproar, and the sound of discussions instantly overwhelmed the entire venue. "What? She chose Mario?" "Weren't they archenemies?" "Oh my God, Mr. Kobeck's face looked so terrible..." Ronald's face turned from pale to white, then from white to red. He suddenly grabbed Eloise's wrist and said, "Are you crazy? Do you know what you're saying?" Eloise coldly shook off his hand, "I was very sober." "Impossible! Ronald's voice almost squeezed out from between his teeth, "You clearly-" "What do you mean? Eloise interrupted him, a hint of sarcasm in her smile. "What do you mean he chased after you for twenty years? What do you mean you wouldn't marry anyone else?" Chapter 10 268 Vouchers Eloise shook her head, "Ronald, you think too highly of yourself." Ronald seemed to have been struck on the head as he staggered back a step. He had never seen Eloise like this before. Her eyes were cold and her tone sharp, as if she were looking at a stranger. Vincent and the other two immediately surrounded him, Leonel frowned and said, "Eloise, don't make this kind of joke." "Yes, Tobias agreed, "we all knew that you liked Ronald." Eloise looked at their hypocritical faces, feeling a surge of nausea in her stomach. "I wasn't joking, she said slowly, "I chose Mario." The venue fell into a strange silence once again. All eyes turned to Mario standing on the side, waiting for his reaction. He walked slowly up to Eloise, looking down on her as if trying to see through her soul. "Ms. Patnick, he sneered, "don't try to use your tricks for dealing with them on me." Eloise looked up and met his gaze, not backing down at all. "I wasn't playing tricks. 11 The two locked eyes in the air, neither willing to back down. The surrounding guests held their breath, afraid of missing any detail. Just then, Cecilia suddenly squeezed her way to Ronald's side, gently grabbing his sleeve. "Ronald..." her voice quivered, "Is Ms. Patnick upset? It's all my fault, I shouldn't have come..." Ronald immediately hugged her shoulder tenderly, "It's not your fault." He turned to Eloise, his eyes filled with anger, "Eloise, did you have to humiliate me like this?" Eloise looked at their intimate posture, feeling a sense of calm in her heart. "I didn't humiliate anyone, she said calmly, "I just made a choice." Mario suddenly chuckled, breaking the deadlock. He turned to Ronald and said, "She chose me, do you have any objections?" The statement was made casually, yet it carried an undeniable force. 288 Vouchers Ronald's face turned extremely ugly: "Mario, don't be too proud! Eloise was just confused for a moment, she doesn't love you at all "So what? Mario shrugged, "It's just an engagement, no need for love." Upon hearing these words, Eloise's heart suddenly tightened. She knew Mario was saying this on purpose, but the indifference in his words still stung her. Ronald was about to say something, but Maddox had already stepped forward. "Alright, since Eloise has made her choice, today's ceremony ends here," he announced. He looked around, "Thank you all for coming, the banquet will continue." The guests dispersed interestingly, but the whispers continued to be heard. Eloise watched Ronald storm off angrily, as well as the complex expressions on Vincent and the other two's faces, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Mario, only to find that he had already turned around and was preparing to leave. "Wait! Eloise hurried to catch up with him, blocking his path in the hallway. "Where are you going?" Mario stopped in his tracks, but didn't look back. "Go home," he said. "We talked. Eloise reached out to pull his sleeve, but he sidestepped away." "There's nothing to talk about. Mario finally turned around, his eyes cold. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not interested in participating." "It's not a trick! Eloise said urgently, "I'm serious!" Mario stared at her for a long time, then suddenly reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at him: "Eloise, you've been chasing Ronald for twenty years, and now you suddenly say you want to marry me?" His thumb gently stroked her lips, but his voice was chilling, "Do you think I would believe you?" Eloise's eyelashes trembled gently, the distance was too close, so close that she could see her own reflection in his eyes. "You don't believe me, it's okay, she said softly, "but please give me a chance." Mario let go of his hand and took a step back, "Why?" 06:07 Chapter 10 "Because... Eloise bit her lip, ultimately choosing not to reveal the fact that she had been reborn, "Because I finally saw who was worth it." Mario's eyes flickered slightly, but quickly returned to their cold indifference. He turned and left, leaving behind only one sentence: "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, the Nygard Group. Don't be late." Eloise stood still, watching as his tall figure disappeared at the end of the hallway, a faint smile unconsciously appearing on her lips. It was much better than she had expected. At least, he was willing to give her a chance. In the corner of the banquet hall, Cecilia stared fiercely in Eloise's direction, her with almost tangible resentment. eyes filled She whispered to Ronald beside her, "Ronald, Ms. Patnick must have been threatened by Mario. We can't just sit back and do nothing..." Ronald clenched his fist, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes: "Don't worry, I won't let them have their way." Title: Committed In CrushReel's ongoing novel "Committed," a man, grappling with the pressure to propose to his girlfriend, finds himself at a crossroads when he unexpectedly encounters a runaway bride. Seeking an escape from his relationship's demands, he embarks on a journey to Greece where he crosses paths with the enigmatic former... Exploring themes of love, commitment, and serendipity, this modern romance delves into the complexities of relationships and the unexpected turns life can take. As the protagonist navigates between duty and desire, readers are drawn into a tale of opposites attracting amidst picturesque Greek landscapes. What sets "Committed" apart is its heartfelt portrayal of emotional conflict and the pursuit of true connection. Dive into this sweet romance that promises twists of fate and heartfelt revelations. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a story that resonates with the beauty of unexpected encounters.