Hearing his words, Erin was stunned. Regaining her composure, she spat out angrily, "Have you truly lost your mind? Are you so desperate to ruin my engagement to Aaron that you’d say anything to stop it?"
Lucian remained calm. "No. I genuinely want to marry you. I’ve realized you’re the only woman I want as my wife."
Erin let out a mocking laugh. "After rejecting me, now you want to marry me? Is this some kind of game to you? Do you think we Ahrens are so easy just because you’re now the powerful Lord in this kingdom?"
Lucian looked at her steadily before saying, "What if I regret rejecting you and now realize it was the wrong decision?"
"I don’t care," she replied without hesitation. "I’ve made my decision, and I don’t make wrong decisions. I’ve chosen to marry Aaron, and I’ll see it through. I’ll live a happy life with him."
"You won’t. I’ll make you want to marry no one but me," Lucian replied, his tone his demeanor calm as if nothing in this world could shake him, then let alone a angry words from the woman he loved.
His calm demeanor only fueled her anger, making her think he was simply stubborn and oblivious.
"And what about the woman you supposedly liked?" Erin scoffed. "Now that you’ve suddenly realized you want me as your wife, are you planning to throw her away? Or do you intend to marry both of us? Oh! It’s nothing new for a lord to have multiple women. When the lord is someone wealthy like you, hundreds of women would line to marry you. Even if you marry them all, no one would object."
Lucian held her gaze, unwavering, and replied, "The woman I said I liked, was you. I was talking about you. There won’t be hundreds of women, but you and you alone."
Erin was taken aback, momentarily lost for words. She struggled to respond and finally managed, "Lie to someone else. I’m not naive enough to fall for that." With that, she turned to walk away, not wanting to reveal how his words had unsettled her, even if just for a moment.
As she moved to step past him, Lucian grabbed her hand and gently pulled her back.
"Lucian!" she exclaimed, both startled and angry.
He pressed her lightly against the wall, trapping her between his arms that now rested on the wall behind her, though careful not to come too close. He could tell she was already at when he held her hand. He made sure to not touch her anywhere once he let go her hand.
"What do you think you’re doing?" she demanded, a mix of anger and unease flickering in her eyes.
"Don’t worry. I just want you to listen calmly," he said, his voice steady and gaze reassuring. His hands still remained trapping her.
Though she was angry, she knew he wouldn’t let her go until he said what he wanted. "Make it quick," she muttered, turning her face to look other side.
He was already close enough though he maintained a distance to not touch her anywhere. She found that closeness was affecting her.
"I meant what I said," he began. "I never thought I would feel this way about anyone or ever want to marry. It took me time to realize. I know my rejection must have hurt you, and I apologize for that. But know this: you are the only woman I will ever marry. If it isn’t you, then it will be no one."
Erin listened, feeling the edge of her anger soften. Yet, doubt lingered. How could she trust him after he’d rejected her so easily before? How could his feelings change so quickly?
Erin was left speechless. What kind of logic is this?
What kind of arrogance is this? she thought, frowning. "If you think I’m so easily swayed and quick to forgive, you’re delusional. I won’t marry you."
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