Chapter 6
Feeling the sudden rise of heat in my cheeks, I quickly pushed my chair back and stood, desperate to break the tension lingering between us. “Oliver, I’m full… I should probably-”
“Emily, let’s get married.”
His words hung in the air, sharp and clear, striking me like a bolt of lightning. Just as I’d managed to calm down, his sudden, unfiltered proposal sent my heart racing again. I looked up, searching his face for a hint of humor, but he seemed completely serious. His gaze was unwavering, locked onto mine with an intensity I hadn’t seen in
years.
Before I could gather my thoughts, he stood up as well, closing the small distance between us. He moved so close that I could feel the warmth radiating from him. My pulse quickened and I noticed his hand clenched slightly, as if bracing himself for
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my reaction.
“Emily,” he repeated softly but firmly, his voice low. “I said… let’s get married.”
I blinked, struggling to find words. “Oliver,
don’t have to let our families
we… We
control us like this. We haven’t seen each
other in years; we hardly know each other.
We…”
“Fine,” he said, interrupting gently but decisively. “Take your time to think it over. For now, you’ll stay here–the room
upstairs is ready. If you need anything, just message me.”
He hesitated, his hand reaching as if to touch my shoulder but stopping just short. “And once you’ve made your decision… message me.”
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the softly lit dining room, the echo of his words lingering in the silence. I sank back into my chair, exhaling a long breath I hadn’t realized I
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was holding, my thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and disbelief. He wasn’t the boy I remembered. His once soft, clingy demeanor had transformed into something else–something grounded, with a quiet, steady force behind it. If I’d known he’d be like this, I might have thought twice before. agreeing to see him.
Exhausted from the whirlwind of
emotions, I climbed the stairs, wondering what had driven me to agree to this. meeting in the first place. I tried to shake off the strange warmth that had settled in me, but it lingered, like a shadow I couldn’t ignore.
When I reached the room Oliver had
prepared for me, I paused in the doorway, completely taken aback.
Everything in the room–from the layout to the pale pink bedspread and the little
dresser by the wall–was exactly like
childhood bedroom. Even the small
my
wooden desk by the window was an exact
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replica, worn in all the familiar places.
I stepped in, my fingers trailing over the desk, feeling the smooth surface, a flood of memories washing over me. An image of Oliver, watching over me as I slept during sleepovers, crept into my mind and an inexplicable warmth spread through my chest.
I climbed into bed and as my head hit the pillow, I sank into the comfort of the past and soon, sleep took over.
Hours later, a sharp, persistent series of notifications jolted me awake. I groaned, rubbing my eyes and reaching for my phone. It was still pitch–dark outside; I hadn’t slept long. Squinting, I opened my messages, only to be hit with a flood of images that made my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.
Photo after photo filled my screen–images of Leon, shirtless, his arms around a woman dressed in revealing lingerie. She was wrapped around him, their faces close,
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every image more painful than the last. Dozens of messages poured in from unknown numbers, each with a different angle, a different moment that cut into me like a knife.
My stomach twisted painfully and I stumbled to the bathroom, bile rising in my throat. I barely made it to the sink before I started heaving, the betrayal and heartbreak hitting me in waves. My hands shook as I splashed cold water on my face, hoping to steady myself, but the memories wouldn’t stop. The years of silence, the indifference–all of it came crashing down, raw and undeniable.
I blocked Leon’s number, my fingers cold against the screen. I shut off my phone, unwilling to let another message come through. I sank to the bathroom floor, feeling completely drained, empty. Memories of Leon flickered through my mind like a reel, but for the first time, I felt nothing but a painful clarity. By morning, I resolved, I would leave the past behind for
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good.
Just as dawn’s light crept through the windows, Oliver appeared at the door with breakfast. He seemed slightly taken aback by my worn expression but quickly softened, setting the tray down and taking a step closer.
voice
I looked up at him, my heart steeled by the night’s revelations. “Oliver,” I said, my steady. “Let’s get married.”
For a brief moment, he looked stunned, hist dark eyes widening. But then, a radiant. smile broke across his face. Without warning, he lifted me up, spinning me around in a circle, his laughter filling the quiet room. As he set me down, he held me close, leaning in to whisper softly, “Emily, you don’t know this, but I’ve liked you since. we were kids. When Mom told me you’d agreed to see me, I was so happy…”
A blush spread across my cheeks as he pulled back, his eyes glinting with excitement. He took my hand, his thumb
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brushing over my knuckles in a gesture so tender it made my heart ache.
As I picked at the breakfast he’d made, savoring the warmth of the freshly cooked meal, Oliver’s voice filled the room, animated and joyful. “we’ll get the marriage license and then meet your mom to start planning the wedding. And I’ll take you for the best wedding photos–something unforgettable…” He paused, grinning. “And, of course, a proper proposal. It wouldn’t feel right without one.”
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