Golden Melody (Editing)

Chapter 54

Chapter 54 - Forbidden Symphony 2

Miexha's Point of View

I was already drifting into drowsiness when Jayson yawned like a sleepy lion.

Asha flopped face-first onto the mattress, then immediately started kicking the boys off the bed.

Pillows flew. Jayson avoided it.

Zatariel caught one midair and bowed dramatically like a defeated knight.

Asha shuffled over to my side, mothering me even in her half-asleep state. She tucked the blanket neatly under my chin and brushed the stray strands of hair from my face.

"Goodnight, my marshmallow," she signed.

My fingers moved slowly, a little clumsy with sleep.

"Goodnight," I signed back.

She smiled, turned off the lights, and padded to the other bed. Soon the room softened into the quiet rhythm of sleep.

Slow breathing. The rustle of beanbags. The gentle hum of midnight stillness.

Until—

A touch. A soft pressure against my shoulder.

Then—

"Mimi," Zatariel whispered.

It wasn't muffled.

Not robotic. Not distant like his voice usually sounded.

It was clear.

Real.

I could hear him even without my hearing aid.

My breath caught. This had to be a dream.

But the weight in his voice felt too real to belong to a dream.

"I shouldn't be doing this," he whispered as he knelt beside my bed.
"Being this close to you while Jayson's snoring over there... this might be the dumbest and most exhilarating thing I've ever done."

His voice trembled—careful and terrified.

"I know it's wrong," he said quietly. "I know he's your fiancé."

His hands moved, signing slowly, imperfectly.

"But I want to be more to you."

Then, clumsily, almost nervously:

"I love you."

My heart lurched. I wanted to say it back.

I love you too.

The words burned behind my lips.

He signed again, his fingers shaking slightly.

"Let me be your real choice. Not the one you hide in the shadows."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

Because I wanted that. I truly did.

But the Dom rule rang inside my mind like a silent alarm.

No scandals. No broken engagements. No cracks in the family image.

And if this engagement collapsed...

The next man waiting in line was older. Crueler.

A businessman with gold teeth and breath that smelled like spoiled liquor.

Zatariel leaned closer, his forehead gently brushing against mine.

"Will there ever be a day," he whispered softly, "when we can show our love freely?"