She Didn't Deserve the Ring

My name's Adam Tillman, and I've been dating my girlfriend Bella Stafford for five years. I've always felt that Bella Stafford is the one I want to spend my life with. So, on our fifth anniversary, I decided to propose to her. I started getting ready for the proposal two weeks ahead. I saved up three months' salary to buy the diamond ring she'd glanced at a few times in the jewelry store. I even booked her favorite Western restaurant and invited some of our mutual friends to be there. That evening, dressed in a carefully picked suit and holding flowers, I waited for Bella at the restaurant. I was both nervous and excited, and my palms were a little sweaty. Bella Stafford came in, wearing a gorgeous dress and impeccable makeup, and when she saw me, she smiled. Our friends were totally on board, all cheering loudly, making the whole vibe really lively. I took a deep breath, dropped down on one knee, pulled out the diamond ring I'd had ready, and looked at Bella with all my heart. "Bella, we've been together five years. There have been ups and downs, but as long as you're with me, I feel genuinely happy." "I want to take care of you forever, give you all the happiness in the world. Will you marry me?" I thought Bella would be touched and say yes, but to my surprise, the smile on her face slowly disappeared. She glanced around at our friends, then at me, frowned and said, "Adam, your proposal is way too plain." "Not grand at all. I feel embarrassed in front of our friends." I was taken aback for a moment, not expecting her to say that. "Bella, I... I really put a lot of thought into this, this ring..." Before I could finish, Bella cut me off: "The ring is nice, but the proposal itself just doesn't work." "I don't care. Next time you propose, you have to bring more flowers. Everyone needs to know you're proposing to me, or I won't agree." After saying that, she just turned and walked away, leaving me and my friends standing there awkwardly. I was on my knees, holding the diamond ring, feeling both hurt and disappointed. My friends came over to comfort me, saying Bella might just be acting on a whim and that I should think of another plan. I thought about it and figured maybe Bella just wanted the proposal to be a little more special. After all, girls love romance and grand, memorable moments. So, I decided to listen to her and prepare for the next proposal. To meet Bella's expectations, I started searching for the perfect place to pop the question. A friend told me there's a big flower bed outside the city, packed with all kinds of flowers, really beautiful. I thought it was the perfect spot, so I contacted the person in charge right away, rented the whole flower bed, and bought tons of fresh flowers to turn it into a sea of blooms. I even hired a band to play Bella Stafford's favorite songs during the proposal.