About one and a half years later...

"I pick this emerald one," said Carl to the shopkeeper.

Carl was shopping for an engagement ring. He's doing much better in his father's business. His confidence soared, he felt on top of the world. Time to offer his best friend since college an engagement proposal. Thinking about her beautiful green eyes, he finally settled on a similar color for the ring.

Candy will be surprised!, he thought excitedly.

He took Candy for a picnic in her favorite site. There, he climbed a tree. From the top of the tree, he opened a banner which he wrote "Will You Marry Me?" in big letters. He hanged the banner on one of the branches. Candy was very surprised and thrilled to see that. He then quickly climbed down the tree. As soon as he almost reached the ground he jumped and ran to her. He knelt on one knee and took a ring out of his pocket to propose to her.

"I can't make a flowery speech. All I can say is, I love you, Candy. Spend your life with me. I promise to always love you and to take care of you for the rest of my life. Please be my wife," Carl said emotionally.

Candy was so touched seeing what he did for her. But, for a minute, she hesitated thinking about his intolerable moody behavior. She loved Carl. He's her friend from college. But his loveliness could easily turn to be the opposite when he's moody. She noticed how he got more and more out of control when he didn't get what he wanted or things didn't turn out as he expected.

But considering all the effort he'd made to propose her, how could she reject it? Besides, she couldn't wait to wear an engagement ring. One by one, most of her friends got married except her.

Cautiously, Candy nodded and smiled.

"I love you, Carl," she said. "I want to grow old with you and be with you for the rest of my life!"

Carl hugged her tightly and gave her a deep loving kiss. She was very happy. She excitedly wore the engagement ring in her finger.

-0-0-0-0

Candy and Carl met Neal again in one of the family parties. When he found out about their engagement, he hurriedly hugged the beaming couple. Candy was very happy to see Neal without tears but a bit sad to see his ring finger which had no more wedding ring in it. She learned that he had been back in Chicago for almost a month. He had worked diligently in Europe to forget Beth. He tried as much as he could to have his brain occupied to forget about the sad past. He looked more like a businessman now than in the past when he just started working. The tragedy had shaped him fast. His hand shake, his look all were different and more mature.

Unfortunately, not long after that the economy situation got worse quickly. The stock market kept falling and the business condition wasn't as good as in the past. The history will remember this as the Great Depression era. It affected so many people including Carl. He became very reserved and his mood became very bad. Candy still loved him regardless. She tried to be supportive and patient to his bad temper. Carl talked less and less to Candy and when he talked, he did it in the most unkind way. Every time Candy tried to open a conversation, he didn't respond. All he did was to give her a nod or short one or two answers. They ended up being silent to one another which was very unpleasant. What worried her became a reality, his uncontrolled bad mood took the worst out of him and got on their way. The ring became a symbol of a thorn in her heart. She felt sad every time she looked at it.

Since Candy had told Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane about the engagement, she still took him to see them as planned. At that day, his mood was one of the worst possible from him because of yesterday's stock crash. In the car, they were just sitting silently to one another.

Gloomily, Candy met Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane.

"This is my fiance," said Candy moodily to Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane.

Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane hugged them and said congratulations with a happy face just to find cold reactions back from the new couple. The situation was very awkward and it happened every time they came to visit. After a while Candy stopped taking Carl to Pony's home.

The Ardlay enterprise wasn't immune to the changes either. Albert also talked about the business problems often. He decided to move to Europe to consolidate the business in there to trim cost. He talked to Candy about the possibility of her to move with him. But Candy refused to go with him. She felt that Chicago was her home. Carl and the Pony's home were here. She also had a job that she really loved here.

In one of the many family engagements, Candy met Neal again.

"Albert and others will move to Europe. I managed some job transfer for them while I was there. When will you go?" Neal asked.

"I am not going," said Candy forever being independent. "My fiance is here."

"Oh? Albert will go," said Neal.

"Yes, I've decided, I will not go," said Candy again. She showed him the engagement ring without much excitement. "Albert will go but I am not going. I'll be where my fiance is."

They met more often after that in many farewell parties where Candy found out that Neal didn't go either. Other than him, one by one family members she knew left for Europe. They often met when they bid farewell to family members in the train station, too. Neal's parents and Eliza would go too. Since Neal didn't go, Albert made him the head of the Ardlay enterprise in North America. In addition, Neal's father let him manage all the business operations of the Leagans family in America.

Neal appreciated the trust they gave him. In addition, he's grateful with the workload that kept him busy and occupied to not think about Beth. He worked very hard including in the weekend. His father, Phillip, hugged Neal tight before leaving.

"Son, I am so proud of you," Phillip said. Deep inside, Phillip understood the motivation behind his son's hard work and really regretted he had to face such a tragedy. He felt very heartbroken for Neal.

-0-0-0

The day finally arrived for Albert to leave. Being the head of the clan, Albert left the latest. His family and aunt Elroy had left earlier. Candy, of course, wanted to go to the train station to see him off.

"Carl, we should leave now or we'd be late to see Albert," said Candy. Carl told her earlier that he wanted to go too.

"I don't want to see them," said Carl rudely. "Leave me alone."

That day was Saturday, yesterday was another stock bad day, Carl was having a bad mood and ready to vent that off to Candy.

"Fine, but are you sure you'll be okay?" asked Candy.

"I'll be better if you're not around," slammed Carl.

"What about our plan to attend the orphanage inauguration this afternoon?" asked Candy.

"I don't know. I don't care, I am going out," snorted Carl.

"Where are you going?" asked Candy.

"None of your business!" Carl slammed the door behind him and left Candy just like that.

Candy felt her heart like being pierced by a cold dagger. She felt so hurt. She went by herself to the train station. In the car, she cried silently along the way.

As soon as Candy arrived in the train station, she was greeted with friendliness by Albert and Neal. Neal was there to see Albert leave. It touched her heart that someone was still nice to her. She tried to be strong and showed a smiley face to hide her personal problem from Albert and Neal.

When finally Albert hugged her to say good bye, Candy couldn't take it anymore. The turmoil with Carl earlier made her feel extra emotional. She suddenly felt afraid to stay in Chicago with Carl. Her heart was tired of crying. She hugged Albert tightly and cried hard refusing to release him. Albert felt so worried to see her.

"Candy, it's not too late for you to come with me," said Albert. "I can still buy you a ticket. Let's come with me. The servants can ship your belongings later."

"Yes, Candy. Go with Albert. I can make sure the servants will ship all your belongings," said Neal.

But, she remembered she promised Carl to be by his side for the rest of her life. Besides, her job that she loved so much were here in addition to the Pony's home. Although she felt tempted to leave, she believed she should stay.

She shook her head and hugged Albert. "I'll stay here. I'll miss you, Albert. Have a safe trip," sobbed Candy.

"I will miss you too. Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" asked Albert again with concerned.

Candy nodded tearfully.

"I'll help you look after her, Albert. Don't worry," said Neal.

"Thanks. Be sure she's well taken care of," said Albert.

Albert hugged and kissed her cheek. It reminded her so much of the past when they still lived together in that apartment while he was amnesic. It made her even sadder.

Albert rode the train and waved to Neal and Candy. Candy cried very hard when the train finally took off. Her heart was so disappointed thinking about Carl who treated her badly, while the kind man was leaving.

After a while, Neal interrupted her, "Candy, we can't see him anymore. Let me take you somewhere. Where do you want to go?"

Candy sobbed hard for a moment before she finally answered.

"Actually, I have an engagement to attend this afternoon," said Candy. She paused, sobbing. "It's for the inauguration of an orphanage which I have been working on."

"Nice!" said Neal unexpected to hear her answer. "Let me take you home to pick up Carl..."

Before Neal could finish his sentence, Candy cried again. Hearing the name mentioned reminded her again of Carl and his rudeness to her. But Candy didn't feel like telling Neal the details of her sour relationship with Carl. Instead, she said shortly, "He's not available today."

"Could I take you there, then?" asked Neal. He's worried to see her who didn't stop crying. He wanted to be there for her just like after Beth's funeral when she was there for him. That day, he cried for hours on her shoulder.

"Do you really want to come?" asked Candy excitedly. She worked hard to realize this goal and felt appreciated that someone showed an interest in it, unlike Carl.

Neal nodded firmly. Candy excitedly told him how she's been campaigning to win some grant from the Ardlay foundation to found this orphanage, and other details. He promised to pick her up this afternoon to go there together.

As soon as Candy arrived in the orphanage, she forgot about all her sadness. She loved helping others especially the children who're in need. She immediately felt happy and forgot all about Carl. Throughout the ceremony, Neal sat as an observant, a person who accompanied Candy. He didn't tell anyone his name so no one knew that he's the head of the Ardlay enterprise. He wanted to make sure the center of attention didn't get shifted from her. After her speech, he clapped the hardest. He's genuinely impressed by her achievement.

She went home at high notes. In the car, she kept talking about the orphanage and all its causes. On the contrary to her fiance who showed no interest in the topic whatsoever, Neal listened attentively and joined the discussion with lively interest. He generously complimented her good work which made her feel so much appreciated. Candy felt so important and happy. They promised to be in touch.

"Now that Albert is gone, if you need anything, let me know. I am forever your brother or, I guess, cousin," said Neal, grinning.

-To Be Continued -

Thanks for reading!