Chapter 259: The debts
Ava stood frozen, her mind a whirlpool of bittersweet memories and unhealed wounds. Her hand instinctively drifted to her abdomen, the phantom ache of loss washing over her as she remembered the child she had never met. The weight of that grief mingled with the fear of reopening her heart, a fear that had kept her guarded all this time.
She wasn’t ready to accept his proposal, not yet.
Dylan’s heart shook as the silence stretched. "Ava, I know I’ve failed you before. But I swear to you, I’ve changed. I’ve learned from my mistakes."
His desperation was evident now. "I promise, I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life. I’ll be the man you deserve, the partner you’ve always needed. Will you – will you trust me back? I really love you."
Ava blinked through her tears. "I’m not ready for a marriage," she managed, her throat tightening. "I need time."
Dylan stood frozen, the words hitting him like a cold wind. He couldn’t find his voice for a moment, disappointment coiling tightly around his heart. But then he forced himself to breathe, reminding himself that Ava had given him a chance to pursue her. She wasn’t shutting the door completely, and that sliver of hope was enough for him to hold on.
’One step at a time,’ he thought. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he closed the ring box and slipped it back into his pocket. He mustered a smile despite the ache in his heart.
"That’s okay," he said softly. "There is no rush. Take all the time you need."
Ava turned away, brushing the tears from her cheeks as she tried to compose herself. Dylan looked around with uneasiness, his own emotions squeezing his chest.