Shadows of Desire I 18+

The Unexpected Question

Lila's POV:

Lila stood outside Ryan's apartment door, her mind racing. His text from earlier still echoed in her mind—short, vague, but loaded with implication. After everything that had happened, between the job offer at Horizon Pictures, Zane's unexpected visit to her home, and the confusing, undeniable chemistry between them, Lila felt like her life was spiraling out of control. And now Ryan was asking her to come over for a talk, just like that.

She knocked softly, feeling a pit of anxiety form in her stomach. Ryan opened the door almost immediately, flashing his usual charming smile that never quite reached his eyes. It was the smile she had fallen in love with once, the one she now felt disconnected from. Yet, she stepped inside, trying to ignore the unease gnawing at her.

The apartment smelled like his cologne, fresh and crisp, and everything looked the same—perfectly in place, meticulously arranged. Yet something felt different. Ryan's energy was off. He was pacing, an odd nervousness in his movements. Lila dropped her bag on the chair and turned to face him, her brow furrowing in concern.

"What's going on, Ryan?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Ryan stopped pacing, turning to face her with an almost too-wide grin. He came over and took her hands, his grip a little too tight, pulling her closer. "Lila, I've been doing a lot of thinking. About us."

Lila felt her heart skip a beat. She wasn't sure if it was dread or anticipation.

"Okay," she said cautiously, unsure where this was going. "What kind of thinking?"

He released her hands and backed up a step, as if trying to gather his words. His eyes darted around the room briefly before he focused on her again, his smile a little too perfect.

"I want us to get married," Ryan said suddenly, his voice confident yet too rehearsed. He crossed his arms, as if delivering the final punchline of a well-practiced speech.

Lila blinked. *What?*

"Married?" she repeated, her voice faltering. She couldn't have heard him right. They had never seriously talked about marriage before. Not even close.

Ryan stepped forward, grasping her hands again, his eyes trying to convince her of something she couldn't quite name. "Yes. I've been thinking about it for a while now. We've been together for years. You're the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, Lila."

His words were like a wave crashing over her, sweeping her into confusion. She should have felt happiness, excitement—this was something every couple talked about eventually. But there was a hollowness in his words, something missing in the way he said it.

Her mind whirled, caught between the life she had imagined with Ryan and the lingering thoughts of Zane. The intensity of what had happened with Zane was still too fresh in her mind, and now here was Ryan, asking her to make a lifelong commitment with barely any warning. Why now?

"Ryan," she began slowly, pulling her hands back from his grasp. "Why do you want to get married all of a sudden? This is... a big decision. And it feels like it's coming out of nowhere."

He froze, just for a second, before covering the pause with a quick laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "What do you mean, 'all of a sudden?'" His voice had a defensive edge, but his smile stayed plastered on his face. "I love you. Isn't that enough? We've been together for years, Lila. I know we've never really talked about it, but I've always known I wanted to marry you."

Lila looked at him carefully, sensing the cracks beneath his surface. Something wasn't right. He had always been good with words, always able to smooth over any disagreement or tension with charm and wit. But now, his words felt hollow, forced. As though he didn't even believe what he was saying.

She took a deep breath, trying to untangle the knots in her chest. "But why now, Ryan? You've never even mentioned marriage before. We've never seriously talked about it. What changed?"

For the briefest moment, Ryan's confident facade faltered. His eyes flickered with something—panic? frustration?—before he quickly masked it with another smile. But Lila had seen it, even if she didn't understand what it meant.

"I don't know," he said, stumbling over his words for the first time. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly trying to regain control of the conversation. "It just feels like the right time. We've been together long enough. I just—" He hesitated again, and this time, Lila caught the flicker of uncertainty. "I want to make sure we're solid. That nothing can come between us."

Lila frowned. *That nothing can come between us?* The phrase hit her strangely, as if there was something more behind it. Why would he suddenly feel like they needed to solidify things? She felt like she was missing something important, something just out of reach.

Ryan must have seen the hesitation in her eyes because he quickly closed the distance between them, pulling her into an embrace. "I know this is a lot to take in," he murmured into her hair. "But I love you, Lila. You mean everything to me."

Lila let herself sink into his arms, but her thoughts were still racing. She loved Ryan—she had loved him for so long. But now? Now, everything felt uncertain. Between the unresolved feelings she had for Zane and Ryan's sudden push for marriage, she felt like she was standing on unstable ground.

And then there was something else. Something she couldn't name, a nagging feeling at the back of her mind. The way Ryan was acting—it felt like he was trying too hard. Like he was hiding something. But she couldn't put her finger on it.

"I just need time to think," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ryan pulled back slightly, tilting her chin up to look at him. His smile was still there, but there was something colder behind his eyes now. "Of course," he said softly, but there was a slight tension in his voice. "Take all the time you need."

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1046 words