She wondered if being braver, accepting her difficult past, ignoring judgmental stares, and simply being kind to him would make her worthy of Marcus.

Melissa felt a deep sense of emotion.

She probably harbored feelings for Marcus for quite some time, yet the thought of them being together had always seemed out of reach.

She pondered if her kindness could bring joy to Marcus.

To her, his happiness mattered above all else.

Melissa even considered enduring her least favorite food, carrots, every day if it meant his happiness.

Tears unknowingly filled her eyes, and her lips quivered.

Softly, she began, "Marcus, we... We..."

Marcus, resting against the bed's headboard, watched her in silence.

She was undressed under the sheet, but despite their recent intimacy, they appeared composed.

He caressed her hair tenderly, and then her face, and finally, her hand. The touch seemed to ease the pain from her wounded hand.

This kind of gentle touch was new to them.

He had never expressed his love verbally before, and their previous physical encounters were mostly driven by desire. But now, his touch was filled with warmth and affection.

He found he liked this tenderness very much.

Marcus refrained from asking about Ryan, his pride evident in his silence.

He was convinced Melissa's affections were for him, and he chose to forgive her.

Determined to never bring up that disappointing name again, he resolved to avoid causing her any unhappiness, even in future arguments. His desire for her was clear.

He wanted her to lead a carefree life.

Marcus's wish was to look after Melissa, to ensure she had no worries. Her days should be simple, deciding what to cook and enjoying leisurely shopping trips, though he hoped she would spend most of her time with him.

He enjoyed her company immensely.