Miranda stared at Nolan, her emotions swirling like a tempest inside her. The silence between them grew heavy, pregnant with unspoken thoughts until she finally broke it.
"You manipulated me," she stated simply, her tone neutral, neither accusatory nor appreciative. "You intentionally arranged for me to catch them having sex."
"Yes," Nolan admitted without hesitation. "I did."
His straightforward admission, devoid of excuses or justification, struck her in a peculiar way—both cutting deeper and somehow providing clarity. Miranda searched his face for any indication of remorse, but found none.
"Do you regret what you did?" she asked, hoping his feelings might be hidden beneath his stoic exterior.
"I regret that it caused you pain. I don't regret preventing you from marrying him. And I certainly don't regret that you're mine now."
