His eyes held hers, and for the first time since the conversation started, she saw something vulnerable in them.
“The doctor said there was a chance…” His voice faltered slightly before continuing. “There was a chance you might never be able to get pregnant.”
Amara’s breath caught.
Elias swallowed hard before continuing.
“Your injuries were serious. There was damage… and scarring that still needed time to heal.” His thumb brushed faintly against her cheek as he spoke. “The doctor warned that your stress could make the injuries worse.”
His gaze softened further.
“They said the calmer and more relaxed you were, the better your recovery would be. Your grandpa thought telling you aboutit would only make you anxious.” He paused briefly. “And honestly… I thought so too.”
He looked down at her quietly for a moment before adding in a lower voice,
“So none of it mattered to me, Amara. Whether you could get pregnant or not… I didn’t care about that. I just wanted you. Safe. Healthy.”
Amara froze at his words.
For a moment, she just stared at him, her breathing slowing as the meaning behind everything he had said settled heavily inside her chest. Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs, and she suddenly couldn’t hold his gaze for too long anymore.
Her fingers curled tightly against her palms.
Then her eyes lowered.
“You shouldn’t have married me,” she whispered.
A faint, bitter smile touched her lips before disappearing just as quickly. She shook her head, emotion flickering across her face.
“I don’t think you deserved to marry someone with a damaged body,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt to stay composed. “Not when it could affect your future like this.”
Her eyes lifted toward him again, pain visible in them now.
“No wonder you kept your distance from me.”
The realization hurt far more than she expected. Knowing he had carried all of this alone… knowing he had entered the marriage already aware of everything she might never be able to give him—it twisted painfully inside her chest.
“When Grandpa asked you to marry me…” she continued quietly, her voice softer now, “it already hurt enough thinking you only agreed because he begged you to… because he knew that I liked you.”
Her throat tightened slightly before she forced herself to continue.
“But now…” Her eyes flickered away for a brief second. “Now knowing you married me while knowing I wouldn’t be able to be a proper wife to you…”
Her throat tightened painfully as she forced the words out.
“That I wouldn’t be able to sleep with you… wouldn’t be able to give you a child…”
She looked away quickly, blinking rapidly as if trying to stop herself from completely breaking down.
“It’s not fair to you.”
As she said it, she instinctively took a small step backward, trying to create distance between them, unable to bear the weight of the guilt sitting inside her chest.
But before she could move further away, Elias immediately reached for her again.
His arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her back against him before any distance could form between them. The movement was quick, almost instinctive, as though the mere thought of her stepping away irritated him.
“Amara.”
