Kitty experienced intense anticipation and anxiety prior to the evening that would decide her fate. Looking back, she felt a tender affection for Constantin-Dmitrievitch Levine, whose love she never doubted and whose past connections with her family brought her comfort. In contrast, her relationship with Vronsky felt complicated and unsettling, even though he offered a brilliant and dazzling future. While her connection to Levine felt clear and simple, her future with him remained foggy and uncertain.
After preparing in her room, Kitty descended to the salon and was startled by the early arrival of Constantin-Dmitrievitch Levine. Realizing that he had come specifically to see her alone and declare his feelings, a wave of panic and paleness washed over her. She recognized that she would soon have to inflict a cruel wound on a man she genuinely cared for simply because he was in love with her. Briefly, she considered fleeing to avoid the uncomfortable conversation, but she ultimately resolved to face him honestly and bravely.
Levine approached her with a mixture of strength and shyness, quickly steering the conversation to the purpose of his early visit. After a brief and nervous exchange, he gathered his courage and asked her directly if she would become his wife. For a brief moment, Kitty felt a surge of happiness and was deeply moved by the realization of his love. However, she quickly remembered Vronsky, looked straight into Levine's hopeful eyes, and hastily rejected his proposal. Accepting her refusal with quiet dignity, Levine immediately prepared to leave.