Louis took a deep breath and looked at her, his blue eyes filled with tenderness. He held her hands gently, and Cordelia winced at the warmth of his touch. As she melted in his gaze, she relaxed, waiting for him to speak.
"I love you, Cordelia. No one else, only you. I've hurt you the most, and it might be hypocritical to say that I've loved you all my life, but that is the truth," he said, his voice soft but resolute.
Louis gently rubbed the back of her hands with his thumbs, his touch both comforting and assuring. "Cordelia, you deserve to be treated with the utmost respect. You will stand by my side as my wife," he continued, his eyes unwaveringly focused on her. "I want you to be careful from now on. Once I secure your position, I don't care about what you do, as long as you continue to love me the same."
Cordelia's eyes filled with tears, this time out of happiness. She covered her mouth with her hands and leaned on his shoulder. "You mean it?"
