Laura nodded in agreement.
âDad, donât worry.
Iâll speak with him.
â
Later at midnight, Olivia received a message from Dylan stating that he had safely arrived at his parentsâ house, accompanied by a photo.
Olivia peered at the photo beneath the covers, hesitant to respond for fear of appearing overly attached, yet she couldnât deny her deep feelings.
As she contemplated her emotions, Dylan, sensing her hesitation, called her.
His voice, soft and reassuring, floated through.
âOlivia, itâs snowing here as well.
â
âOkay,â Olivia replied succinctly.
Dylan added, envisioning future plans, âNext year at this time, letâs take Leyla here skiing- sheâll be thrilled.
â
Her response was muted, her voice hoarse, as she processed the conversation and her feelings.
Dylan was certain that Olivia had been crying, possibly due to something Edwin had said.
He understood the pressure she faced about being with him.
Being an Evans, Olivia could have found someone better.
She only chose him because of love, reaffirming his belief in her feelings.
For the first time, Dylan truly felt Oliviaâs unconditional love.
He realized there was no turning back, much like a moth drawn irresistibly to a flame.
He had once envied that fact that Raphael once possessed Oliviaâs unwavering love, but now he recognized that he had achieved the same thing long ago.
Now he regretted his decision to go abroad because how much he missed her.
However, his fatherâs broken leg required his care for a few days, necessitating his departure.
As he stood in the gently falling snow, Dylanâs voice, rough with emotion, sought to comfort her.
âOlivia, donât cry!â
âIâm not crying,â she responded, her voice steady.
A silent pause hung between them before Dylan spoke again in a tender whisper.
Only when he said the words âI love youâ did Olivia fully grasp the depth of his statement.
She remained silent, absorbing his words as he continued earnestly, âThese days, Iâve had no intention of merely being casual.
Olivia, I love you, and I want you to be my wife, just like we planned before.
â
Dylan had been faithful to her since falling in love.
He hadnât been with anyone else for years.
His commitment meant staying pure for her-a concept he only came to understand over time.
At the door, Edwin inadvertently overheard the conversation.
He quietly sighed, and walked through the dimly lit corridor, unbuttoning his coat as he moved.
Upon returning to the master bedroom, he found Laura still awake.
The room was warm and inviting, bathed in soft light.
Dressed in light cream pajamas, Laura sat on the sofa engrossed in a book.
Laura had largely set aside her career to focus on raising their two children.