After a moment, Cain, perplexed, extended the bouquet to Lila, her face filled with bewilderment, as he calculated the price.
"It seemed like something you would want."
"It's fine... Thank you."
Lila responded, taken aback, as she received the flowers. She felt grateful and pleased, yet the unexpected gesture weighed on her, creating a sense of unease. He was such a peculiar person. Although he seemed indifferent, he was always aware of everything that concerned her. That fact stirred her heart.
"Don't worry about it. I give it because I want to."
"Yes."
"You can think of it as a gift from a husband."
"But you're not really my husband."
Laila unintentionally looked up at him and spoke.
"Even if it's only on paper, we are still a married couple..."
He murmured softly, pushing up the corner of his lips.
"A couple is a couple."
"..."
She knew it wasn't meant to carry any deeper meaning, yet her heart raced. It was her first time seeing a play, walking the streets without anxiety, hearing a beautiful melody, and receiving flowers from a man.
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It is a time when emotions intensify amidst the atmosphere, people, and scenery.
Curiously, she quickly buried her nose in the midst of flowers as her mood began to feel peculiar. The intense fragrance of chrysanthemums pleasantly wafted up.
Not only the gift of flowers, but today his smiles, too, refused to be brushed aside. His contrasting warm smile, juxtaposed against his cold demeanor, captivated her gaze. As his sharp features softened into a pleasing curve, she found herself involuntarily responding with a smile.
Could this be permissible?
Am I allowed to indulge in such a romance?
Among the men Laila had encountered, the strongest one naturally flowed into the vulnerability she felt. It was as if she was becoming addicted to the sense of security offered by Cain Vanderbilt.
***
Cain no longer toiled within the carriage.
"I wanted to enjoy our honeymoon," he expressed with a gleam in his eyes.
He engaged in conversation with Laila, predominantly listening to her words rather than being the one to speak. Though she was not usually loquacious, her verbosity seemed to flourish in his presence. There were reasons for this newfound volubility, not only to evade awkwardness but also because such experiences were foreign to her, inadvertently igniting her enthusiasm. She had never experienced someone attentively listening to her, showing interest in her words.
As Cain grew acquainted with Laila, he lavished her with meticulous attention. Whenever scenic spots, historical sites, museums, or art galleries emerged on their journey, he led her through them without bypassing a single one. Whenever someone approached to introduce themselves, Cain, positioning Laila by his side, would declare:
"This is my wife."
Unfamiliar words gradually became familiar, and she occasionally felt as if she had truly become Mrs. Cain Vanderbilt. Yet, upon regaining her senses, she would chuckle wryly, chastising herself.
Laila found herself wholeheartedly immersed in the world he unveiled before her. The humiliation and unease she had experienced during the courtship process gradually faded away. She felt grateful for his proposal of marriage and savored every moment. The future could be contemplated later. After all, it wouldn't be the worst of circumstances, akin to escaping the blasting site only to be caught by a constable.