Third Person's POV
"Say that again!" Leo's tone turned dangerous all of a sudden. How dare she say something like that?
Sunny sighed softly. "Leo, this constant on-and-off thing between us seems pointless. Every time we're together, I find myself falling for you even more. And every time we part, the hurt gets worse. Unless... unless you marry me and I become your wife, and we have a reason that can't be undone, I can't stay with you peacefully."
It took all of Sunny's courage to say that. She thought Leo would laugh at her for even suggesting marriage. How greedy of her to ask for that!
"Alright, I'll marry you!" After thinking for just three seconds, Leo replied.
"Wha..." Sunny couldn't believe her ears. Did she just hear Leo agree to marry her? Was she dreaming?
Suddenly, Leo grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her closer. "I said, I'll marry you. And we can get engaged right away!"
"Are... are you serious? Actually, I was just joking before," Sunny was the one who got scared this time. She never expected Leo to really agree to marry her, and even talk about getting engaged right away?
"I'm dead serious. My grandpa's not in the best health. I want to get married sooner to put his mind at ease," Leo wasn't speaking on impulse. He had thought it through carefully.
"But..."
"No 'buts.' Let's get engaged!" Leo lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
The warmth and breath between their lips felt like the happiest moment Sunny had ever experienced. She felt not just her heart, but her entire soul, sinking into it.
She must love this man so much that she was willing to come back to him time and time again, even after being pushed away. She didn't know if this kind of love was silly or just plain stupid.
When the kiss ended, the man didn't pull away. His lips still lightly touched the corner of her mouth, his voice deep and husky. "Will you marry me?"
Sunny's heart trembled softly. Her dazed eyes cleared up a bit.
The question now wasn't whether she wanted to, but whether she could, whether she was allowed to marry him.
"Leo, have you really thought this through? Love is one thing; marriage is another. We can love each other, but that doesn't mean we can get married. I, Olivia, owe your family a debt, and I don't even know how to repay it," Sunny turned away, not wanting him to see the struggle and regret in her eyes.
Of course she wanted to marry him—more than anything.
She used to think that loving someone could be pure and carefree, and marriage was no different.
But what worked for others might not be so easy for her.
Sunny felt that meeting Leo was a mistake from the start.
Hearing her question him so clearly, Leo's face froze a little.
Indeed, he sometimes acted without considering the consequences, which was the biggest difference between him and Blake. So, Emerson was right—Leo was too impulsive and lacked caution.
"If I want you to marry me to make up for what Olivia did to my grandpa, would you do it?" After a moment of silence, Leo asked her.
Sunny's face was full of disbelief as she turned her head sharply, her tear-filled eyes staring at him. "What are you saying? You want me to use my marriage and love to atone for her sins? How can that be okay?"
"Why not? The end result is the same, right? Be my wife, let's get married!" Leo mistook the hint of fear on her face for rejection and got a little annoyed. "Or do you not even want to marry me? Don't you love me enough?"
Sunny bit her lower lip, holding back her tears, and said sarcastically, "My head is in such a mess right now, Leo. Please, give me some time to think. I feel like anything can be traded, but not feelings. I'd rather work for you for free to repay the debt."
Leo folded his arms, narrowing his deep eyes as he stared at the determined little figure in front of him.
She was small and delicate, yet so stubborn. And she was overthinking things.
Didn't she realize he was proposing to her?
How could she not say yes right away? Did she really need time to think?
Leo suddenly felt that this relationship had lost some of its value, and he became annoyed.
"Do you think I need your money?" Leo raised an eyebrow and asked coldly.
Sunny trembled slightly. Yeah, the Chavezs of the world didn't need her money. They probably had more than enough.
"I need to think this through. Thanks for the dinner today. I'm going home now," Sunny's mind was in chaos, with a mix of emotions swirling inside.
Everything was too sudden and disrupted her thoughts.
She liked him but was scared, excited but uneasy. It felt like she had two little rabbits in her chest, jumping non-stop.
Leo didn't expect that as soon as he brought this woman home, before anything could happen, she would grab her bag and run out the door.
Leo's face froze for a second, and he ran out just in time to hear the elevator door close. It was too late.
Leo stood beside the elevator, punching the door in frustration.
But the only thing that hurt was his fist.