The kiss deepened.
Something desperate burned underneath it, like he had been holding back for too long and finally lost control of it all at once.
Amara’s breath turned uneven as she struggled against him, her palms still pressed to his chest, but he didn’t budge.
Only when her resistance grew firmer did his hold finally hesitate—just for a second—his breathing rough, his forehead almost brushing hers as if he was trying to steady himself after crossing a line he shouldn’t have.
And even then, he didn’t fully let go.
She immediately shoved at his shoulders.
“Elias!”
But before she could continue yelling at him, he suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her.
Amara froze.
His arms wrapped around her waist again, his forehead pressing against her stomach as he held her tightly.
Then, in a low, hoarse voice, he whispered,
“Let’s get married.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She stared down at him like she had completely lost the ability to process what was happening.
“…What?”
Elias tightened his hold around her.
“Marry me, Amara.”
She let out a breathless laugh of disbelief and stepped back slightly, trying to pull away from him.
“Are you joking right now?”
“I’m not joking.”
“Elias, leave me alone.”
She grabbed his shoulders and tried pushing him away, but he refused to let go.
Then he slowly lifted his head and looked up at her.
His eyes were red.
“Zoe came out of the coma.”
He told her everything Zoe had said about the night of the accident, and with every word, the shock on Amara’s face deepened.
Her lips slowly parted as she stared at him in disbelief.
“You… were going to propose to me back then?”
The surprise in her voice was impossible to hide.
Elias stayed silent for a moment, his arms still wrapped tightly around her waist, his face buried against her stomach.
