章節 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."