Serena tried to pull her hand back, but he caught it in his own.
Her cheeks instantly flamed, turning a shade of red rivaling a ripe apple.
“Y-You… what are you doing?”His handsome face inched closer, their noses nearly touching.
He let out a soft sigh. “Serena… do you know what I’ve been thinking since just now?”
“W-What?”
Serena turned her face slightly, trying to put some space between them—space she desperately needed just to breathe properly.
“Watching you in the kitchen, busy with a simple bowl of pasta… I suddenly felt something I’ve never felt before—happiness. The kind of quiet, ordinary happiness I used to think only existed in novels.”
“I realized… if I could spend my life with you as just an average couple, even if we ate plain pasta every day, I’d still think I’m the luckiest man alive.”
Lowering her eyes, Serena truly couldn’t come up with another excuse at the moment.Sullenly, she said, “My mind’s a mess. Give me some time to think things through.”“Alright! How much time do you need?”“I… I don’t know. Maybe not long, maybe a long time. When I’ve really thought it through, I’ll give you an answer.”Xavier’s face turned solemn, and he didn’t speak again.The sudden silence made the atmosphere inside the house feel heavy.Just when Serena thought he’d become impatient with her for being indecisive, Xavier solemnly replied, “Alright, I’ll wait for you. No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait.”“You… you’re really willing to wait? What if… it takes me years to figure it out?”He tilted his lips into a smile and looked at her. “I’ve already made up my mind&
Serena tried to pull her hand back, but he caught it in his own.Her cheeks instantly flamed, turning a shade of red rivaling a ripe apple.“Y-You… what are you doing?”His handsome face inched closer, their noses nearly touching.He let out a soft sigh. “Serena… do you know what I’ve been thinking since just now?”“W-What?”Serena turned her face slightly, trying to put some space between them—space she desperately needed just to breathe properly.“Watching you in the kitchen, busy with a simple bowl of pasta… I suddenly felt something I’ve never felt before—happiness. The kind of quiet, ordinary happiness I used to think only existed in novels.”“I realized… if I could spend my life with you as just an average couple, even if we ate plain pasta every day, I’d still think I’m the luckiest man alive.”
Like a sudden flash, Poppy’s face popped into her mind—beautiful, undeniably so, but with a charm that was impossible to like.She remembered how that woman had always boasted about knowing the truth behind Gaius’ death.Serena had never been sure how much of it was true and how much was just empty bluff—but Poppy hadn’t seemed like she was making it all up.If Xavier’s people had already hit a wall in their investigation… maybe she could try approaching Poppy herself?“Serena?” the man beside her leaned closer. “What are you thinking about?”Serena blinked, snapping out of it. “Nothing.”She lit up her phone screen and checked the time. “Are you hungry?”Xavier patted his stomach—which had been audibly protesting its emptiness for a while now. “Nope. Not at all. I don’t feel like going out to eat. I’d rather stay here wi
“Roommate?!” Serena shook her head at once. “No need! I’m fine living alone. Besides, I already told you, I don’t like dealing with strangers. If you bring in someone I don’t know and make me live with them under the same roof, won’t that just make things worse?!”“Well then… what if it’s someone you do know?”“Someone I know?!”The first person that came to Serena’s mind was Vega.She had recently had a falling out with her parents over work and moved out. Now, she was renting a place on her own.If she moved in, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. It could help Vega save some rent, and Serena would have someone to talk to.Blinking, her tone softened a little. “That... could work…”Before she could finish her sentence, Xavier’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, “Great! That means you agreed!”?
“Why aren’t you moving?” Xavier sat in the passenger seat, also not making a move.Serena didn’t dare to look at him. “I am moving, I’m not hesitating!”Even though the words left her mouth, her body still hadn’t budged.“Serena, you’re scared.” His tone was certain.“I’m not!” she snapped, then bit her lip, grabbed her purse, and immediately pushed open the car door.Standing outside the driver’s seat, she raised her eyebrows at the man still sitting inside. “Come on! You’re the one not moving now!”The man tilted his head, hands resting behind his head, his smile casual. “If you’re having second thoughts, there’s still time to back out.”“Second thoughts?” Serena sneered. “What would I regret? You make it sound like I’m actually afraid of you.”“No regrets?&rdq
The man was wearing a mask, so his appearance wasn’t visible.“Who are you? How do you know Xavier?” Xavier asked sternly.The man stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, didn’t answer the question, but instead examined Xavier’s face closely.“You look just like him! Uncannily similar!”“Cut the crap. Are you trying to scam someone right at their doorstep? Who the hell are you?!” Xavier was starting to lose his patience.This guy had suddenly jumped in front of Serena’s car. His intentions were still unclear.And now he was even bringing up his name—clearly he not only knew Xavier but possibly Serena as well!“You tell me first—what’s your relationship with Xavier? Then I’ll tell you who I am!”Unexpectedly, the man wasn’t intimidated at all and spoke righteously.Xavier actually let out a laugh from being so annoyed.