Chapter 24 (Author’s POV)

Raphael and Amanda sat at the dining table, exhaustion settling into their bones. The day had been long, draining. As they ate in silence, Amanda found herself watching him closely. He looked... burdened. That kind of exhaustion that wasn't just from work but from something deeper.

She realized something then-she knew almost nothing about him. They were married, yet she hadn't tried to know the man sitting across from her. The thought unsettled her, so she decided to change that.

"Why don't you have workers in your house?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Raphael looked up from his plate, then back down. A small smile played on his lips. "Because I like peace. And there's nothing in this house I can't do by myself. I might have grown up rich, but I like handling things on my own."

Amanda nodded. There was something admirable about a man who still valued doing things himself.

"Then why don't you have a personal assistant?" she asked again.

He raised a brow. "What makes you think I don't?"

"I've never seen you with one."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I do have one. I just don't keep him close. I only send him files to correct or tasks to complete. Other than that, I don't need him around me."

"Why?"

His face darkened slightly. "That's a story for another day."

She took the hint and nodded. The air between them felt lighter now, so she pressed on.

"What's your favorite color?"

He smirked. "Black."

She grinned. "Just like your soul."

Raphael laughed-an actual, deep laugh. She liked the sound of it.

"You're funny," he said.

She smiled. "What about your favorite meal?"

"I don't have one."

She frowned. "What kind of person doesn't have a favorite meal?"

"Me," he said, smirking.

Amanda rolled her eyes and continued eating.

"Are you enjoying the food?"

"Yes, I am."

She hesitated before asking her next question. "Are you an only child, or do you have a sibling?"

His hand stilled. His jaw tightened slightly. "I have a sister."

"When can I meet her?"

He took a bite of his steak, chewing slowly before replying. "Maybe some other time."

She sensed the discomfort in his voice, so she let it go.

After a moment, she asked, "Are we really going to Bali for our honeymoon?"

His lips curled into a small smile. "Yes, we are."

Excitement flickered in her eyes. "I can't wait to see Bali. I've only ever seen it in dreams and pictures."

His gaze softened. "That's why I want to give you the world, Amanda. I don't want you to only see beautiful places in pictures or dreams. I want you to experience them for real."

Something about the way he said it touched her. He wasn't just saying words-he meant them.

She smirked, deciding to tease him. "Why do we sleep in separate rooms?"

Raphael choked on his food. She quickly poured him a glass of water, and he drank it, clearing his throat.

"Are you ready to make love?" he asked, his voice lower now.

Her breath caught. "No."

He nodded, though she saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "Exactly. If you're not ready, we need to stay in separate rooms until you are."

He watched her for a long moment before adding, "I can only wait for so long, Amanda. My patience is wearing thin every day."

She bit her lip and nodded, understanding what he meant.

They finished their meal in silence. Amanda stood up and began clearing the dishes, aware of his eyes on her. He still looked burdened, like he was carrying something too heavy for one person.

An idea popped into her head.

She turned to him, unsure why she was even saying it, but the words came anyway.

"Can we sleep in the same room tonight? My room, actually."

Raphael froze, confused. His gaze locked onto hers, searching for a reason.

"You do know that if we sleep in the same room, I'd want to touch you. I'd want to kiss you. I'd want to do a lot of things to you." His voice was hoarse, raw.

She nodded. "I know."

"But you're not ready for that."

"No, I'm not."

"Then why do you want us to sleep in the same room, Amanda?"

She reached out, brushing her fingers against his arm. "Well, old guy-"

He chuckled at that.

"You didn't look good when you came home today," she continued. "All we'll do is sleep. You need rest. You need someone with you. You need warmth. And I can give you that. I plan to honor our deal. And one day, hopefully... yes, I'll be open to the idea of making love to you."

He stared at her, his expression unreadable. He wondered how perfect things could have been if he wasn't sick.

Finally, he nodded.

They walked to her room. As they lay under the covers, his arm wrapped around her waist. He pressed a soft kiss to her neck, and she hummed in response.

Slowly, he turned her face toward him, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss. His hands caressed her body, his touch burning through the thin fabric of her nightwear.

But when he knew he had taken enough of her for the night-when his desire raged too fiercely-he stopped himself. He pulled back, breathing heavily, giving her one last look before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Goodnight," he whispered, before turning away.

And just as sleep began to claim her, she heard it. A whisper, barely audible-

"I love you."

Her lips curled into a small smile, but she didn't reply.

She just closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.