"Dexter…" she breathed, her voice barely audible, thick with emotion. Her hand pressed harder against my heart as if trying to memorize the rhythm. "You… you really mean that?"
She searched my eyes desperately, looking for any sign of doubt or hesitation. When she found none, her lips parted in a soft, trembling smile. The vulnerability in her expression slowly gave way to something warmer, deeper, and far more intimate.
Her other hand came up to gently cup my face, her thumb brushing over my cheek with infinite tenderness.
"I've loved you for so long," she whispered, her voice cracking with years of suppressed feelings.
"Long before you even knew I existed… I've watched you grow, protected you from the shadows, and ached every single day because I couldn't be near you," Diana whispered, her voice trembling with years of hidden pain. "And now… hearing you say those words…"
