Ryan froze for a moment, then let out a quiet, almost resigned smile.

“Even if I have to wait my whole life… I won’t regret it.”

For a second, I couldn’t say a word. I looked up at him, unable to stop myself from meeting his gaze.

His eyes were deep, filled with so much tenderness that I couldn’t stop the burn behind mine. My vision blurred.

Ryan’s stubbornness softened something in me—but it also scared me.

We ...