Chapter 481 - The Symposium (7)

Max heard Dr. Snow snickering and he regretted that he acted on an impulse, but what can he do now?

Max looked at the gorgeous woman who was standing on the stage… wearing a black pencil skirt and light blue short-sleeved shirt… with her hair lifted into a messy bun… looking at him curiously… and he realized that he had one question for her. Yes. He had ONLY ONE question for her.

Max cleared his throat. "I am Maximillian Anderson, from Seattle. I enjoyed your presentation, Dr. Williams. It demonstrated how much people can accomplish when they team up to achieve something together…", he paused and licked his lips nervously. "I must say that I agree with you completely. For many years I was on my own, not realizing how much I am missing because I didn't consider treating anyone as my partner. But then… maybe I was waiting for the right partner. Elizabeth, when I met you, I realized what it means to find a partner and to support each other without questions asked. I was always selfish, worrying about my needs, but the moment you entered my life, my priorities changed, and I wished for you to be happy…"

Liz held her breath and her right hand went to her face, fingers pressing against her lips to make sure her mouth is not open. Is Max confessing his love? In front of everyone? Doesn't he know how many people are watching this? Did he lose his mind or was she losing hers?

"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Anderson…", the MC said. "Our time is limited. Can you get to your question?"

Max lifted his hand, indicating to MC that he is getting to it.

"It didn't take long for me to understand that I cheered for your every success and dwelled on things that didn't turn as expected because my happiness was tightly connected to yours. I was basking in your light, elated that I have the honor of staying by your side. The truth is that I booked a romantic place where I can show you my best side with the hope that you will say 'yes', but I realized how none of those matters because the last year was a demonstration of what all is included with me, good and bad, and at the end of the day, the only thing I can offer you is myself. I want to take this opportunity to promise that I will continue supporting you in the future, no matter what happens, and to ask you if you are willing to continue being my partner, forever."

"What are you saying?", Dr. Snow hissed from the side. "Is there a question in there?"

Max had a plan. A romantic setting, where they will start with candlelit dinner and a gorgeous view, move onto slow dancing, and then he will profess his love for her and get on his knee while offering her a sparkling ring and a lifetime together… but at this moment Max understood that he is courting Liz for a year, and if by now she didn't realize that he is serious about spending his life with her, no amount of romancing will suffice.

Max answered Dr. Snow while his eyes didn't leave Liz. "My question for Dr. Williams is… will you marry me?"

The silence was intense, and everyone jolted when the main door closed with a click as the peeper stepped out, apparently not interested to stick around to hear Liz's response.

The MC who was gawking so far looked around helplessly, unsure how to handle this situation. Eventually, MC opened his mouth to say something, but before he could say anything, the event director's voice sounded in his earpiece: "Don't you dare interrupt this! Our online audience is on fire! They love this!"

The MC glanced at the big screen behind Liz and read numerous messages which flew over the screen.

"Yes"

"This symposium is exciting!"

"Say: YES!"

"The neurosurgery talks are impacting my brain!"

"How romantic…"

"Will we get to see a kiss?"

"Much better than old-timers talking about nerve endings!"

"YES!"

In the control room, the event director was rubbing his hands and grinning like a fool. This will go viral! Many people will pay attention to this symposium, and that means an increased interest which will lead to them raising the price of tickets for the next year. It was simply brilliant!

On the stage, Liz forgot how to breathe. When she saw Max standing up, she expected many things, but this… she didn't expect a public confession and a proposal.

The truth is that they spoke about engagement and moving onto the next stage of their relationship after her speech, so this is not new. However, she really-really didn't think that he will do it immediately only a few minutes after her speech, during the Q&A session!

She watched as Max made his way toward the stage, and no one stopped him from walking up.

Max's steps halted when he was at an arms' reach away from Liz. He would get on his knee and offer her a ring, but he kept the blasted thing hidden in the luggage in the room, and kneeling without the ring didn't seem complete. Well, this will need to work, and he will kneel and shower her with jewelry and many other things later.

"Love…", Max extended his hand and brushed Liz's cheek with the back of his fingers. "Did you hear my question or I need to repeat?"

Max glanced at the microphone that magically appeared between his and Liz's faces, and he saw that MC was holding it from the side so that everyone can hear what is going on. As a presenter, Liz had a small microphone attached to the collar of her shirt, but Max gave his microphone to the staff member before climbing on the stage.

Liz blinked. "Yes."

Max licked his lips nervously. "Yes, for what? Yes, you heard my question… Yes, I need to repeat… Or…"

"Yes, I will marry you.", Liz said with a smile.

She was aware of how much effort and patience Max demonstrated so that they can start dating and become the couple they are now. And she knew that no one will ever be able to top that. Max is one of a kind, the only one for her, and she never wanted anyone else. There are many things that Max accomplished in the last year, but it can all be summarized as: Max makes her happy. Is there anything else she can say to his proposal other than 'yes'?

Max's eyes widened and a second later his face broke into a smile.

The audience erupted into claps and whistles as Max closed the distance between him and Liz. In the next moment, Max gathered Liz against him, and they kissed like no one was watching.

The one who couldn't watch was Dr. Snow. He felt his world collapsing as the room ran out of oxygen.

It was like a dying man who sees his life flashing in front of his eyes, but these were only flashes that involved Liz.

Dr. Snow remembered Isaac and their chat when Isaac proudly talked about his daughter. At first, Dr. Snow thought that it was only a father boasting about his daughter, maybe even trying to matchmake him, it would not be the first time. After all, Dr. Snow was a rising star in the field of orthopedic surgery, young and single, and many doctors would love to have him as their son-in-law. But there was something different about Liz. She was not just a pretty face, but she had an education and a promising future, and then there was one article in the medical journal which featured Liz as the youngest neurosurgeon, graduating with honors. Dr. Snow started paying attention to Liz and his curiosity turned into a form of obsession which escalated when he turned down several better job offers in order to accept the one at the Franciscan Medical Center only so that he can get close to Liz.

Dr. Snow remembered seeing Liz on his first day at work. She looked out of place, considering that everyone else at the table was old enough to be her parent, but she had a small smile on her face and intelligent eyes filled with curiosity and at that moment he realized that he was a goner. They had many lunches together and he thought that things are going well, she even accepted his invitation to meet on a Saturday, outside of the work setting… but from that point onward things started tumbling downhill.

For more than three decades Dr. Snow was pushing forward on his own, without a desire to share his burdens and victories with anyone, until he met Liz. She was the worthy one, she was the only one capable of stirring his heart and how could he allow her to slip through his fingers without a fight? But no matter what he tried, Max came up on top. Every time.

Dr. Snow knew that Liz will be at this symposium, and he guessed that Max will show up as well, and Dr. Snow was prepared with a new strategy where he will ignore Max's provocations and show Liz who is the better man, the best man for her. Max had an upper hand with Liz around, but then Liz went to deliver her presentation and Dr. Snow was confident that he managed to rile up Max and provoke him into doing something stupid and this… just what is this? Instead of Max making a fool of himself, he ended up winning Liz completely, in front of everyone. To say that Dr. Snow was defeated would be an understatement.

Dr. Snow stood up slowly and walked out dejectedly, straight to the hotel lounge. He needed a drink. Plenty of them.

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