Chapter195 I killed Marcus.

Chapter195 I killed Marcus.
Aliya POV
I was frozen in place by Nikolai's confession, but he simply pulled Nova into his arms and picked up a spoon, carefully helping her eat.
"My dad was like this too," I said, watching the tender scene. "Every year, he would give our maids a break at certain times and cook for me and my mom himself."
Nikolai looked up from Nova's plate with a warm expression. "Your parents sound like they had a beautiful marriage."
"They really loved each other," I said, my voice becoming softer as I remembered them. "When my mom's health got bad and the doctors said it would be best if she didn't have any more children, my dad was completely fine with just having me as their only daughter."
The memory brought a bitter taste to my mouth as I thought about my previous life. In that life, I had been such a fool, so completely obsessed with Marcus that I had destroyed everything my parents had built, everything they had sacrificed for.
Nikolai must have noticed the change in my expression because he reached over and gently touched my hand. "Hey, what's wrong?"
I shook my head, pushing away the dark memories. "Nothing. Just thinking about the past."
"Well," Nikolai said with a playful grin, "it doesn't matter now. You can give them lots of grandbabies to spoil."
I laughed despite myself. "Lots of grandbabies? I might have to find them many fathers then."
Nikolai pretended to look offended. "Excuse me, but grandbabies need to come from a handsome and charming alpha king. It's basically a requirement."
I rolled my eyes at his cockiness, but I couldn't stop smiling. There was something so easy and natural about being with him like this, watching him with Nova, sharing these simple family moments.
But then Nikolai's expression became more serious. He set down Nova's spoon and looked directly at me.
"Marry me, Aliya."
I froze. My heart clenched painfully. "Even after what I did three years ago? Even after I lied to you and deceived you?"
Nikolai was quiet for a moment, studying my face. "You're like a puzzle, you know that? I probably still don't understand you completely, even now. But I want you to give me a chance. Let me get closer to you. Let me protect you."
I couldn't answer him. The words stuck in my throat, and all I could do was stare at him while my mind raced with all the reasons why this was impossible.
I didn't say yes. I didn't say no. I just stayed silent.
Nikolai said, "Okay, this seems too difficult for you to answer right now. I'll give you some time to think it over."
For the rest of the day, I focused entirely on Nova. We played games, explored the resort, and I did my best to keep her entertained and happy. I could feel Nikolai's presence, but I wasn't ready to have that conversation yet.
By evening, Nova was exhausted from all the activity. I tucked her into bed in one of the resort's guest rooms, reading her a story until she fell asleep with a smile on her face.
I was sitting quietly beside her bed when I heard a soft knock on the door. I knew it was Nikolai without even looking.
"She's asleep," I whispered as I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me.
"Come with me," Nikolai said softly. "I want to show you something."
He led me up a set of stairs I hadn't noticed before, and we emerged onto a rooftop terrace that took my breath away. The entire night sky was spread out above us, filled with more stars than I had seen in years. The city lights were far enough away that they didn't interfere with the natural beauty above us.
"Wow," I breathed, tilting my head back to take it all in. "I haven't seen stars this bright in so long."
Living in the city, you forget how magnificent the night sky can be when it's not competing with artificial light. Here, the stars seemed close enough to touch, scattered across the darkness like diamonds on black velvet.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Nikolai said, but when I glanced over at him, he was looking at me instead of the sky.
We stood there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, just taking in the peaceful beauty of the night. The air was cool and fresh, and I felt some of the tension in my shoulders finally start to ease.
"So," Nikolai said eventually, his voice gentle. "Do you have an answer for me?"
I took a deep breath, still looking up at the stars. "Don't rush me. Listen to what I have to say first, and then decide if you still want to marry me."
Nikolai moved closer, and I could feel the warmth of his body beside me. "Aliya, whatever it is, it won't change how I feel about you."
"You don't know that," I said quietly.
"Try me."
I was quiet for a long time, gathering my courage. This was the moment I had been dreading, the conversation that could change everything between us.
But he deserved the truth. If we were going to have any kind of future together, it had to be built on honesty.
"Marcus’s parents weren’t lying. Three years ago, I really was the one who planned his death."