As the words left Maya's lips, Damien's face hardened, and a moment of silence hung between them. The words she spoke stung, more than he expected.
"I didn't mean it like that," Damien began, trying to soften his tone, but she was already lost in her thoughts, her mind racing.
"I just... I don't like the idea of having kids right away. It's not something I've ever been sure about," she said, her voice trembling slightly, her eyes avoiding his.
Damien leaned forward, trying to reach her, trying to bridge the gap that had suddenly formed. "Maya, it's not about rushing things," he said softly, but his words seemed to fall flat
"Are you just planning to get me pregnant after we get married, then?" voice was sharp, cutting through the air. Her words came out before she even had the chance to stop them. The question was accusatory, but it came from a place of confusion and frustration.
Maya, unable to look at him any longer finished her dish quickly and stood up. She didn't say a word, just turned and walked away from the table. Damien stood up quickly, calling out to her. But she didn't stop.
She walked out of the restaurant, her steps hurried but composed. The waiter came to the table, handing Damien the bill.
Damien walked quickly, catching up with her as she stood next to the car, her arms crossed defensively, her back slightly turned to him. The night air felt cold, almost like a reflection of the distance now between them. He could see her shoulders tense, and he knew he had to fix this, to make her understand.
When he finally stood before her, their eyes met for a brief moment before she quickly looked away. Her face was unreadable, but the way she held herself—tightly, almost guarded—told him everything he needed to know.
"Maya," he said softly, "I'm sorry. That's not how I wanted this to go." His voice softened further, a hint of regret there. "I want to go through this journey with you. But one day I want to have a family with you."
She opened her mouth to speak, but Damien held up his hand, signalling her to let him finish. His gaze was intense now, but his voice remained steady, though firm.
"And no," he continued, his voice more resolute, "I don't plan on getting you pregnant right away. I just want you to know that I want to build a future with you. A real one. And I care about you. I care about you more than I've probably shown. But I need you to understand that I want to spend my life with you, not just... you know, rush things."
Maya felt the sincerity in his words, but it didn't erase the discomfort she felt from earlier. Her mind was still spinning, trying to process everything. He wanted a future, he cared about her, but was it enough? Was it what she truly wanted?
"Damien," she started, her voice quieter now, unsure of what to say next, but Damien cut her off again, stepping closer.
"You let me speak," he said gently, but there was a new determination in his tone. "I care about you. I care about you so much. I want to build something with you, Maya. Not just a family, but... everything. I know I made a mistake earlier. But please, give me a chance to show you who I am. I want us to have a future—together."
the questions still lingered in her mind. Did she want that future? Could she trust him, could she trust herself in this? The uncertainty felt like an anchor around her heart.
"I want to see the world," she said, her voice breaking. The words were raw as if she had carried this desire for so long, and now it was finally slipping out, unfiltered. "I've never been outside of my village. That's why I was excited to come to the city. Because I've never seen anything beyond that. It's like a dream, but…" She paused, her throat tight, and she let out a shaky breath. "It's more than that. I want to read, I want to write. I want to do something for myself, earn my own money, and have my own life. It's not that I don't want to get married…" Her voice faltered, and she wiped away a stray tear. "I… I like you too. I do. But I also want other things too.
Damien stood still, hating the tear and every shaky breath she was taking. hating himself more for not able to do anything about this. his eyes softened as he listened to her, each word coming from her as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. her voice trembled slightly, and her vulnerability hit him harder. He could see the conflict in her eyes, and for a moment, he felt like he was seeing a side of her he hadn't yet fully understood.
"Maya…" His voice was gentle, and he reached out, but she took a small step back, needing space to finish what she had started.
"I cannot do it, I am sorry."
he stood there, his mind racing as her words echoed in his head. Her voice, filled with so much honesty and pain, cut through him like a blade. He had tried to be gentle, tried to show her the life he wanted to offer, but now it seemed like everything was slipping through his fingers.
He stared at her, struggling to find the right words. There was so much he wanted to say, but the truth about him, about who he was couldn't yet be shared. If she knew—if she found out what he truly was—she would run far away from him.
But without a status, how could he make her stay? How could he make her understand that he wanted her, wanted their future together, no matter what? how could he convince her to marry him without revealing the one thing that could tear them apart forever?
his heart pounded in his chest, the urgency of his feelings for her clouding his mind.
finally, he spoke stepping closer to her "I will teach you, Maya. I will provide you with the education you need, I will give you everything you ask for. If you want to have a job, then be it. You can—no, you should work after marriage, if that's what you desire." His voice softened as he spoke, "If you want to live in the city, we will live in the city. But if you want to live in the village, I will follow you there, too."
he is true to his words, and is offering her more than just a life together; he is giving her a chance to live fully, to be herself in every way. she felt the walls she had built around herself begin to crack, her fears and doubts slowly fading in the face of his unwavering commitment.
The weight of his promise settled over them both, and for a moment, she could only look at him, her thoughts swirling.
"Really? You would give me all of that?"
It felt like she was falling into a trap, yet there was something so tempting about his offer. The freedom, the opportunity to live her own life, the chance to have a future where she was not just someone's wife but her own person.
Maybe that's why Kalindi had said yes when her late husband offered her similar promises before marriage.
she didn't know what to say. His words sounded so genuine, but part of her still questioned everything. Would he give her these things? Or was this all part of his plan to tie her to him?
The questions swirled in her mind, but one thing was clear: Damian was going to make her his. She could see that in his eyes.
His desperation was raw and unguarded. His eyes held something deeper—a genuine need to prove himself, to show her that his intentions weren't manipulative.
"I will give you everything, Maya," he said, his voice strained as if the weight of his offer was pressing on him. "But staying away from you. I'm not bluffing. I can—I can even sign an agreement with you. If I don't fulfill any of my promises, you can have part of my property…dammit, even all of my property."
His words hung in the air, and she felt the sincerity behind them. He was desperate to show her that he would keep his word.
She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "yes, Damian"
"But don't forget—if you don't keep your promises, I'll be the first to take your property and run away."
Damian chuckled softly, the tension in the air easing. "I'll make sure you never have to, Maya. You won't regret this, but-"
"But?" Maya asked, confused. Had he changed his mind?
He continued. "But remember that Maya, you can go as far as you want, but if you ever want someone else, I will kill him."
The thought came to his mind abruptly. What if she demands another man as experience? His thoughts were irrational. But what if one day she wakes up and thinks what she feels for him is maybe because she has not experienced any other man.
she asks for experience in life—what if one day she asks for another type of experience too?
Understanding dawned on Maya, and she admitted shyly, "Damian, ever since I met you, my thoughts are clouded with you. Even if there is any interested man, I could never replace you."
he became happy after hearing this and touched her cheek, making her look at him. His mate was shy. That was not the trait he liked in women, but she had him liking everything she did.
Touching her lips with his thumb, he asked permission from her. She nodded shyly, her face now fully red.