Yes
Adrian had negotiated billion-dollar deals without blinking.
He had destroyed competitors twice his age before turning thirty.
Entire rooms full of powerful men became nervous when he walked in.
But nothing—
absolutely nothing—
compared to waiting for Lia's answer inside that quiet parking garage.
Because for the first time in years, Adrian Monteverde had asked for something he genuinely could not survive hearing no to.
Please say yes anyway.
The vulnerability in his voice lingered heavily between them.
Lia stared at him in silence while rain echoed softly above the garage ceiling.
And suddenly—
she saw it clearly.
Not the billionaire.
Not the terrifying man everyone feared.
Just Adrian.
The man who memorized her coffee orders.
Who reorganized space inside his life carefully around her.
Who looked relieved every single time she came home.
Her chest ached painfully.
Because he loved her with everything he had.
And somehow—
he still asked like he wasn't fully sure she would stay.
Lia's hand remained against his jaw while Adrian leaned into her touch unconsciously.
Like affection from her had become instinctively necessary now.
His eyes stayed fixed completely on hers.
Waiting.
Careful.
Terrified in the quietest way.
"You're nervous," she whispered softly.
A faint laugh escaped him.
Rough.
Self-aware.
"I'm trying very hard not to panic."
The honesty nearly ruined her emotionally.
Because Adrian genuinely meant it.
Lia smiled faintly despite herself.
"You? Panicking?"
"You have no idea what you do to me."
The confession wrapped tightly around her chest.
God.
He always sounded so sincere.
Like loving her physically altered him in ways he still didn't fully understand himself.
Lia studied him carefully.
The tension in his shoulders.
The slight unevenness in his breathing.
The way his thumb kept brushing nervously against her hand like grounding himself.
And suddenly—
she realized Adrian wasn't asking her to move in because he wanted control.
He was asking because he wanted certainty.
Permanence.
A life that stopped feeling temporary every time she left the apartment.
The realization cracked something open inside her chest.
"You already gave me drawers," she whispered softly.
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"You needed space."
"You gave me a key."
"I wanted you to come home whenever you wanted."
"You memorized my skincare routine."
That finally made him smile slightly.
Tiny.
Beautiful.
"You looked stressed every time you forgot products."
Lia laughed softly through the tightness in her chest.
Then quieter—
"You've been building a home for me this whole time, haven't you?"
Silence.
Adrian looked down briefly at their hands before answering honestly:
"Yes."
The single word shattered straight through her.
Because he didn't deny it.
Didn't try to soften it.
He loved her openly now.
Completely.
Lia's fingers slid gently into his hair again.
Immediate reaction.
Always immediate.
Adrian closed his eyes briefly while a quiet breath escaped him.
Like tenderness from her still emotionally overwhelmed him every single time.
"You know what's scary?" she whispered softly.
His eyes opened slowly.
"What?"
"You make forever sound easy."
The confession visibly affected him.
His hand tightened carefully around hers.
"Not easy," Adrian murmured quietly.
"Just worth it."
God.
The sincerity in his voice nearly broke her.
Rain tapped softly against the windshield while silence settled warmly between them.
Lia looked at him carefully for several long seconds.
Then finally—
before fear could stop her—
"Yes."
Everything inside Adrian stopped.
Completely.
Lia physically watched the moment the answer hit him.
Shock first.
Then relief so intense it almost looked painful.
His eyes closed briefly while a sharp breath escaped him.
Like he physically hadn't prepared himself for hearing her agree.
And somehow—
that reaction ruined her more than anything else.
When Adrian looked at her again, he looked completely gone.
Emotion stripped every wall away.
"You mean that?"
The roughness in his voice wrapped tightly around her heart.
Lia smiled softly.
"Yes, Adrian."
That was all it took.
Adrian pulled her toward him instantly.
Not rough.
Desperate.
Like relief physically dragged her into his arms before he could stop himself.
Lia laughed softly against his shoulder while his face buried briefly against her neck.
His breathing sounded uneven again.
"You have no idea," he murmured roughly against her skin, "what you just did to me."
Warmth spread painfully through her chest.
Because Adrian sounded genuinely overwhelmed.
Not by control.
Not by possession.
By happiness.
His arms tightened around her while rain echoed quietly around them.
And for several long seconds—
he just held her.
Like he needed time to believe this was real.
Lia's fingers slid softly through his hair while Adrian slowly relaxed against her.
Then suddenly—
she felt it.
A faint shake in his shoulders.
Her chest tightened instantly.
"Adrian?"
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Embarrassed somehow.
Which honestly felt impossible for him.
"You're shaking," Lia whispered softly.
"That's unfortunate information."
She pulled back slightly just enough to see his face.
Big mistake.
Because Adrian looked emotionally wrecked.
Eyes softer than she'd ever seen them.
Expression completely vulnerable.
Gone for her in every possible way.
"You really thought I might say no."
The realization hurt.
Adrian's gaze lowered briefly.
"I thought you might realize loving me permanently is exhausting."
The honesty shattered straight through her chest.
Without thinking, Lia cupped his face gently between her hands.
"You idiot."
A faint smile appeared immediately.
"There she is."
Heat rushed lightly into her cheeks.
"You are impossible."
"And you're moving in with me anyway."
God.
The quiet happiness in his voice nearly destroyed her emotionally.
Adrian leaned forward slowly until his forehead rested against hers again.
Warm.
Certain.
Home already.
Then softly—
with enough love in his voice to ruin her permanently—
"Thank you for choosing me."