Chapter 112: My Being

"What are you insinuating?" Eve responded, her voice laced with feigned innocence. She narrowed her eyes, locking her gaze with his. "Isn't it rather audacious of you to make such a proposition without placing a ring on my finger?" She bantered a hint of playful challenge in her words.

Maximilian couldn't hide his surprise, his expression betraying his astonishment. "I didn't think you were one for tradition," he admitted, his eyes studying her intently.

Eve's frown deepened. She wasn't particularly traditional, especially not in her past experiences. However, there was a part of her that yearned for the security and commitment that came with marriage. She pressed her lips together, sending him a challenging gaze.