Thalassa had been ready to fight, but at the sound of the familiar voice, accompanied by the familiar scent of cologne she knew all too well, her defenses crumbled.

"Thalassa, it's me," Kris whispered softly into her ear, his warm breath grazing her skin.

"Kris," she breathed, her heart suddenly racing at his closeness. Kris slowly released her, allowing her to turn and face him.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded, wondering why she had calmed down the moment she realized it was him. She was supposed to be angry at his invasion, but her voice lacked the anger she wanted to show.

"I went to Zeke's house this morning," Kris began, "only to be told you'd already returned to Baltimore. I thought you would stay in New York longer."

Though the lights were off, the moonlight was enough for her to see the curiosity in his eyes. "Why did you go there in the first place?"

Thalassa grimaced, raising a brow. "Did you come here to interrogate me?"

Kris shook his head quickly, taking a deep breath. "No. I came because I missed you like hell, and I needed to see you."

Her heart gave a painful thud at his words, but she pushed the feeling away, stepping back as he tried to move closer. "How did you even get in?" she asked coldly, eyeing him with suspicion.

Kris's lips curved into a small smile. "How do you think I snuck in the first time I came here?"

When her gaze flickered to his shoulder, Kris chuckled softly. "No, I'm not that reckless. Climbing up with my still-healing shoulder would be impossible. I used the backyard this time." He winked. "Perks of living here for a few days. I know all the ways in." "Well, you don't live here anymore," she reminded him stiffly, "so this is trespassing."

Kris took a step closer, his eyes locked on hers. "Is it?" he asked, his voice dropping lower. "Then why aren't you calling security to kick me out?"

Thalassa clenched her jaw, averting her gaze. "Because I'm not interested in causing a scene,"

Kris smiled as he closed the gap between them. Gently, he placed his hand on her waist, his fingers brushing against her skin through the thin fabric of her dress.

"Liar," he murmured, his voice soft but certain. "You're not calling them...because you want me here."

Thalassa's breath hitched, her voice shaky despite her efforts to stay composed. "You shouldn't be here, Kris."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," Kris said, leaning in slightly, "than by the side of the woman I love with all my heart."

Tears stung Thalassa's eyes, and she blinked rapidly, shaking her head. "Stop saying that. You have no right."

Pet

Kris's hand slid up from her waist, gently cupping her cheek. "I'll never stop saying it because it's the truth," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You refuse to admit how you feel, but I know you love me too. I know I hurt you, Thalassa, and I know you're afraid I'll hurt you again. But why won't you give me a chance to prove it'll be different this time?"

A tear slid down Thalassa's cheek. "I... I can't," she whispered, her voice breaking. "There's just too much pain. Too many things left unsettled, Kris."

Kris's eyes misted with emotion. He had expected her to push him away with her usual coldness, but for the first time in a long while, Thalassa wasn't completely shutting him out. She was laying her emotions bare.noveldrama

He gently brushed away one of her

tears with his thumb and whispered tenderly, "Let me love away the pain, Thalassa, but please don't push me away. I'm not asking you to just forgive and forget everything that happened. I'm only asking for the chance to earn your forgiveness, little by little, every single day."

Thalassa stared up at him, her heart aching under the weight of his words. Her mind was spinning, torn between what she knew was sensible and the love she still had for him.

"But if you really don't want me," Kris

"But if you ready

continued, his voice low, "if you can't ever forgive me and want me out of your life... then, as painful as it'll be, I'll leave, and I'll stop meddling in your life. I'll give you the space you want."

The room fell silent as he waited anxiously for her response, his heart pounding. When she didn't say anything after several seconds, his heart squeezed painfully. Slowly, he nodded, sadness creeping into his expression as he pulled away. "I hope one day you can—”

"Okay."

The word came out so softly that for a moment, Kris wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly. He froze, his eyes widening as he looked at her in disbelief.

"What?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Thalassa... do you mean what I think you mean?"

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she nodded, her voice thick with emotion as she spoke, "Yes,"

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