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I tilted my head slightly, confused by the question, but before I could ask what he meant, he added, “When you told Anthony you married him out of pity, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’ve been scared that maybe if you ever accept me, it’ll be for the same reason.
I giggled softly, the sound breaking the tension. “You haven’t even proposed to me yet, so why are you afraid I’ll accept you out of pity?”
Gordon’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but his eyes were gentle as they locked onto mine. “Because, Valerie, the thought of you being with me for anything less than love terrifies me.”
I raised my head to meet his gaze, our faces just inches apart. His features were soft, vulnerable in a way I hadn’t seen before.
“Don’t overthink it,” I said with a
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I tilted my head slightly, confused by the question, but before I could ask what he meant, he added, “When you told Anthony you married him out of pity, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’ve been scared that maybe if you ever accept me, it’ll be for the same reason.”
I giggled softly, the sound breaking the tension. “You haven’t even proposed to me yet, so why are you afraid I’ll accept you out of pity?”
Gordon’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but his eyes were gentle as they locked onto mine. “Because, Valerie, the thought of you being with me for anything less than love terrifies me.”
I raised my head to meet his gaze, our faces just inches apart. His features were soft, vulnerable in a way I hadn’t seen before.
“Don’t overthink it,” I said with a
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teasing smile. “Maybe I’ll open my feelings for you…who knows?”
Gordon’s heartbeat sped up, and I could feel it against my hand. But then, something else became apparent, and I could not resist teasing him further.
“Can you ask him to calm down? He’s making his presence felt in my stomach,‘ I joked.
Gordon bit his lip, trying to suppress a
laugh. “You woke him up, so now I can’t calm him down,” he said, his voice filled
with humor.
“So does that mean I have to be the one to
calm him down?” I asked, raising an
eyebrow playfully.
“If you‘ re volunteering,” he teased back with a smirk.
Our laughter faded as our lips met, tentative at first, then deepening into a passionate kiss.
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Clothes were cast aside in orderly haste, and the hum of our connection echoed into the night, replacing my nightmares with something much sweeter.
**
The next day, the promotional event for the makeup product in Paris went smoothly. Later, Gordon invited me to dinner at the Eiffel Tower.
As we approached, I hesitated, memories. of Anthony’s proposal flooding back.
Sensing my unease, Gordon leaned close and whispered, “Let me replace those bad memories with good ones, Valerie. After all, this is the city of love. It’s time for you to experience that love here in its truest form.”
I looked at him flatly, trying to suppress the flutter in my chest.
“And don’t forget last night,” he whispered playfully, his breath warm. against my ear, “add that to your list of
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pleasant memories in Paris.”
I could not help but lightly swat his shoulder, a smile tugging at my lips. “Stop teasing me.”
He laughed softly and guided me to our table. But something felt different about the atmosphere.
The setting was intimate, almost too perfect, and I had a feeling that was not just an ordinary dinner.
Before I could ask, Gordon stood, pulling out a small velvet box. My breath hitched as he opened it, revealing a dazzling diamond ring.
“Would you spend the rest of your life with me, Valerie?” Gordon’s voice was steady, yet his eyes brimmed with vulnerability.
For a moment, Anthony‘ s words played in my mind, ‘He’s a wolf in sheep‘ s
clothing.
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But then I looked at Gordon, and all the doubts faded. Every bad moment with Anthony had been replaced with countless joyful ones with Gordon.
My heart did not race out of nervousness but out of something real, something I hadn’t felt in years.
This was not pity. It was not regret. It was love.
