Chapter 90
“Alright. I’ll be there soon.”
“Me too.”
I grabbed my things and left the office, my heart pounding.
I thought I would arrive first, but he had beaten me to it. I spotted him sitting at a table by himself.
It was easy to find him–he always stood out just by being himself.
Autumn’s warm, golden sunlight streamed through the window, bathing him in its glow. His simple white shirt with rolled–up sleeves caught the light, and he had removed his jacket, hanging it next to him.
The shop’s decorative purple flowers bloomed behind him, perfectly complementing the golden hues of his shirt. An ultra–slim laptop sat in front of him. He appeared to be working, a slight frown on his face.
I must have been staring at him for what felt like ages, only snapping out of it when someone walked past me.
I took a deep breath to steady myself, offering a smile as I approached him. “Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
His frown vanished, replaced by a warm smile. “No, no. I just arrived.”
A waitress approached our table.
After I ordered my usual hot chocolate, I asked, “What would you like?”
I was about to hand him the menu when he simply smiled at the waitress and said, “Black coffee, please.” The waitress looked at him, clearly taken aback by his smile. “O–Of course! I’ll get both orders right away!”
I was a little surprised by his choice. “You’re into the bitter side of things, huh?”
In contrast, I was all about hot chocolate–no exceptions.
Edward had once complained it was too sweet and couldn’t understand how anyone could finish a cup. At the time, I’d joked that my life had been so full of hardships that I needed the sweetest thing on Earth to balance it out.
Soren grinned. “You should give it a try. You might love the aroma.”
“Nah. Pass,” I replied quickly. “I can’t handle it. I only like sweet things.‘ Our tastes were the complete opposite, weren’t they?
11
Little did I know, a few years later, I would develop a taste for black coffee too–or that he would sometimes drink my hot chocolate, either from my cup or… from my mouth.
Silence settled over us. Then, remembering why I was there I reached into my bag and pulled out an elegant box. “My birthday gift for Madame Kenway,” I said, sliding the box toward him. “Please pass my regards and best wishes to her!”
He seemed surprised. “Oh! How did you know my mom likes these kinds of designs?”
“It was easy to guess from the designs she wanted. She has a taste for simple yet classic styles that evoke the aristocrats of old. Honestly, I think she looks perfect in that kind of aesthetic. Your mom’s elegance suits it.”
“You’re incredibly observant. Thank you.”
+25 BO
Chapter 90
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. He had accepted it!
The Kenways must have been gifted expensive jewelry countless times, so seeing him accept my humble gift felt
like an honor.
I couldn’t help but laugh. 1
“Hmm? What’s so funny?” he asked.
“I thought you wouldn’t care much for them, to be honest, I admitted.
