William didn't answer her right away. Instead, he took a moment to just watched her, and he really watched her, as if seeing the girl behind all the walls for the very first time. Her eyes were soft but guarded, her shoulders tight with old wounds she carried alone, and suddenly, he understood her. He understood her hesitation toward their marriage, even to the point of starving herself upon learning about their arranged marriage. She had not rejected him as he had thought. It wasn't about him, she had rejected the idea of marriage, she had rejected pain, and she had rejected repeating her mother's story.
But he had taken it personally, yet, it was never about him, but about her fears, her loss, and the memories she wished she could forget.
Something inside William softened in a way he couldn't hide, even from himself. He had a great urge to walk to where she was seated across the table, and just hug and love her freely, but he restrained himself. He din't want to scare her.
