Standing next to him, she barely reached his shoulder, her stature probably not exceeding 5.2 feet.

That morning, as he held her beneath him, she seemed to sink into the softness of the bed, light as a feather.

A flicker of desire crossed Marcus' eyes, but he refrained from pursuing it further.

Instead, he led her to the dining room, where a lot of food awaited, including even a bottle of red wine, suggesting a celebratory mood.

Melissa, accustomed to attending to Marcus during meals, gently pushed a plate with tenderly cut steak towards him.

Marcus speared a small piece of steak and offered it to her, saying, “Back then, I was just joking with you, asking you cut my steak and everything. But now everything's out in the open, how could I possibly still be harsh to you?"

Her voice low, she responded, “I haven't made up my mind yet."

Marcus replied with a smile, "Then, take all the time you need."

Noticing the box of antipyretics, Melissa softly asked if he needed one. After a brief pause and a smile, he declined. With her presence, he felt no need for medicine.

He caressed her head, stating, "This afternoon, I'll have Sylvia arrange your resignation. Please, stay with me."

Marcus planned to take Melissa back to Duefron.

However, spending a few more days in Warsew also seemed appealing, a brief respite from his father's constant reminders and the distractions of everyday Life.

Melissa raised her eyes to meet his gaze.

Marcus, wearing a smile, said earnestly, "I mean it."

He paused, reflecting, and then added, "You've been with me for more than a year. By now, you should understand who I am. I don't waste time on things or people that don't matter. What I want, I go after.

I'll only commit to you if I'm certain we're a perfect match. And yes, marriage is in consideration, unless something changes or if you're no longer on board.”

Melissa looked down, focusing on her steak. After a moment, she murmured softly, “Isn't this moving too quickly?"

“Too quickly? I don't see it that way." His words carried a hint of playfulness.

A blush crept over Melissa's cheeks as she clarified, “I'm not talking about that."

"Then what?"