When Enrico had just been telling the Little Mermaid story, he had seemed rather stiff, but now, as the schr bows before the heavens, he does it with an effortless grace.


    Paige didn’t say anything, but Enrico urged her, “Move your left hand, bow to the heavens, hurry.”


    “…”


    Quite knowledgeable.


    Paige smiled helplessly and maneuvered the lever, making the princess bow her head.


    On the small screen, it was as if a vast disy of colors burst forth. Under the setting sun, with a grand red wedding procession, the elegant and beautiful princess stood opposite the confident schr.


    “Husband and wife bow to each other,” Enrico said again, fully absorbed in the performance.


    “Isn’t it supposed to be a bow to the parents first?” Paige asked in confusion.


    “We don’t have any parents to bow to,” Enrico responded casually, urging her again, “You stopped again,e on, bow already.”


    Though they were just ying with shadow puppets, somehow, it turned into a discussion of their ownck of parents.


    Paige sat there, staring at the curve of Enrico’s lips, her gaze deepened, and she looked back at the screen.


    The two of them each held a figure.


    On the screen, the two small characters smiled at each other, bowing their heads, standing closely under the warm glow of the light.


    Paige quietly observed, and after a long time, she heard herself say,


    “Enrico, let’s get married.”


    “tter-”


    The schr figure on the screen instantly dropped to his knees.


    Enrico turned his face, staring directly at her with his sharp, narrow eyes, which were filled with turbulent emotions. “What did you just say?”


    “…”


    Meeting his gaze, Paige finally realized what she had just said.


    But she didn’t regret it.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    She looked deeply into his eyes, and spoke each word with utmost seriousness, “All these years, I’ve watched people around me leave, one by one. With each departure, I regret not having said what I truly wanted to say to them.”


    “…”


    “No matter which one of us leaves first in the future, I don’t want to have that kind of regret with you.” She spoke with her pale lips, “I don’t want to… lose you.”


    Hearing this, Enrico’s breath hitched. He tossed aside the puppet lever and grabbed her by the nape of her neck, lowering his head to im her lips in a kiss.


    Her lips were dry, even a bit chapped, yet to him, they still held the best taste in the world. He wasn’t satisfied with just that. His breathing grew heavier, as though he wanted to push her down on the hospital bed right then and there for their wedding night.


    How could she be so irresistible!


    “Mm…” Paige let out a soft moan as the kiss left her breathless.


    Thinking she was in pain, Enrico immediately let go of her, resting his forehead against hers, breathing heavily like he had just been pulled from the depths of the sea.


    In the next moment, he kissed her lips again, this time more gently. He trailed his kisses down from her lips to the corner of her mouth, her chin, and slowly, to her neck, avoiding the bandaged areas and kissing the pulse of her throat…


    “…”


    Paige tilted her head back, letting him kiss her.


    His kisses, always heavy with desire, felt like a current of electricity coursing through her body, sending shivers down her spine.


    In the silent hospital room, with dim lighting, she felt herself melt beneath his touch, their breathing the only sound in the room.


    When the first button of her hospital gown was bitten off by him, Enrico finally stopped. He rested against her shoulder and cursed softly, “Couldn’t you have said that two dayster?”


    Why now, of all times?


    Paige thought he was referring to the marriage, so she exined, “I didn’t mean right now. Let’s wait until my identity is restored.”


    She wanted to marry him with her full, rightful identity.


    Upon hearing this, Enrico jerked his head up, his expression as though he had just been doused with cold water. “Not today?”


    Paige was caught off guard andughed, “Of course not today. How could we get married today? I’m still in the hospital. Do you n to move the registrar’s office here?”


    “I could get it here in an hour.”


    It wasn’t a problem.


    “…”


    Alright, she had underestimated him.


    Paige remained silent for a few seconds before saying, “It’s definitely not the right time now. Let’s wait a little while.”


    “…”


    Enrico red at her, his face dark.


    Paige hadn’t expected that he truly thought they were getting married today. She didn’t know what to feel. She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on his lips, “Don’t be mad.”


    “I’m not mad. Should I be happy now?” Enrico said with a sour face.


    “I proposed to you. Shouldn’t you be happy?” Paige asked back.


    “…”


    Master of sophistry.


    Enrico had nothing to say for a while. After a moment, he grudgingly looked at her, “You call that a proposal? I brought out the shadow puppet set, and you just said a sentence. That’s it?”


    Paige thought for a moment, “True, it wasn’t very formal. Alright, forget I said anything.”


    She was promptly pushed down onto the bed. Enrico’s movements were gentle, but the look on his face was fierce, as if he was about to devour her, “Paige, are you trying to drive me crazy?”


    Paigey on the bed, looking up at him. After a long pause, she said, “Enrico, I’ve thought it over.”


    “You’ve thought it over, and you’re acting like you didn’t say anything?”


    He felt like strangling her.


    “Three years ago, when we separated, I realized I couldn’t let you go. I don’t want to let you go again.”


    She lifted her eyes and looked deeply into his furious gaze. “I’m serious about not sinking into despair. I’m serious about wanting to marry you.”


    “…”


    The fierceness in Enrico’s eyes gradually faded.


    He looked down at her, staring as though seeing her for the first time. After a long moment, he gritted his teeth and said, “Why are you suddenly saying all these sweet things now?”


    “Don’t you like hearing them?” Paige asked.


    She had just be more honest with herself. She didn’t want to have any more regrets.


    “I can’t do anything about them right now. It’s even more frustrating.” Enrico was just as honest.


    “…”


    Paige fell silent.


    “Remember what you said today. If you ever go back on your word, I’ll break your legs!” Enrico threatened.


    Paige looked at him, “Speaking of legs, it reminds me of some unpleasant memories.”


    Enrico’s face froze for a moment before he rolled over to lie next to her. “Let’s go back to talking about your proposal.”


    “…”


    Paige chuckled, lying there staring at the ceiling. Suddenly, she felt as if she were slowly climbing out of a suffocating hell of entangling vines.


    She could make it out. She could stand again.


    Stand tall and keep walking forward.


    …


    Soon, Paige was able to get out of bed and asionally leave the hospital room for a little walk.


    Her range of movement wasn’t wide-just the corridor and the room. Enrico only allowed her to walk that much, as if taking a few more steps might cause her legs to break.


    Paige stood by the window in the hallway, pressing one hand on her shoulder as she slowly rotated her body, trying to stretch her stiff muscles.


    Her phone vibrated.


    She pulled it out to see that Kevin was calling. Paige answered the call, cing the phone on the windowsill and turning on speaker mode while she continued her stretches in the empty hallway.