Chapter 110
C
When Scott stepped into the room, I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms like armor.
“Well,” I said, my voice dry, “if you’re here to laugh at me–now’s your chance. You can start anytime. You know, because I said I’d never choose you over Colton, and here we are.”
His mouth curved into a slow grin. And then he actually laughed.\
I rolled my eyes. “Wow. Really mature.“}
“You set me up for that,” he said, still chuckling. “But fine, I’ll be serious.” He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down, his elbows resting casually on the table. “So… what shall we do now? Announce our marriage to the world? Put your dear ex–husband into an early grave? How much do you want him–and Beatrice–ruined? Or…” His grin widened. “Should we just get married right now?”
I blinked at him, the words sitting between us like a challenge. “Can you give me a little time?” I asked. “And don’t expect me to love you, okay? You know I’m not going to suddenly fall into your arms. I still need to… move on. I still need to figure myself
out.”
His eyes softened. “I told you before, Nadia–I’m willing to wait. Whatever happens… I’ll wait. For you.””
A lump formed in my throat. I looked away. “I just… I can’t trust anyone. Not yet. But… yes. We’ll get married.“}
His brows lifted. “Just like that?”
“You saved me,” I said simply. “That’s enough for now. Just don’t expect my heart to be ready to command.“}
His lips curved into a small, confident smile. “I’ll make you fall in love with me.”
I snorted. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re stubborn,” he shot back easily.
We ended up smirking at each other like idiots. The teasing came naturally. We’d done it before–years ago,
couldn’t stand each other.
“You know,” I said, leaning forward, “you were the most annoying man I’d ever met.“}
“You’re the only one who hates me,” Scott said without hesitation. “Because, honestly, you know how on, admit it–you’ve always known.”
I looked at him for a long moment. “Maybe. But knowing and feeling aren’t the same thing.”
He shrugged, as if completely unbothered. “Then I’ll just have to make you feel it.“”
Days turned into weeks, and Scott didn’t just keep his word–he exceeded it.
www
back when we
much I love you.
Come
‘ ‘ཀར, ར ང་ན་ག་།་ ན་ར་ནང་དཔར་ན
The first morning he brought me breakfast, I was still in bed, half–asleep, when the smell of coffee drifted in. “Rise and shine, future Mrs. Scott,” he called from the doorway.
I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. “Don’t start with that.”
He chuckled and set the tray on my nightstand. “Toast, coffee, and-” He lifted the lid with exaggerate made with love. Try to contain your excitement.“}
1 peeked out from under the blanket. “You’re ridiculous.“}
“Ridiculously charming” he corrected, sliding the tray closer. “Eat before it gets cold.“”
I rolled my eyes but took the fork. “Don’t make a habit of this.“}
“Too late,” he said, leaning back in the chair he’d pulled up. “It’s already a habit.”
E
flair. “Scrambled eggs,
ary
Other mornings, he went all out–pancakes stacked high with berries, the scent of bacon curling through the air.
One day, as I sipped my coffee, I asked, “Why are you doing all this?“}
He shrugged. “Because you deserve someone who takes care of you. And because it makes you smile, even if you try to hide
it.“2
I looked down at my plate, not trusting my voice.}
When I felt restless, he suggested walks in the park. Sometimes we talked–about trivial things, about music, or a story in the news. Other times we walked in comfortable silence. He never pushed.”
On one walk, he suddenly handed me a scarf, soft and in my favorite color.”
“What’s this for?” I asked.
“You mentioned a month ago that you lost yours. I saw it in a shop window and thought of you.”
I hesitated, then looped it around my neck. “Thanks.“!!
“Don’t sound too excited,” he teased.
“I’m not used to… this, I admitted quietly.
He seemed to make a point of remembering small details. One afternoon, he came home with a book I’d told him about
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He seemed to make a point of remembering small details. One afternoon, he came home with a book I’d told him about weeks earlier.
4:04 PM
“You said you read it as a kid but lost your copy,” he said, handing it to me.”
I took it, my chest tightening unexpectedly. “You really listen, don’t you?”
“Always,” he said simply.”
For the first time in years, my days felt… light. Not perfect. Not healed. But lighter. There were moments when I caught myself smiling without realizing it, or laughing at something ridiculous he said.[
And every time I did, Scott looked at me like he’d just won a battle.
It was dangerous, I knew.
I couldn’t let myself expect too much–not from him, not from anyone. Expectations led to disappointment, and disappointment had already carved too many scars into me.”
So I told myself, enjoy what’s here, now. Don’t look ahead. Don’t hope too much.
Even as Scott made space for himself in my days, I kept that wall up, not because I didn’t notice how much he cared… but because I couldn’t survive breaking again.”
One afternoon, I found Nathan in the library, flipping through some old files. I hesitated at the door before stepping in.
“I need to talk to you,” I said.”
He glanced up, his expression immediately attentive. “What’s wrong?“”
ば
“Nothing’s wrong,” I said quickly. “It’s about Scott.”
Nathan raised a brow. “What about him?”
I shifted awkwardly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I… want your approval. Before I do anything permanent.”
A slow smile tugged at his lips. “You’re actually asking for my approval?“\
possible
www
www
way.
And
“Yes, and don’t make it weird,” I warned.\
Relief loosened the knot in my chest. “You really think so?”
He leaned back in his chair, studying me. “Well… yeah. I agree on him. He’s better than Colton in every think he’d make you happy.”
བན་དང་ ད་ད་ ་གད་ དེ་ ད་དག་ནང་དཚན་ད་ འ་ད་་ ་་་་་
“I do.” His tone softened. “But if he hurts you…”
Nathan’s eyes sharpened, his voice dropping into something deadly serious.
