It was Ford who gently pulled the sobbing Riley out of his arms. His face and eyes were still steeped in exhaustion and despair as he asked her softly,
"So… you're not breaking up with me anymore?"
After all, Ford had spent time in the entertainment industry. He knew exactly how to control the look of desolation in his eyes. Riley was completely thrown off by it.
"No, no—we're not breaking up," she said hurriedly. "As long as you can go on living, you can do whatever you want."
A faint spark of life seemed to return to Ford's eyes.
"Really?" he asked. "You'd even marry me? You'd be willing to marry me?"
Riley had never been a calculating girl to begin with. And in her grief, she'd lost all ability to think rationally. Her only thought was to comfort him, to stop him from harboring any thoughts of ending his life. So she nodded vigorously.
"Yes. I'm willing."
