She Proposed Marriage to Silent Rancher to Stop Her Aunt—He Said Yes Before She Finished Asking
Chapter 5
Clara couldn’t sleep that night.
The next morning, she found Elias repairing a fence.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“It is the truth.”
She stepped closer.
“If I had asked three years ago, would you have said yes?”
“Yes.”
“If I hadn’t asked now?”
“I would still have waited.”
“Why?”
He placed the hammer down.
“Because love shouldn’t be forced.”
Clara stared at him.
“You knew I might marry someone else.”
“Yes.”
“And you would have let me?”
“If that’s what you wanted.”
She looked away.
“That must have hurt.”
“Yes.”
It was the first time she had heard him admit it.
She reached for his hand.
“You should have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Of losing you.”
Her fingers tightened around his.
“You aren’t going to lose me.”
Elias looked at her.
Neither spoke.
But something between them had changed forever.
