Our Vows Scattered With the Wind

Ryan's POVI, Ryan Crawford, had been with Amara Larkspur for seven years, and she'd never once brought up marriage. I assumed she was just shy.In our seventh year, I spent three months secretly preparing a proposal and setting up the proposal venue.A week before I was supposed to propose, Amara went to a get-together with some friends and invited me along. Busy discussing the proposal details with my friend, I arrived a little over ten minutes late.Before I even pushed open the door to the private room, I overheard Amara talking with her friends. She sounded like she'd been drinking, and her voice was a little husky."Ryan? I got sick of him ages ago. Waking up to the same face every day? And it's been seven years—more than enough for anyone to get bored."Her friend laughed. "Then, why did you keep him around for seven years?"Amara replied nonchalantly, "Just for fun. And honestly, having a devoted lapdog following me around feels pretty good. But I'm sick of him now. I wa

Ryan's POVThen, Delilah and I went into the new room.Just as she was about to leave, I suddenly grabbed her and pinned her under me. I was half out of it, my eyes unfocused. "Who are you? Why are you in my room?" I murmured. "Did you come to keep me company because you knew I was upset?"Then… Then, I couldn't recall anything after that.I slapped my forehead in frustration.It seemed like it had been her first time.That was when Delilah woke up. The moment she saw me, her face immediately flushed red."I—"But before she could finish, I cut her off, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Don't worry. I'll take responsibility for what happened. If there's anything you need later, you can reach out to me. I can also explain everything to your boyfriend."She looked at me, her gaze serious. "I don't blame you. I was a willing participant, and I don't have a boyfriend. So, Ryan, don't feel burdened by it. Besides, we're both adults here."…In my second week in Altmarch, Naia Moren

Ryan's POVI couldn't hold back anymore and silenced Delilah with a kiss.At that moment, my mind went completely blank. I didn't know what I was doing, but I knew the person beneath me was Delilah.She looked at me shyly, doing her best to match my rhythm. Still, she pleaded softly, "Can you… be a little gentler? It hurts a little."Her voice was so soft and sweet that I could feel it in my bones, making me fall completely for her."I can't be gentle."As soon as I said that, she wrapped her arms around my neck and gazed at me with eyes full of tender affection."Then, just go at your own pace."I held her tightly. When things reached their peak, Delilah kept calling my name over and over."Ryan! Ry…"I was a little dazed.She leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth."Ry, did I make you feel good?"I nodded."In that case, I'll stay with you forever. I'll only ever sleep with you," she added.…Third-person POVOn the day of Naia's birthday, Ryan had his secretary

Ryan's POV"Delilah, give me a little more time. Let me think this through properly," I said.Delilah moved to another seat. She told me she'd wait for my answer and that, in the meantime, she'd still treat me the same way she always had.I looked at her sitting in the front row, wearing earphones. My whole body slumped in the chair, my chest tight and heavy.Even though I'd resolutely given up on Amara, the deepest part of my heart still couldn't open up to anyone else.I was scared. I was scared of going from a heart full of joy straight back to heartbreak again.…Third-person POVDelilah sat quietly, eyes closed, listening to music. This was her way of relaxing whenever she felt upset.Her heart ached. She was afraid that Ryan's final answer would still be the same—that he couldn't be with her. She'd already waited for him for many, many years.Back in high school, she and Ryan hadn't been from the same world. His results weren't great, he skipped class every day, and he

Third-person POVThe staff member continued, "Back then, we all thought that whoever the woman he was proposing to was, she sure was one lucky lady."But later, he had someone tear the whole setup down. Maybe he went with a different location."Every word Amara heard felt like a needle stabbing her chest. It hurt so badly. This was also the first time she truly felt fear. Ryan wasn't really done with her, was he?She and Ryan had been together for seven years, and not once had she brought up marriage. And it was true that she'd played around with quite a few college boys, but she'd never been serious about any of them.Callum might've been young and handsome, but he couldn't hold a candle to Ryan.Back then, she'd pursued Ryan precisely because he was different from other men. There was a unique presence about him that completely drew her in.She'd assumed that he was just angry with her and was just sulking. But he still hadn't come back.Every day, her heart felt hollow, and