"I want you to marry Mr. Dad."
Heather blinked, her breath catching in her throat.
Of all the things Alex could have asked for, this was not one she had anticipated.
Her mind had thought about grand adventures—perhaps he'd wish to see the mountaintops, and she'd already begun imagining how she'd carry him there, despite his frail condition.
But this? This was beyond unexpected.
"No," she responded instinctively, the word escaping her lips before she could process it. There was no deliberation, no weighing of options. Just a firm, immediate refusal.
She felt a tightness in her chest, a knot of irritation she couldn't quite place. Her brows furrowed, and she looked at Alex, who looked back with wide, hopeful eyes.
His lips trembled slightly, and she couldn't tell if he was on the verge of tears or simply overwhelmed by emotion.
