Lina's heart was pounding so loudly she was sure Adrian could hear it.
The park was quiet, the breeze gentle, the water still — as if the whole world were waiting only for her answer.
Adrian remained there, steady, unmoving, his eyes locked on her with an intensity that felt almost physical. There was no rush in his expression… but there was expectation. And something deeper, almost hidden.
"Lina," he repeated, his voice low. "Your decision."
She took a deep breath, the cold air burning her lungs.
Part of her screamed that it was madness.
Another part… the part carrying years of pain, exhaustion, humiliation, and crushed dreams… whispered that maybe this was her only chance to change everything.
She thought about her family.
Her ex.
The auditions that never worked out.
The weight of always being alone.
And then, she thought about Adrian.
The way he spoke to her mother.
The way he treated her — not with affection, but with respect.
His firmness, his protection, his promise of stability.
The look that said that, strange as it was, he needed her.
Lina felt something inside her give way.
Not out of passion.
Not out of impulse.
But out of choice.
"Adrian…" she began, her voice trembling. "I… I accept talking. I accept… trying. But…" — she lifted her gaze, now steady — "I can only agree to the marriage if… if there are rules."
He blinked once.
"Rules?"
"Yes." She drew in a breath. "You're very… you. I can't just walk into your life and become a shadow. So… we need to establish a few things."
The corner of his mouth almost curved, as if he were proud of her courage.
"I'm listening."
Lina raised one finger.
"First: I want… to keep my independence. I want to keep working… for now."
Adrian stared at her for a few seconds.
"Accepted."
She blinked, surprised at how fast that came.
"Second: I don't want you interfering in my acting auditions. You can open doors… but I want to walk through them on my own."
"Done," he said instantly.
Lina began to feel thrown off.
"And… third…" she murmured, hesitating. "I want… time. To trust you. To understand you. No pressure. No… things happening too fast."
Adrian went silent for a few seconds.
Long seconds.
Then finally, he tilted his head.
"That's reasonable. I can agree to that."
Lina almost collapsed in relief.
"And… lastly," she added, voice firmer now, "I'm not an object. I'm not a medical solution. I don't want to be treated as… your property."
This time, Adrian lifted his chin, looking at her with a different intensity.
More serious.
Deeper.
"Lina." He said her name as if it mattered. "I would never treat you that way."
Her heart skipped a beat.
She believed him.
For the first time, she truly believed him.
"So…" Adrian said, leaning closer. "Can I take this as a 'yes'?"
Lina felt the whole world shrink until it fit between them.
She swallowed hard.
And finally said:
"Yes… I accept."
Adrian didn't say anything for a few seconds.
He simply looked at her… as if memorizing that moment.
That answer.
That woman.
Then he stood, extended his hand to her, and said with a voice both firmer and gentler than she had ever heard from him:
"Then come. From today on, you are no longer alone."
Lina looked at his hand.
Hesitated.
And placed hers in his.
The first crack in their fate had opened — and together, they were about to cross it.