"Yes." Giselle took a deep breath. "Maybe this decision is shocking to you, but it's what I want most right now."
"Are you sure? You don't want to get to know me better first? This is marriage we're talking about. We've only known each other for less than two months."
Gideon felt a rush of excitement, but once he collected himself, he still couldn't help but think she might be joking.
"If I knew you too well, I might not want anything to do with you," Giselle said plainly. "Marriage should come with a little confusion. If you're not willing—"
"Of course I'm willing!" he cut her off before she could finish. He gripped her shoulders and pulled her fully into his arms. "To be honest, yeah, your decision kind of shocked me. It's a big leap. You're skipping the girlfriend stage and jumping straight into being my wife. It feels unreal."
"I'm just too tired. I don't want to keep wasting my energy on all the messy things from the past." Her eyes locked onto his, sharp and unwavering. "As for why I want to get married, I won't lie to you.
"It's about starting fresh. I need something to help me move on. If you're okay with that, we can get married anytime. If you're not, I understand. I'll—"
"I'm okay with it," he interrupted her again, his gaze firm. "Let's get married!"
From the moment she brought it up, he already knew what role he was playing—a substitute. He understood she was only using him to step out of her past. He also knew that if it hadn't been him, she would have found someone else just as quickly.
As someone who had always played the game on his terms, being reduced to someone's backup left him with a bitter taste.
But looking at the face he had long been obsessed with, he couldn't care. As long as she was willing to be his wife, he was confident he could win her over.
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