Chapter 17

Days have passed since the wedding, and Alex didn’t miss a chance to make Marissa feel special. Daily he would greet her with red roses.

Like any other day, he rang her doorbell with a bouquet of red roses.

“Alex, you don’t need to buy me roses daily or need to do any other thing.” Marissa gave a long sigh.

“I don’t need to, but I want to.” Alex shrugged and went inside. “By the way, I ordered some Chinese takeaway. I figured you would be tired.”

“See, you didn’t need to buy food. I could have cooked something.” She folded her hands.

“Marissa, just relax. It’s nothing.” He rolled his eyes.

“Alex, all this is too much,” Marissa told him in frustration, which made him confused.

“I don’t understand.” He asked her in a dilemma.

“Giving me flowers, dropping me or picking me up from work. Trying to make me feel... You have no clue what effect it has on me. I am still not ready

for commitment and you treating me like this is making me feel guilty.”

“Marissa, I am doing this because I love you. Yes, I want to be with you and cannot wait for that day, but you don’t need to feel guilty about anything. At

present, I can try to be content with spending time with you. Nothing is more important than that to me. Now don’t overthink it, and let’s eat. I am

starving.”

“Okay, I will set the table,” Marissa said.

“No need for that. We are having dinner at my place. Come on.” He grabbed her hand and brought her to his condo.

When they both entered, Marissa was mesmerized. Everything was lit with candles. It was a candlelight dinner.

“Alex...” She whispered.

“If you want, we can call it two friends having dinner. Just don’t run away.” He beseeched her.

“I will try not to.” She tried to joke.

Alex made her sit in the chair and poured some wine.

“Thank you. You really are something else, Alex.” Marissa stated.

“I know. But I had to find some way to congratulate you for coming to the finale of the Dancing Stars competition.” He winked.

“It really feels surreal. I still remember the day when my parents locked me in to prevent me from participating in the competition.” Marissa had a distant

look in her eyes.

“Don’t think about the past. Today, you have achieved everything that you deserve.” He reassured her.

“This wouldn’t have been possible if you were not there.” She told him.

“Don’t talk crazy, Marissa.”

“Alex, as I have told you before, if I did not get married to you, I wouldn’t have been able to dance again. If I was in my parents’ presence, then I would

have been still locked in their house or married to some idiot person who would have been a carbon copy of my parents and that scares me to hell.”

“I promise you, Marissa, that your parents won’t be able to control you ever again. They won’t destroy your life. And I won’t let you marry anyone, let

alone some control freak or a jerk. And not to forget the fact that I am not letting you go.”

“I know that Alex. Somehow, I believe you.” Marissa looked at him gently. Marissa knew that she loved him on the very day he confessed to her,

especially when he stayed put with her when her parents showed up unexpectedly. But she was too scared to be anyone, let alone him. But she also knew

that she wouldn’t be able to survive easily without him.

“Alex, you will come with me to the finale, right?” She asked him hesitantly.

“You don’t even have to ask. Of course, I will be there. It won’t matter to me whether you win or lose because you are a winner in my eyes. And I am

going to love you no matter what happens.”

Instead of saying or confessing her feelings, she kissed his cheeks and hugged him tightly.

“Thank you."