Semua Bab Through The Gate Of Love: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Panic crept in as Cedrissa realized Alaric was nowhere to be found. She had woken up early, determined to continue the previous night’s discussion, but her search of the house yielded nothing. She went to the main entrance guards, and he revealed Alaric had left in a hurry with Easton before dawn.Undeterred, she pressed the guard for answers, but he remained tight-lipped. Frustrated, she tried calling Alaric, but his phone was dead. Without Easton’s contact info, she had limited options. She approached Amabel, despite suspecting she’d come up empty-handed. After all, what would Amabel know about Alaric’s whereabouts?“Don’t worry, dear. It’s just his monthly ritual.” Amabel said soothingly, her hand resting reassuringly on Cedrissa’s shoulder.Cedrissa’s brow furrowed in confusion as she repeated, “monthly ritual?” Her voice was laced with uncertainty. “What do you mean?”Amabel’s expression turned knowing, a slight smile appearing on her face. “From the 20th to the end of the month,

Amabel’s face darkened with fury, her eyes blazing as she whispered, “that bastard! How could he?” Her hands balled into fists, the fabric of her dress straining beneath her tight grip.Felix’s gaze dropped, his jaw clenched in simmering anger and frustration. Alaric’s sudden reappearance had undone all his progress, casting a shadow over his accomplishments once again. The memory of his mother’s confident prediction—that Alaric’s star would fade—now seemed laughable. Alaric was back, and he was stealing the show.Chairman Dawson’s expression turned glacial, his eyes drifting away from Alaric and Cressida with deliberate slowness. He raised his wineglass to his lips, his movements calculated and precise, revealing nothing of his true thoughts or feelings.Cressida glided across the room, her movements poised and confident, as she took her place beside Easton, behind Alaric’s chair. “May I?” She asked, her voice smooth and polite.Easton nodded and stepped aside with a slight curtsy.Cr

Alaric sipped his wine, his gaze roaming over her from head to toe. “What’s wrong?” Cressida asked, but he remained silent. She checked herself, wondering if she'd spilled something on her dress, but found nothing. “What are you looking at?” She asked again. His eyes met hers, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Nothing,” he said, his voice low. “You just look beautiful in that dress.” Cressida’s face lit up with a soft smile, her tone grateful. “Thanks.” Just then, Felix spoke up, his voice breaking the moment. “Today’s been a wild ride!” Cressida’s eyes widened as she sensed Felix’s approach might lead to trouble. She turned to face him, but Alaric’s grip on her hand stopped her. “Leaving my side for him again?” He asked, his eyebrow arched authoritatively. He released her hand, his voice softening. “Don’t worry, you can go. I understand.” Cressida shook her head, her eyes locked on his. “No, I’m staying with you.” She said, her smile faltered, replaced by a determined look. Feli

Later in the evening~Cressida entered the room, cradling a plate of food in her hands like a delicate treasure. She approached the couch with measured steps, setting the plate down on the table with precision.Alaric’s eyes lifted from his phone, his gaze drifting to her. “What’s that?” He asked, his voice laced with curiosity.“Your food,” Cressida replied, beaming. “I figured you might be starving since morning, so I whipped up some instant noodles. Wish I knew your favorite meal without having to ask—I’d have surprised you with that.”Alaric raised an eyebrow. “Is cooking noodles considered babysitting?” Before Cressida could respond, he set his phone aside and added, “my favorite meal is pounded yam with egusi—preferably with goat meat, but ponmo will do if goat meat’s not available.”Cressida’s eyes rolled good-naturedly, and she bit back a smile.He caught the gesture and chuckled. “You can mock me to my face—no need to hide it,” he permitted, his tone gentle. He shifted to the

“Ta-da, I’m ready!” Cressida announced, striking a pose with her arms stretched out to the sides and a bright smile.Alaric turned around, and his eyes widened in awe as he took in her transformed appearance. “This is… wow,” he stuttered, struggling to find the words to express his admiration.Cressida had already dressed up, but Alaric had asked her to change into something else because the original dress had been a gift from Felix, and Alaric wanted her to wear the one he had given her instead.“You like this?” She asked, still smiling.Alaric slowly shook her head. “No…” he gave a simple response. A smile appeared on his face, and he raised his voice, confessing, “I love it!”He swiftly steered to her front, gently taking her hand and turning her around to look at her backside as well. He gazed into her eyes, his face radiant with admiration. “You look stunning,” he complimented, his voice filled with sincerity. “We should get more dresses in this style. It suits you perfectly.”“Th