<h4>Chapter 351: Marry</h4>


    "I want to go back to my parents."


    Cadence froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. The casual tone in which she’d said it didn’t fool him. Slowly, he set the fork down on the te and turned his gaze toward her.


    "No," he said simply.


    "Why not?" Mnie pressed, keeping her voice as steady as she could even as her hands clenched under the table. "All I’m asking is that you let me go back to them. I don’t want to be imprisoned here. Even if it’s just for a short visit... even if you let me go back and see them just once- You cannot seriously be jealous of my parents."


    "They’ll keep you away from me and..." His tone hadn’t changed, but there was something darker beneath it. As if he already knew this for sure. She could already hear the finality in his voice before he even finished the sentence. "I cannot. I will not let you go this time, Melody. Last time letting you go was enough. I agreed, then, didn’t I? But not this time!"


    Mnie clenched her fists in frustration, her nails digging into her palms. Dr. Jung- that bastard had nned out every damn thing once she was off the ind, but the fool had not thought about what to do with this biggest obstacle. He hadn’t told her how to convince this man. How to get through to him.


    "Why would they keep me away?" she asked, forcing herself to keep calm. "They want me to be happy and..."


    "You’re the one who said it," Cadence replied and shrugged like it was obvious. "You told me your parents are old-fashioned. You said they wouldn’t understand, that they’d pull you away from me. No, no, no... I can’t risk that, Melody. I won’t let you go away.""


    Mnie frowned slightly. Why would Melody have told him something like that? Why nt that fear in someone already obsessed with her? Still, she couldn’t afford to dwell on that now. She needed to think, and quickly.


    She forced a small smile and tried again. "That’s because we’re not married," she said gently. "They wouldn’t approve of anything less. But that doesn’t mean they’d disapprove of you. I just... I don’t want to marry without their blessings. I want to go back and tell them about you."


    Then, she paused, her eyes narrowing as she tilted her head slightly, testing a different route.


    "Or is it that you don’t intend to marry me? Is that it? You don’t n to marry me at all? I am here just for your amusement."


    She watched him carefully. His reaction was immediate.


    Cadence’s eyes widened, and for the first time in their conversation, she saw something close to panic flicker in his expression. Her stomach sank.


    Had she gone too far? Said the wrong thing? With someone so obsessed, shouldn’t he be relieved that she was willing to tie her name to his? In the next moment, he abruptly dropped the cutlery, the tter sharp in the silence, and scrambled around the table toward her. Mnie’s breath hitched. She stood up halfway, bracing herself for impact, ready to defend herself if he raised a hand—but instead, Cadence threw his arms around her, pulling her into a crushing hug.


    She gasped, caught off guard, and immediately began to push against his chest. But he was speaking again in a voice trembling with emotion.


    "You want to marry me," he whispered, his voice thick with wonder. "You really want to marry me but won’t even hug me? Melody, I’m so happy! You have no idea. Thank you. Thank you for epting me. Thank you so much..."


    He held her tightly, like he didn’t want to ever let go. Mnie hesitated, then gave his back a quick, awkward pat, just enough to keep up the act before firmly pushing against his chest again.


    Reluctantly, he pulled away. But before she could take a breath of relief, Cadence’s hands found her neck, and he leaned in toward her, his gaze on her lips, clearly aiming to kiss her.


    Mnie cursed under her breath. <i>Damn it.</i> How was she supposed to avoid this?


    Thinking quickly, she lifted her hand and ced it firmly over his lips, stopping him just in time. She let his lips press into her palm instead, forcing her voice to sound soft but firm as she leaned away from him.


    "Is that all I am to you?" she whispered, shaking her head. "I won’t kiss you. Not until we’re married."


    He paused, and then she felt his smile against her palm as if pleased with her answer.


    Cadence caught her wrist gently and turned her hand, brushing a soft kiss into the center of her palm.


    "If that’s what you want," he murmured, "then I’ll call an officiant right now. Today. We can get married tonight, and then"


    "No!" Mnie blurted out, panic shooting through her voice as Cadence began to turn away, already reaching for his phone or whatever he thought he needed to bring an officiant here.


    She stepped in front of him quickly, trying to cover the desperation in her voice with something more measured. "Not like this," she said, catching his arm. "Please. Not... not in a rush. I want it to be right. I want to wear something proper. I want to... to be able to talk to my parents first. Just once. Just to tell them."


    Cadence hesitated, and she could see the conflict brewing in his eyes. He wanted this too much.


    She cupped his face and said," Cadence. I want my parents to bless us. So that they don’t worry."


    "But... will they ept me? I kidnapped you... What kind of parents woudl approve..."


    Mnie smiled up at him then," We won’t tell them, then. I’ll tell them that you saved me from the kidnappers and kept me with you because I lost my memory. And now, we are madly in love each other and want to marry."


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