Dylan paced back and forth in the grand room, his expression tense, his movements sharp. "Tell me, what happened?" he demanded, his voice firm but controlled.
Butler Feng stepped forward, holding a neatly stacked pile of elegant dresses. "Sir, you ordered these garments for the young lady."
Dylan nodded, his gaze flickering toward the dresses. "Yes, they're for her. Take them to her wardrobe, but make sure she doesn't find out." His tone left no room for argument.
Feng hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Do you want me to hide them, sir? Or simply not tell Miss Ember that you purchased them?"
Dylan say, "Just do as I say. She'll figure it out in time."
Meanwhile, Ember had been working tirelessly, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. Finally, she finished her task and she called him, her voice weary, almost pleading. "Dylan, I've done it. Can I take a break now?"
Dylan glanced at her, then back at Feng. "Just hurry up," he instructed the butler. "Before she goes to her room. I'll keep her distracted for a few minutes."
Feng gave a respectful nod. "Understood, sir."
In the Garden
The gentle rustling of leaves and the soft hum of the breeze filled the air, wrapping the garden in a serene embrace. Ember sat at a small table, her head resting on her arms. The weight of the day had pulled her into a deep slumber, her breathing steady and peaceful while waiting for dylan.
Dylan arrived, his steps slowing as he took in the sight before him. Ember was already fast asleep, her chest rising and falling in a soothing rhythm. A small smile tugged at his lips. "She's fallen asleep," he whispered.
He leaned in slightly, his gaze lingering on her serene expression. "She's sleeping so soundly," he murmured, a quiet warmth filling his voice. As he watched her, a thought surfaced in his mind, "This is where I first found you… and where I fell in love with you."
Just then, the sharp ring of his phone shattered the tranquility.
Dylan quickly silenced it, not wanting to wake her. But in her dreamy state, Ember shifted slightly, mumbling, "Dylan, stop it... I don't want to study anymore..."
A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "She's too cute," he murmured before stepping away to take the call.
On the Phone
Dylan answered the call with a polite yet calm tone. "Hello, sir."
On the other end, the director's voice came through, slightly hurried. "Mr. Dylan, we need some photos for the film's announcement. The actress is arriving in an hour, and we need you here as soon as possible. It's urgent."
Dylan sighed, his gaze drifting back to Ember, who was still fast asleep, her face peaceful in the quiet afternoon light. "Sir, I respect you. You don't need to make requests—just give me an order. You're my boss, after all, Emir."
A brief silence followed before a familiar voice corrected him. "Dylan, call me 'Director,' not Emir. I know we're friends, but this is business."
Dylan chuckled softly. "Okay, Director. I'll be there soon."
"Good," Emir—no, the Director—responded. "We're waiting for you at the set."
Dylan exhaled, stealing one last glance at Ember before turning away. With a deep breath, he walked toward the car, ready to leave for the film set.
Ember yawned softly, her voice groggy as she murmured, "Dylan... Dylan..."
Her sleepy eyes scanned the room, searching for the familiar presence she was sure she had just heard. Blinking away the lingering drowsiness, she finally spotted someone standing nearby.
"Dylan?" she asked, her voice a little clearer now. "Why are you just standing there?"
Still caught in a sleepy daze, Ember took a step toward him—only for her foot to slip unexpectedly.
"Ahhh!" she gasped, feeling herself lose balance.
In an instant, Dylan moved, catching her before she could hit the ground. The momentum sent them tumbling down together, Ember landing right in his lap.
For a moment, everything stilled. Their faces were just inches apart, the world shrinking until it was only the two of them.
Ember's cheeks burned as she whispered, "Thank you for catching me."
Dylan smirked, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You're welcome. Are you fully awake now?"
Ember nodded quickly, suddenly very aware of their proximity. "Yes... totally awake now."
Dylan tilted his head, his lips curling into a playful smile. "So, what's your plan?"
"Plan? About what?" Ember blinked, trying to remember if she had forgotten something. "Wait, did I forget something?"
Dylan's smirk deepened. "When are you planning to get up from my lap?"
Ember's eyes widened in sudden realization. "Oh! Right! Sorry!" She scrambled to her feet, her face flushed. "Sorry... sorry!"
Dylan stood up as well, chuckling. "Don't apologize for that. If you like sitting on my lap, just tell me next time. No need to be in such a hurry."
Ember gasped, her hands flying to her hips. "Dylan!"
Before she could say anything else, Butler Feng appeared at the door. "Sir, the car is ready."
Ember turned to Dylan, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Where are you going?"
"I have an urgent photoshoot today," Dylan replied, glancing at her. "You stay here and study, alright?"
In the back of his mind, he thought,' Say you don't want to leave me. Tell me you want to come with me. But the words never left his lips.
Ember hesitated for a moment, hoping he would ask her to go with him. Instead, she simply nodded. "Okay..." She turned away, feeling an unexpected pang of disappointment.
Ask me to come... she thought, willing him to stop her.
But Dylan only watched her retreat, casually saying, "Bye."
Such a stubborn girl.
Just as she reached the door, Ember paused and turned back. "Wait."
Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you want to come. I'm not taking you with me."
Ember crossed her arms, feigning indifference. "I don't want to go to your photoshoot. I was just going to ask if you could drop me off at the library."
Dylan smirked. "Why?"
"I want to practice some dance routines," she replied, her voice light yet determined.
Dylan let out a low chuckle, his gaze lingering on her. "Alright, alright. Go get ready."
Ember turned to leave but stopped short, throwing him a knowing glance. "Wait, you should change too. You're still in your night clothes."
Dylan looked down at himself, then grinned. "Yeah, I know. I'll go change."
"Bye!" Ember called as she headed toward her room.
Dylan watched her disappear before turning to Butler Feng. "Tell the driver to wait."
"Yes, sir," Butler Feng replied obediently.
In Ember's Room
Standing inside her closet, Ember paused, her eyes narrowing as she took in the overwhelming number of clothes. A small frown formed on her lips as she rummaged through the dresses, her hands pausing when she recognized a few of them.
"Why are all these dresses here?" she whispered to herself, confusion flickering in her eyes.
Her fingers traced the fabric, memories resurfacing. "I remember these… When I went shopping with Dylan, he rejected them for the party..." Her brows furrowed. "But why are they in my closet now? He didn't want me to wear them then, so why would he put them here?"
As she absentmindedly sorted through the pile, her fingers brushed against something at the bottom—a neatly wrapped package.
"What's this?" she murmured, curiosity sparking as she carefully picked it up.
Ember's fingers traced the edges of the package as she carefully pulled it open. Inside, a neatly folded letter caught her attention. Her heart fluttered at the sight of the familiar handwriting, a soft smile forming on her lips.
The Letter:
"Dear Sweetheart,
I wanted to give you these dresses because you look beautiful in everything you wear. You're probably wondering why I rejected them when we went shopping together—It's just that these are sexier, and I wanted to surprise you by buying all of them for you so you can wear them when we go on a date. Do you like it?
Love,
Dylan."
A warm blush spread across Ember's cheeks as she read the letter, her heart swelling with affection. "Oh, that's so sweet..." she whispered, feeling a soft flutter in her chest.
Reaching into the package, she pulled out a breathtaking ocean-blue dress adorned with delicate silver pearls. The fabric shimmered, reflecting the light like the sea under the moonlit sky. It was elegant, long, and graceful—perfect for a special occasion.
She held it against herself, admiring its beauty. "I'll save this for something special," she mused, carefully hanging it up in her closet.
Meanwhile, in Dylan's Room…
Dylan stood in front of his closet, running a hand through his hair as he pondered. "What should I wear?" His gaze drifted to a small box tucked away on the shelf.
"What's this?" he murmured, reaching for it with curiosity.
Sitting on his bed, he carefully opened the box, his breath hitching as he uncovered a beautifully crafted silver brooch. The delicate piece gleamed under the light, diamonds embedded in an intricate design. At its center, the initials "E" and "D" were intertwined, and just below them, a single word was engraved— "Forever."
His heart skipped a beat.
Tucked beneath the brooch was a folded letter. With a deep breath, Dylan unfolded it, his eyes scanning the familiar handwriting.
The Letter:
"Honey,
I know you get a little sad when you think I give gifts to someone else, but that's not true. I got this gift for you first, and then I decided to get something for the birthday boy too. So, don't be jealous of your friend. It's you, and only you, that I love.
Sending you lots of kisses and hugs,
Yours,
Baby."
Dylan's expression softened, his usual cool demeanor cracking as warmth spread through his chest. He reread the words, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips.
"She wrote this for me?" he whispered, his voice filled with quiet wonder. He chuckled softly, his fingers tracing over the letter. "She called me ' honey... That's so cute."
Just then, Ember's voice rang from the hallway.
"Dylan, I'm ready! Let's go!"
Snapping out of his thoughts,
Dylan quickly tucked the brooch and letter back into the box, standing up as a quiet chuckle escaped his lips. His heart still lingered in the warmth of Ember's words, a secret happiness blooming within him.
"Coming," he called out, his voice light with amusement. A small, knowing smile played on his lips as he stepped out of the room.
I'm not going to tell her about the brooch... not yet. The thought sent a rush of excitement through him as they prepared to leave together.
In the Car
Silence hung between them, the soft hum of the engine the only sound filling the air. Ember sat beside Dylan, her fingers idly playing with the hem of her dress, but her mind was anything but calm.
Why isn't he saying anything? she wondered, sneaking a glance at him. He's always so talkative, but today... something feels different.
There was something in his expression—a quiet kind of happiness. His lips twitched as if he was suppressing a smile, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
Why is he hiding it from me?
A sudden pang of doubt clenched at her heart. Is he happy because he's going to meet someone else? Someone he likes? No… I'm overthinking, but... he's definitely hiding something.
Before she could dwell on it further, Dylan's voice broke the silence, catching her off guard.
"Have you seen enough of me?" he teased, leaning in slightly, his tone laced with playful mischief. "You're staring at me like you're waiting for a kiss… or maybe something more."
Ember's eyes widened, her cheeks instantly flushing. "Stop!" she protested, but her voice wavered as he inched even closer.
Then, without warning, Dylan closed the distance between them and kissed her.
Her breath hitched in shock, her mind momentarily going blank. But as the realization hit, she gasped, pushing him away with a startled cry.
"Ugh! Dylan, stop!"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath coming in uneven bursts.
Dylan immediately pulled back, his teasing demeanor vanishing. Concern etched into his features as he reached for her. "Hey, Ember… breathe. Just breathe."
She turned away, pressing a trembling hand to her chest, her heart pounding wildly.
"Don't… don't do that again," she whispered, her voice shaky, raw with unspoken emotions.
Guilt flickered in Dylan's eyes. He hadn't meant to startle her like that. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Ember inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. Dylan silently reached for a bottle of water, twisting off the cap before handing it to her.
"Drink this," he said gently, his voice full of quiet sincerity.
Ember took the bottle from Dylan's hand, her fingers still trembling slightly as she drank slowly. The cool water soothed her dry throat, grounding her emotions bit by bit.
"Mm-hmm..." she nodded, signaling that she was feeling a little better.
"Slowly," Dylan murmured, his voice laced with concern.
The driver cleared his throat before speaking. "Sir, we've reached the college."
Ember turned her gaze toward the window, the familiar sight of campus coming into view. Yet, her mind remained a tangled mess of emotions. She exhaled softly before turning to Dylan, her voice steadier now.
"I'm okay. You can go now. You've got work to do."
Dylan studied her carefully, his expression still shadowed with guilt. "I'm really sorry about before."
"Don't say sorry," Ember replied, her tone gentle yet firm. Her fingers tightened around the bottle as she kept her gaze lowered, unable to meet his eyes. After a brief pause, she hesitated before asking, "Can I take the water bottle with me?"
"Of course," Dylan answered without hesitation, his voice warm.
Ember gave a small nod, still avoiding his eyes. "Okay... I'm going. Bye."
Dylan watched her closely, unwilling to let the moment end on such a heavy note. "I'll come pick you up later. Call me when you're done," he offered softly.
Ember hesitated for a second before mumbling, "Okay..." Then, without another word, she turned and walked away—her steps quick, as if trying to outrun the whirlwind of emotions that still swirled inside her.
Dylan sat in the back seat of the car, staring out of the window, but his mind was far from the passing streets. His hands clenched into fists on his lap as the weight of his actions sank in.
"Why did I lose control?" he thought, his jaw tightening. "Why do I always lose my composure when I'm with her?"
He could still hear the tremor in Ember's voice, see the way her hands had shaken as she took the water bottle. The way she had hurried away without once looking back burned into his mind. "She looked so scared..."
He exhaled sharply, running a frustrated hand through his hair. The words from her letter echoed in his heart, stirring something deep within him. Every sentence, every affectionate word she had written had made his heart race, had made him want to pull her into his arms and never let go. But instead of cherishing her, he had let his emotions overwhelm him.
"The way she looks at me... those eyes make me crazy," Dylan admitted to himself, his chest tightening. "But what I did... it wasn't right. I kissed her without her consent."
Guilt gnawed at him. He had always prided himself on being in control, on never crossing a line. But today, he had let his emotions overpower reason. He had seen the fear in her eyes, the way she had struggled to steady her breathing, and yet, he had done nothing to ease her pain in that moment. Instead, she had been the one to walk away, putting distance between them.
"What if she never forgives me? What if I ruined everything between us?" The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
Dylan leaned his head back against the seat, closing his eyes for a moment. "I need to make this right. I need to apologize properly... and this time, I need to show her that she's safe with me."
But deep down, he wondered—had he already lost the chance?