Chapter 184: Truth About Connor

"But then.” Her expression softened. "You stayed awake all night helping me finish a journalism project that had nothing to do with you. You sat through lectures you didn't understand simply because you knew your ridiculous notes would make me laugh."

"You stood beside me when everyone else thought I had stolen those examination papers." Her eyes grew misty. "You scared me half to death when you collapsed."

A quiet laugh escaped her through the emotion.

"And somehow I ended up arguing with nurses because I thought they weren't looking after you properly."

She lowered her head for a moment, smiling at the memory before the smile slowly disappeared.

"That's the problem." She finally looked at him.

"I've seen two different versions of you. The one everyone talked about. And the one I came to know."

Her voice became almost a whisper. "I fell for the second one." She swallowed carefully. "But every now and then.The first one finds a way back into my thoughts.I remember all the rumors.I remember hearing people call you a playboy.I remember all those stories about girls who came and went. I know you've explained what really happened. I believe you."

She nodded gently, as though reassuring herself as much as him. "I truly do.But fear isn't always logical." She looked down at the flowers again. "It keeps asking questions I don't want to hear. What if one day the excitement wears off? What if life becomes ordinary and you realize I'm no longer enough?"

She smiled and looked at him. "What if someone walks into your life who's prettier, more interesting, and more exciting than I am?" Her voice cracked slightly. "I keep wondering whether, years from now, I'll become another story people tell."

She managed a fragile smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "'Remember Nathan Miller? He dated Amelia for a while.'" She slowly shook her head. "I don't think I could survive becoming a memory in the life of someone I've made my future.”

The words hung between them.

Nathan stared at her, he wasn't offended. He finally understood. It had never been about doubting his feelings. It was about protecting her own heart.

He reached across the small space between them and gently took her hand.

She did not pull away.

"Look at me."

She did.

His voice was calm. "Everything you said." He nodded slowly. "Is fair."

She blinked.

"I earned that reputation. I cannot pretend I did not."He laughed softly. "There was a time when I treated relationships like they meant nothing. I enjoyed the attention. I liked people liking me."

He shook his head. "I was immature. I confused being admired with being valued."

The Ferris wheel paused briefly at its highest point.

The city stretched endlessly behind him.

Nathan never looked away from Amelia. "Then life happened.My parents separated. I watched my father walk away.I watched my mother smile through things that broke her."

He sighed. "And somewhere along the way, I became terrified of becoming him."

Amelia listened without saying a word.

Nathan squeezed her hand gently. "When I met you, I was not looking for love, I was looking for an escape." He smiled. "The fake dating arrangement was supposed to solve the problems at the moment. It was never supposed to change me."

His eyes softened. "But then you did. You challenged me. You called me out when I deserved it. You believed me when everyone else doubted me. You stayed in that hospital when you had every reason to leave."

He laughed quietly. "You even argued with professional nurses because you thought they were not feeding me properly."

A reluctant smile returned to Amelia's lips. "I still think they were too slow."

"I know.".He smiled warmly. "And somewhere in the middle of all that, I stopped wondering how many people liked me.I only cared whether one person smiled when she saw me."

Amelia felt her heartbeat quicken.

Nathan continued. "I do not miss the man everyone called a playboy. I do not even recognize him anymore." He looked down briefly before meeting her eyes again. I cannot erase who I used to be.I would never insult you by pretending that part of my life never happened."

"But I can promise you something." His voice became quieter. "If you decide to trust me, it will never be because I convinced you with pretty words. It will be because every single day after today. I prove that your heart is safer with me than it has ever been with anyone else."

Amelia felt tears gathering in her eyes.

Nathan smiled gently. "I am not asking you to believe in the boy people used to gossip about.I am asking you to believe in the man sitting beside you."

She stared at him for a few seconds.

"So." Nathan said softly. "Do not rush.Do not answer because I bought you flowers. Do not answer because today was romantic.Do not answer because everyone thinks we belong together."

His thumb brushed lightly across her hand. "When you finally say yes." He smiled. "I want it to be because there is not a single part of you still wondering whether I might leave."

Amelia could not stop the tears anymore. One slipped quietly down her cheek.

Nathan reached over and wiped it away with his thumb. "I did not mean to make you cry."

She laughed through the tears. "You didn't."

"Then why are you crying?"

She shook her head. "Because.." Her voice cracked. "Nobody has ever loved me patiently before."

Nathan's own eyes softened. He leaned forward and rested his forehead gently against hers.

"Then I can wait a little longer."

Outside, the Ferris wheel began its slow descent.

Amelia closed her eyes for a brief moment before whispering softly, "You are making it very difficult to keep saying no."

Nathan smiled against her forehead. "I can live with 'not yet.'" He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes again. "As long as it is not 'never.'”

They stepped out of the Ferris wheel just as the operator unlatched the door.

The evening breeze carried the scent of popcorn and caramel through the amusement park. Around them, children ran excitedly between brightly lit attractions while music drifted softly from somewhere near the carousel.

Nathan offered Amelia his hand as she stepped onto the platform. She accepted it without thinking.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. They simply walked side by side beneath strings of glowing lights.

Eventually, Amelia slowed. "Nathan."

He glanced at her. "Hm?"

She hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"

Nathan smiled faintly. "That depends."

"On what?"

"Whether you're about to ruin a perfectly good date."

Amelia laughed under her breath. "I might."

"I had a feeling."

She stopped walking altogether. "Why are you and Connor really like this?"

Nathan's smile disappeared. His steps slowed until he was standing beside her.

Amelia immediately noticed the change in his expression. She reached for his hand gently.

"You do not have to answer."

Nathan looked away toward the lights of the Ferris wheel turning slowly behind them. "I know."

Several seconds passed.

"I just." Amelia continued softly. "From the very first day we met, something never added up."

Nathan remained silent.

"You agreed to help me get Connor back."

He nodded once.

"But every time Connor came up..." she continued carefully, "There was always something in your face." She smiled sadly. "You tried to hide it."

Nathan let out a quiet breath. "I was not very good at hiding it."

"You were terrible."

That earned the smallest laugh from him.

Amelia squeezed his hand. "If you would rather leave it in the past."

Nathan shook his head. "No." He looked back at her. "You deserve to know." He led her toward a quieter bench overlooking the lake beside the amusement park.