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Christian’s gaze swept over her home, drinking in every little detail. His eyes lingered on the tiny couch, the soft, worn blanket draped over its arm. The papers scattered over the table, some crumpled, some neatly stacked. The small rain-themed photographs pinned beside the nightstand—moments frozen in time, quiet and melancholic.
The place was small, intimate—just enough for one, maybe two people. It was warm, but it wasn’t homey in the way a family house was. It was… lonely.
Just like her.
Trailing behind her, Christian walked toward the single bedroom, glancing at the compact kitchen before following her inside. His footsteps were unhurried.
Inside the room, when she stopped, he walked ahead and sat on her bed. The mattress dipped slightly beneath his weight, the queen-sized bed feeling softer than he expected.
His fingers curled slightly against the fabric.
"Ivy," he called her name, drawing her attention back to him.
She turned toward him, meeting his gaze.
He looked up at her, his expression unreadable. “Will you marry me?”
Ivy’s eyes widened, her breath catching for a split second. She stared at him, lips parted, but no words came out. Shock flashed across her face.
Christian didn’t look away.
For a long second, the room was suffocatingly silent.
Then, Ivy’s gaze dropped. She turned her head away, exhaling quietly.
But she didn’t answer. She simply turned her gaze away.
Christian let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. A forced smile tugged at his lips. “Don’t worry,” he murmured, his voice gentle. “I’ll leave first thing in the morning, right after you wake up. I promise."
Ivy gave him a brief nod and left the room. A few minutes later, she returned with a folded mattress and a blanket. Without a word, she laid the mattress beside the bed, and placed a pillow on top.
"You can sleep here," she told him, holding out the blanket.
Christian took it immediately, a small smile breaking across his face.
She turned off the light and got into bed, pulling the covers over herself.
Christian lay down on the mattress, facing her bed. As he brought the blanket up to his face, her scent filled his senses. His grip on the fabric tightened slightly, his expression softening. Surrounded by her presence, his tense body gradually relaxed, and eventually, he drifted off to sleep.
When Ivy woke the next morning, her mind instantly recalled Christian’s presence. Still drowsy, she turned her head, expecting to see him still asleep.
Instead, the mattress was empty. The blanket had been neatly folded and placed over the pillow.
No Christian.
She pushed the covers off and slipped out of bed, her bare feet meeting the cool floor. Without rushing, she walked out, her gaze drifting toward the kitchen.
And then her eyes landed on him.
Christian stood by the stove, his sleeves rolled up, effortlessly flipping something in the pan. The soft morning light filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow over him. The disheswere already washed and neatly arranged, the table set with a full breakfast.
He lifted his head, as if sensing her presence before even seeing her. His gaze met hers.
Chapter 13 I’m saying yes
“Brush your teeth and come eat,” he said, his voice steady but carrying a quiet warmth. “I’ll set everything up.”
Ivy’s eyes swept over the spread on the table. It wasn’t just a simple breakfast of eggs and toast—he had made sandwiches, cut up fresh fruit, cooked bacon—an entire spread, as if he had carefully planned it. The sight of it momentarily stunned her.