?Chapter 1690:


    “Lucas, I—” Belinda started, her voice faltering, but Lucas cut her off.


    “Is it because you still don’t fully trust me? Have you never even thought about us getting remarried?” he asked, his voice low and rough with emotion.


    “No, that’s not it at all!” Belinda rushed to reassure him, her words tumbling out. She bit her lip for a moment, her expression clouded withplexity. “Lucas, this isn’t about you. It’s me.”


    Her gaze grew distant, heavy with memories. “I’m just not ready yet.” The wounds from her past still lingered, raw and unhealed. Despite the joy she found with Lucas now, the mere mention of marriage sent a shiver of fear through her, a reflex she couldn’t control.


    She loved him deeply and trusted that he had changed, that he would never hurt her again, but a quiet, stubborn doubt clung to her heart.


    Her eyes softened with a plea when she looked at Lucas. “Please, Lucas, just give me a bit more time, okay?”<fnf6e0> Original content can be found at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnf6e0>


    Lucas sighed, his shoulders slumping. “It’s my fault,” he said quietly, a bitter smile crossing his face. “I hurt you so much before. I left those scars, and now you’re afraid of marriage because of me. It’s all on me.”


    Without another word, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “Belinda, I won’t pressure you anymore. I’ll wait however long you need. When you’re ready, when marriage doesn’t scare you anymore, we’ll take that step. Is that okay?”


    Belinda hugged him back as she nodded. “Okay.”


    They stayed like that for a moment, clinging to each other. Then Belinda’s voice broke the silence, soft andced with guilt. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I know I disappointed you with my reaction.”


    Her heart ached; she knew her hesitation had wounded Lucas. The sadness in his eyes lingered in her mind.


    “No, it’s on me,” Lucas replied, his voice thick with emotion. “I promised I would wait for you from the start, but I keep wanting to take the next step. Bringing up marriage again… it just added more pressure on you.”


    Belinda didn’t say anything more. A heavy tension settled between them.


    After a while, they showered and climbed into bed. With a soft click, Lucas turned off the room’s light, enveloping the space in darkness.


    Lying there, Belinda felt a suffocating pressure on her chest, her breaths shallow. She couldn’t shake the urge to do something to mend the rift between them.


    Turning to face Lucas, she steadied herself with a deep breath. “Lucas,” she whispered, her voice soft but resolute, “I want you…”


    Kylee’s gaze flicked toward Car, a subtle instinct guiding her movement. She pressed her lips together for a moment, her fingers brushing the edge of her phone. “Mom, I need to step out for a quick call from a friend.”


    “Alright,” Car murmured, nodding slightly.


    Rising from her chair, Kylee slipped out into the hallway, the door of the SVIP infusion room shutting behind her. The cool air of the hospital corridor brushed her skin as she tapped her phone to answer the call.


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