Chapter Thirty-Seven: Threads at Midnight
(Ria's POV)
The house was quiet. Too quiet. Lia and Maya were asleep - or pretending to be, so they wouldn't stop me. I had my bag slung over my shoulder, heart hammering so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest.
I had made a decision. There was no time left. My parents were already plotting, already imagining someone else standing where Miles should be. And I couldn't... I wouldn't let that happen.
I slipped out the front door, the cool night air brushing my face. My stomach churned with nerves, my hands trembling. What if he laughed at me? What if he said no? What if...
I shoved the thoughts away. Threads, you're doing this. You love him. He has to know. Now.
When I got to his house, I almost froze. The porch light cast shadows across the steps, and I could see him sitting on the couch inside, reading something. He looked calm. Too calm.
"Miles," I whispered, tapping lightly on the window.
His head snapped up. "Threads?" His voice was startled, then soft. "What... what are you doing here?"
"I... I had to see you," I said, words tripping over each other. "It's... it's important."
He got up and opened the door slowly, eyes scanning me like he could see all the fear and urgency in my chest. "It's midnight," he said softly, but there was no anger. Just concern. "What's going on?"
I took a shaky breath, gripping my bag strap like a lifeline. "Miles... they... my parents... they're trying to get me married to someone else. Someone I don't... I don't want to be with."
His eyes widened. "Threads..."
"I can't... I can't lose you," I blurted. "So... so I'm asking you - will you marry me?"
The words hung in the air. My voice trembled. I was sobbing, shaking, and I felt ridiculous - but I didn't care. He had to understand.
Miles was silent for a long moment. He ran a hand through his hair, eyes scanning mine. "Threads... you... you're insane," he said softly, a small grin tugging at his lips. "But... I love it. I love that you care this much."
"I don't care if it's crazy!" I cried. "You have to make an offer to my family, or... or they'll get me married to someone else!"
His expression softened. He reached for my hands, holding them gently, firmly. "I... I need to think about how to do this right. I can't just... I want to do it properly. But... yes. I will make an offer. I'll talk to your family."
I blinked through tears. "You... you mean it?"
"Of course I mean it," he said, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "Threads... only you. Nobody else. I'm not letting anyone else do this. Not now, not ever."
For the first time that night, I let myself breathe. Relief crashed over me in a wave, mingled with happiness, adrenaline, and the lingering fear of everything that had almost gone wrong.
"I... I knew you'd say yes," I whispered, resting my forehead against his chest. "I just... I had to ask."
He hugged me tightly, possessive and protective, and whispered in my ear, "You're impossible. But I love that about you, Threads. Now go home. Get some sleep. Tomorrow... we'll figure out the rest."
I nodded, burying my face in his chest one last time. My parents couldn't force me now. I had him. And he had promised me.