Charles had meticulously planned every detail, from the dreamy trip to France to the perfect car and the ring that seemed to sparkle with the promise of forever. He wanted everything to go flawlessly, the way he'd envisioned it in his head. This was it — the moment he'd decided to propose.

For you, though, this was just another example of Charles being the amazing boyfriend he always was. His gestures, though grand, never seemed out of the ordinary for him. But today, something felt different. As he drove, his silence filled the car, a stark contrast to the usual easy flow of conversation between you.

Concern etched itself on your face, and he noticed, glancing at you briefly before focusing back on the road. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice careful, gentle.

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase the worry gnawing at you. What if his strange behavior wasn’t excitement about something wonderful but hesitation about something devastating? Your mind spun with fear — was he acting like this because he wanted to break up? You bit your lip, unsure how to respond, the possibility twisting knots in your stomach.