The Extraordinary Bride Of The Wyndham Family (Isla and Gabriel) novel Chapter 156

**Extraordinary Bride 156**

“What on earth are you doing?” Betsy exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock, as if she had just been splashed with icy water. The disbelief etched on her face was unmistakable. Ben, still on one knee beside her, looked up at her with an expression of innocence, much like a puppy unaware of the trouble it was in.

“Marry me,” he stated simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to say.

“Oh my God! It’s a proposal!” Diana declared, her voice ringing out with a mix of surprise and amusement that filled the air like a pop of confetti.

Time seemed to freeze around the table. Forks hung suspended in mid-air, drinks paused halfway to lips, and a thick silence enveloped the gathering.

No one blinked. No one dared to breathe.

Isla’s mouth fell open, her thoughts momentarily unplugged, as if she had just witnessed something utterly unfathomable.

Sofie, unable to contain herself, clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes sparkling with disbelief and glee.

Betty and Maya exchanged delighted glances, their smiles wide—this was far more entertaining than anything Hollywood could offer.

Carl and Luke looked on, their expressions a mixture of confusion and awe, as if Ben had transformed into a superhero or perhaps a fool. The line between the two was as blurry as ever.

And Peter… well, Peter maintained his usual inscrutable expression, but a hint of amusement flickered at the corner of his mouth, even as he tried to mask it.

“What on earth is he doing?” Peter muttered under his breath, shaking his head slightly.

If looks could kill, Betsy’s glare would have sent Ben straight to the grave, right next to Alfred.

“I truly mean it,” Ben pressed on, undeterred by the storm brewing in Betsy’s eyes. “Marry me, Betsy, and I swear I’ll treat you right.”

She remained silent, her gaze fixed on him as if he had just crossed every conceivable boundary in the history of relationships.

“Betsy,” Charles interjected, stroking his chin thoughtfully, like a wise old judge weighing a crucial decision. “A man is on his knees, proposing to you in front of all of us. This is serious. You owe him an answer, dear.”

Betsy’s expression turned icy, so frigid it could have frozen the barbecue grill nearby.

“I can’t,” she finally managed to whisper, her voice barely above a breath. “I can’t marry you.”

Once again, silence enveloped the group, thick and palpable.

“Aunt Isla, can I go play now?” little Jeff piped up, clearly unimpressed by the adult drama unfolding before him.

Isla blinked, then smiled warmly, running her fingers through his hair. She bent down to plant a gentle kiss on his nose.

“Yes, sweetheart, you can go. But be careful out there.”

With that, the boy bolted away, eager to escape the tension that hung in the air like a heavy fog.

Ben leaned in slightly, still kneeling, his expression earnest. “Why can’t you marry me? Deep down, you know you love me.”

“What makes you think that, Ben? Don’t be delusional. I don’t love you. And for heaven’s sake, stop this melodrama.” Her words came out sharp and commanding, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Ben took a deep breath, gathering his courage before he dropped the bombshell.

“Care,” she interrupted sharply. “Caring for someone isn’t enough to build a marriage, Ben. I won’t marry a man just because he cares. And please, don’t ruin this joyous occasion for Sofie and Peter. We have a wedding in two days.”

“And you believe Peter and Sofie are in love? Wake up,” Ben retorted, his frustration boiling over. “Love develops over time. I’m certain you and I will discover ours eventually, just like Gabriel did.”

Gabriel shot him a warning glare that could melt steel.

Peter followed suit with a second glare, one that could finish the melting process.

Isla, still in disbelief, struggled to process the whirlwind of emotions. She had sensed the chemistry between her friend and Ben, yes—but pregnancy? That was a twist she hadn’t anticipated.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she raised a hand like a schoolteacher seeking order.

“Okay, if I may interject—can you two please sort this out privately? We have a wedding in just two days, and that should be our focus.”

She regarded them with the love of a mother who wanted to guide her children but also felt the urge to scold them.

“As much as I feel like shaking both of you right now,” she continued sweetly, “I will be merciful—only because I care about you both. Go and figure this out.”

Her smile was that of a woman holding chaos at bay with grace.

Because now was the time to celebrate Peter and Sofie.

And not allow Ben and Betsy’s unexpected baby news to steal the spotlight.