Darius turned his full attention to Amara, his eyes gentle and understanding. “You don’t need to apologize for anything, Amara,” he said before she could even start. “I understand why you reacted the way you did. You don’t have to explain yourself.”
Amara felt a lump in her throat at his words. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “But I feel like I led you on,” she confessed, her voice trembling. “I wanted to be close to you, and then I panicked and pushed you away. I’m sorry if I hurt you, Darius. You’ve been so patient with me, and I feel like I’m just… taking advantage of your kindness.”
Darius shook his head, his smile reassuring. “You haven’t hurt me, Amara. And you’re not taking advantage of anything,” he said firmly. “I’m here because I care about you, not because I
