"What are you trying to say?" Zachary pressed a hand against the wall, effectively


    trapping Sophia in front of him.


    "Sophia, look at me. I know what you''re afraid of. I know your past-every


    struggle, and every hardship. You went through it all with me by your side.


    "I understand your pain better than anyone. I ache for you more than anyone else


    ever could. I want to protect you, to cherish you. Give me a chance, please.


    "If there''s even a little bit of affection, even the smallest flicker of feeling for me in


    your heart, then give me this chance. Give yourself a chance too. Alright?"


    His intense and unwavering gaze burned into hers. "We''ve known each other for


    years. I won''t make empty promises, and I won''t swear on things that don''t matter.


    I''ll prove myself with my actions.


    "My feelings for you are real. I want to take care of you, to be with you, and to


    never leave your side.


    "Sophia, take a gamble. Onest time.


    "I won''t let you hurt again. Trust me."


    His gaze was too intense, and his presence was too overwhelming. Even though


    there was still a distance between them, Sophia felt like there was nowhere left to


    run.


    He had been with her for so many years. He knew all of her pain and her secrets.


    People said thatpanionship was the longest confession of love. In all these


    years, he never had another woman by his side.


    Even as a doctor, she was the only patient he ever truly cared for.


    "Sophia, can you be a little braver?" He leaned in slightly and said in a coaxing


    "voice, "You just need to answer me honestly. Do you have even a little bit of love


    for me?


    "You don''t have to do much. Just stand where you are and wait for me toe to


    you. Just take one step toward me after I''ve taken 99 steps toward you."


    Sophia''s heartbeat quickened uncontrobly, and her mind suddenly went nk.


    She couldn''t think at all.


    How long had she known about Zachary''s feelings?


    She couldn''t remember. She only knew that whenever she was hurting, she


    always went to him.


    Sometimes, she wouldn''t even say anything. She''d just sit in his office, silently


    crying while pouring out the sorrow and struggles she couldn''t tell anyone else.


    And Zachary would patiently sit with her, listening-never rushing, never judging.


    He knew all her secrets, yet he always treated her with kindness and warmth. In


    her hardest times, he was always the one by her side.


    She pressed a hand against her chest, searching for an answer. Did she truly


    have no feelings for him at all?


    No.


    She did.


    She was just too scared.


    "Sophia, be brave," he said gently.


    He reached out and took her hand in his. His palm wasrge,pletely


    enveloping hers. "Sophia, if you can honestly tell me that you don''t have even the


    slightest bit of love for me, I''ll walk away and never bother you again.


    "But I need to hear the truth. Can you do that for me?"


    His hand was warm, but the heat of his grip made her shiver. She couldn''t bring


    herself to look up, but she could feel his presence clearly, surrounding her.


    "Sophia, look at me."


    His voice was deep and gentle. "Don''t look away. Look at me and tell me your


    answer."


    "My mom told us to buy groceries," she finally whispered in a barely audible voice.


    Her face was burning, and her heart was racing. "If we don''t leave now, we won''t


    make it in time."


    "There''s already food in the kitchen. I


    stocked it this morning." He


    chuckled softly. "Ms. ir overheard


    me saying I was your boyfriend, She


    saw that you wanted to say


    something to me but hesitated. She


    sent us out on purpose to give us


    time alone.


    "Sophia, I don''t want to wait anymore. If I don''t say it now, you''ll just keep


    pretending you don''t know.


    "Ask yourself. Do you want to be with me?"


    Her eyes burned, and her vision blurred with unshed tears.


    She wanted to, but did she deserve to?


    Zachary didn''t care about her past, but what about his family?


    "If you''re worried about my parents, you don''t have to be." He seemed to have


    read her mind. "They''ve known about my feelings for you for a long time.


    "They also know you were once engaged to Sky. They even warned me not to


    interfere that I shouldn''t be the third party in your rtionship. So, I approached


    you as your therapist instead."


    "When... When did you start liking me?" She gathered her courage and looked up


    at him with red eyes. "I''m not a good person at all. I don''t deserve you."


    "There''s no such thing as ''deserving'' in love. There''s only who you love," he said,


    cupping her face gently. "If you want to know when I fell for you, it was back in


    high school.


    "You were wearing a blue floral


    dress, standing outside the school


    walls, rescuing a stray cat. You were


    so scared, but you picked it up


    anyway because it was pregnant


    and about to give birth.


    "After that, I started watching you in secret. You made a little shelter for the cat,


    brought it food every day, and when it gave birth, you tried to find homes for the


    kittens.


    "But none of the kittens got adopted." His voice turned icy. "Because Ruby found


    them first. She poisoned the food, killing both the cat and her babies.


    "I found out toote. When I got there, you were already fighting her and the


    people she brought with her."


    "So... it was you who saved me that day?" Sophia''s voice trembled. "But why did


    Sky show up instead?"


    "I called him," Zachary admitted in a


    tone tinged with bitterness. "We all


    knew about your engagement. I was


    afraid that if I stepped in, it would


    cause trouble for you. If anyone else


    misunderstood, it wouldn''t matter to


    me-I could take it. But not you."


    She looked at his eyes, which were unwavering and filled with warmth and


    sincerity.


    He looked at her like he was showing her his heart-open, raw, andpletely


    hers.


    "Sophia, I''ve always known how I felt about you." His voice was steady, filled with


    quiet conviction. "But are you clear of your own feelings?"


    She looked into his eyes. After a long silence, she slowly reached up, wrapping


    her arms around his neck.


    He pulled her into his embrace and held her tightly against him.


    He had waited for this moment for so many years.


    From the first time he saw her until now, exactly nine years had passed.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!