In the intimate confines of the backyard, Francisco's words hung heavy in the air as he locked his gaze onto Lilith.

"He told me to marry you," he admitted, his tone devoid of evasion.

Lilith, caught off guard, felt a sudden rush of heat in her cheeks.

The straightforward revelation left her momentarily speechless, her lips pressed together in a futile attempt to conceal her emotions. The playfulness that had characterized their interaction took a sharp turn into unfamiliar ...