M felt a pang in her heart as she asked, “Nate, what are you saying?”


    Nathan gazed into her eyes and spoke gently, “If someday you decide to leave Norvania and me to go


    back to your career and life in Suntend, why would Iplicate things for you and hinder your


    future?”


    Tears threatened to fall from M’s eyes. Her voice was shaky as she asked, “Nate, how could that be


    a hindrance?”


    Nathan’s eyes filled with tears. He softly caressed her cheek and said with a smile, “You’ll eventually


    want to settle down and start a family once you return to Suntend.”


    t you?”


    M gazed at him with tears in her eyes. “Nate, you found out, didn’t


    Nathan nodded in response. “The top leader in Suntend contacted me to discuss the situation.


    They’re adamant about not letting you go.”


    “Then why did you propose to me?”


    Nathan gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and asked with a wry smile, “Would marry me if there


    were no hurdles?”


    you


    Through her tears, M nodded. “Yes, I would. I’d marry you. I’d follow you to live on the frontier.”


    Nathany beside her and pulled her into his arms. He closed his eyes and buried his face. into her


    shoulder. “That’s all I needed to hear.”


    “Nate.”


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Nathan held her tightly but kept a slight distance between their lower bodies. “Let me just hold you


    as w


    sleep.”


    “I truly want to be intimate with you. You don’t have to hold back,” M said bravely.


    “I don’t want to,” Nathan replied firmly.


    M was puzzled. His reaction to her was intense–she could hear his heart pounding and feel the heat


    radiating from his body.


    “Don’t all men want to be intimate with the women they love?”


    Nathan stayed quiet. He softly moved her head away to create a distance between them. He


    wouldn’t even hug her anymore.


    To him, loving someone wasn’t about trying to control them. Instead, it was about demonstrating


    respect, care, and a desire for their future happiness. 1


    Aware that they didn’t have a future together, Nathan didn’t want to ruin her first night just for a passing


    moment of desire and riskplicating her future rtionships.


    He gently brushed her hair and tucked her in with a nket. “Don’t stress too much. Just get some


    sleep.”


    “Nate


    “Come with me tomorrow morning to see Grandma,” Nathan said, cutting her off. “After that, you can


    help me pick out a birthday present for my mom.”


    M’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked at him and responded with a hum.


    That night, neither of them slept well. They each had their nket and were lost in their own thoughts.


    Just like when they were married, they treated each other respectfully and maintained their boundaries.


    M understood that Nathan was looking out for her, and she considered that perhaps the greatest


    expression of love was exercising restraint.


    The following day, M apanied Nathan to visit Vera at Shovale. Her Alzheimer’s had advanced to


    the stage where she had lost all self–awareness. She couldn’t recognize anyone, experienced


    incontinence, and needed constant care from caregivers.


    After visiting Vera, they went to a jewelry store and chose a special piece of jewelry as a birthday


    present.


    On Florence’s birthday, the Morrisons opted for a modest family gathering rather than avish feast.


    When M arrived at the Morrison Residence with her gift, she was warmly weed by almost


    everyone. The only one who seemed to have reservations was Layl


    It wasmon knowledge among the family that M was none other than Wanda Hoffis- Nathan’s


    childhood sweetheart and first love.