Iris was genuinely taken aback by Charles' question.
Yeah, why couldn't she say no?
"Maybe it's because... I didn't know I could," Iris slowly replied. "Have you ever heard the story of the circus elephant?"
"What circus elephant?" Charles asked, confused.
"Well, when a circus trains a baby elephant, they tie it to a small stake. The elephant tries with all its might, but it can never break free," Iris paused, her heart fluttering as Charles stared intently at her, his figure bathed in the soft glow of the evening light.
She calmed herself down before continuing, "But as the elephant grows up, even though it becomes strong enough to pull the stake from the ground, it doesn't even try anymore because..."
Iris suddenly stopped.
Charles finished the story for her. "Because it's convinc
