The drive was silent, save for the hum of the car’s engine. Justin didn’t speak to Stella, giving her time to think. But the silence only made her more restless. As she looked out the window at the passing streetlights, the scenery blurred together, and her thoughts began to cloud. She couldn’t see the future ahead of her, nor could she bear to look back at the past.
She closed her eyes, overwhelmed with confusion. When the car finally stopped, she realized they had arrived at her apartment.
Unbuckling her seatbelt, she started to get out of the car. But before she could move, Justin spoke up. “Wait.”
She stopped and looked at him. His gaze was unreadable, but she caught a brief flicker in his eyes. Without another word, he leaned over, his hand lightly brushing her coat as he unbuckled her seatbelt. It was a simple gesture, yet the tension between them grew thicker.
At first, Stella wanted to push his hand away. But as the seconds passed, she relaxed, letting her hands fall to her sides and closing her eyes.
She had been thinking about what he had said earlier. It had seemed absurd at first—too far-fetched to even consider. But now, as she thought about it again—about Weston’s relentless pursuit of her and the idea of a simple, business-like arrangement—it suddenly didn’t seem so impossible.
After all, as Justin had pointed out, being together could put an end to Weston’s interference. And for both of them, there would be mutual benefits.
She felt her attitude softening. Her thoughts were still tangled, but she couldn’t deny that Justin’s proposal had a certain practicality to it. As her heart began to accept the possibility, she noticed that Justin’s gaze softened, too. He seemed to sense the change in her and, without another word, followed her to the lobby of her apartment.
Though her building wasn’t the most luxurious, it was safe enough. Still, as they walked through the dim hallways, Justin couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t the best place for a woman to be living alone.
He had never thought much about it before, but now that he did, it didn’t sit well with him.
When they reached her door, Justin stopped and turned to her. His tone was serious as he asked, “When can you find time to register our marriage?”
Stella, taken aback by his bluntness, nearly choked. She flushed, feeling the weight of his question. “So soon?”
“It’s not too soon.” He paused briefly, then pushed the rusty door open, allowing her to go inside first. As she stepped through, he quietly closed the door behind her.
“Weston has gone to Ahn City for a while. It might be more difficult to do this once he’s back.”
The mention of Weston made Stella’s heart drop. Immediately, her eyes darkened, and a cold shiver ran through her. Justin noticed the change in her expression and, feeling something stir within him, stepped closer. He gently took her hand in his.
“If you’re willing to trust me, I promise I’ll give you everything you need after we marry. Whether or not you return my feelings, I’ll be a responsible husband. I won’t force you into anything, and I’ll respect your wishes. As long as we stay loyal to this marriage, I believe we can build something real—a partnership based on mutual support and honesty.”
His words, said with such sincerity, made her heart flutter. She couldn’t deny that she was moved.
This was what she had always longed for—someone who would treat her with respect, who would be a real partner.
She had once loved Weston, believing that, with time, he would choose her. But she had been wrong. Weston was never fully hers, and after everything that had happened, her love for him had faded. She realized now that she might never be able to love so intensely again.
But the idea of a calm, honest life—a life with a man who understood the importance of respect and loyalty—was still appealing. And perhaps, just perhaps, it was time for her to consider this new path with Justin.
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