But as he thought about some gossip he'd overheard, his smile faded.

He wondered if Maggie knew about the rumors surrounding Sanford.

"Karl, I'll take good care of Kairi. You should get back to your work,"

Maggie said, subtly hinting that it was time for him to leave.

Karl blinked, snapping back to reality, and sighed softly.

"Do you really not want to spend more time with me?" he asked, his voice quiet.

Maggie lowered her gaze, still holding the kitten. "Karl, we can't be together. You shouldn't keep spending time on me."

Karl fixed his gaze on her, intense and unyielding. "What if Sanford isn't able to satisfy you in a relationship? Won't that bother you?"

Maggie was caught off guard by his blunt question. She didn't know why he'd bring up something so personal, but she answered honestly, "I like him, so I accept everything about him, including his flaws."

Karl felt a pang of bitterness. "Are you sure? If he is impotent, then you won't be able to have any children. Don't you think motherhood is an important part of being a woman?"

Maggie fell silent as Karl's words settled over her like a heavy mist.

"Things won't always go as you wish," she murmured after a long pause.

"Sometimes Life comes with regrets, and I'll learn to accept them."

Her gaze softened, yet determination flickered in her eyes, like a flame fighting the wind.

Karl studied her for a moment, his chest tightening with an emotion he couldn't quite name. Tenderness? Frustration? Pity?

He envied Sanford all over again. Lucky bastard!

How could someone as remarkable as Maggie be so devoted to Sanford, a playboy who squandered her love without a second thought?

"Maggie," Karl began, his tone laced with exasperation, "you're so devoted to him, but he doesn't care about you, does he? The Robles family is Looking for a suitable match for him-someone from their world. Even if you wait forever, they'll never let you in."

Maggie's fingers trailed through the soft fur of the cat in her lap, her lashes fluttering as she absorbed his words.

"Karl, I trust Sanford. He won't abandon me."

But even as she said it, an ache settled in her chest. She was afraid, uncertain. Yet, she clung to Rosalynn's promise. Rosalynn had told her to wait, so she would wait.

Karl sighed, frowning. "Maggie, how can you be so naive? Are you going to wait until he's married to give up?"

She didn't answer. Her fingers tightened around the cat, her silence louder than words.

The air grew heavy with unspoken emotions. Karl leaned back, exhaling a deep sigh.