"Morning, sunshine."
Hazel padded into the kitchen, her bare feet making soft sounds on the marble floor.
Adrian was already there, dressed in his usual black-on-black suit, flipping through a financial report like it was his morning comic strip.
She poured herself some orange juice.
Then frowned.
"Wait… where's the cookie?"
He looked up, puzzled.
"You always leave me a cookie," she said. "It's like… our unspoken love language."
Still silent.
She squinted at him. "Did someone steal your cookie spirit? Is this a cry for help?"
Adrian blinked.
Then, without a word, he nodded toward the dining table.
Hazel turned.
There was a folder.
A thick one.
She raised an eyebrow. "That better not be a business proposal. I haven't had caffeine yet."
She opened it.
Then froze.
Inside were property papers.
Deeds. Keys. Title transfer documents.
Photos.
A mansion.
A real-life castle. Not just big—it looked like a Disney princess and an interior designer had a baby and decorated it with fairy dust and marble.
Her name was on the title.
Hazel blinked. "What the hell…"
She flipped the first page.
And saw a note, handwritten.
Just four words:
You said you liked it.
Her mind rewound.
Two days ago.
They'd driven past that house.
She'd pressed her face to the car window like a kid at Disneyland and said, "Wow, if I ever live in a place like that, I'll die smiling."
She never thought he'd heard.
She never thought he'd remember.
Let alone… buy it.
She looked up at him.
"You bought me a mansion," she said slowly.
Adrian said nothing.
"You bought me a WHOLE HOUSE," she repeated, louder now.
Still nothing.
"You could've just given me a second cookie, you maniac!"
He looked mildly amused.
Hazel laughed—full and bright. She clutched the folder like it was a puppy.
"I can't believe this. You actually… you…"
Her voice trailed off.
Because his gaze, for once, wasn't cold.
It wasn't calculating.
It was warm.
Quiet.
Hopeful.
And Hazel suddenly realized—
He didn't do this to impress her.
He did it to make her happy.
She stepped closer, the folder still in her hands.
"Adrian…"
He looked down at her.
"Thank you."
A pause.
Then—she stood on tiptoe.
And kissed his cheek.
Soft. Quick. Barely there.
But enough to make him freeze like a system crash.
She grinned. "That's for the house."
Then turned and walked out, humming to herself.
Behind her, Adrian slowly touched the spot on his cheek.
Still warm.
⸻
That night, Hazel added a new entry to her journal:
Day 5:
He bought me a mansion.
I kissed him.
He didn't pass out.
Progress.
She smiled to herself.
Then underlined the word:
Progress.