HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 73: The first date (1)

Ever since she and her fiancé had parted on half-good terms and half-bad terms, Ayana had been rather unsettled from her heart.

She was the one who had decided to distance herself from Axel, yet she was the same person feeling terrible about her choice.

Humans would always be greedy and never satisfied.

In her office, her eyes would unconsciously glance tat her phone on the office desk from time to time during her work. At home, she would lay on the bed, preparing to sleep. Her phone would be held up in the air and she would stare at the blank screen as though waiting for something.

Without anyone telling her, Ayana knew she had been silently expecting either a message or call from her fiancé.

Axel had asked her out on a dinner date earlier through their chat. She hadn’t written a reply because she was in a hurry and almost late to a meeting with a CEO of a popular fashion brand.

Her schedule for the entire day was so filled that she had no time to spare for her phone. Sam’s words had indeed reminded of the pending message that she hadn’t replied to on her phone.

Ayana could only hope that Axel had not assumed that she had ignored him.

’Please pick up.’ As the black SUV drove to the restaurant that Axel had mentioned in the message, Ayana also tried to call her fiancé ahead of time.

Who knows if he had taken her silence as a rejection...or he could be waiting for her. Ayana silently wished for the latter.

’’Ayana?’’ Fortunately, he picked up the call after the umpteenth ring.

’’Where are you?’’ Ayana went straight to the point. She wanted to know if he had cancelled the date because of her lack of response.

There was silence on the call before his deep voice came through the speaker. ’’I’m near Étoile Royale. Are you coming?’’

’’Yes, I am.’’ Ayana replied almost too quickly. ’’I’m sorry for not responding earlier. I was quite swamped with work.’’

’’I guessed as much.’’ Axel accepted her excuse calmly. ’’Well, I’m already at Étoile Royale. I’ve booked dinner and will be waiting for you inside, Ayana.’’’

’’Alright, thank you.’’ That was the literal end of their conversation. Well, they would be seeing each other soon anyway, so Ayana had no qualms in ending the call with a relieved heart.

Étoile Royale, a French restaurant, was situated near the heart of the city. The traffic was quite light, so Ayana did not spend much on the busy road.

She arrived at the restaurant, and the hostess welcomed with a professional smile. ’’Good evening ma’am, do you have a reservation?

’’Yes, Under Axel Kratos.’’

The hostess checked the list on the computer for a moment and nodded when seeing the familiar name.

’’Right this way, ma’am.’’ The hostess glanced at her colleague standing by and Ayana was led through another door, further into the restaurant.

The aroma of exquisite dishes wafted through the air—roasted truffle duck, aged steaks, and freshly baked bread mingled with the faintest hint of something sweet, likely from the dessert menu. Ayana was familiar with their aroma, and her stomach grumbled slightly, like a reminder that she hadn’t eaten much today.

She passed by some elegantly dressed diners in the restaurant as the hostess led her to a secluded corner of the restaurant. Ayana found Axel going through the menu and waiting for her at their table.

She unconsciously caught her breath at the sight. Even her feet felt a bit heavy to take another step towards him.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Axel slowly looked up and his eyes collided with hers. They unmistakably lit up as he let go the menu and stood up as she approached the table.

’’Good evening.’’ She greeted softly and sat down, feeling a bit jittery. On the side was the hostess tactfully left, seeing that her job was done.

’’Yes, good evening.’’ Axel sat down right after. There was a momentary pause before his next words. ’’I thought you wouldn’t come.’’

’’I apologize for not replying on time, once again.’’

’’It’s fine. I understand.’’

No one spoke after that. Or rather, the couple did not continue the conversation after that.

The only sound was the soft tune from the piano, and faint clanks of cutlery. Of course, the murmurs and giggles from the diners around them. Ayana being Ayana, was very conscious under Axel’s gaze. Her body was stiff and her eyes were fixed on the tall window near their table.

Just as she wanted to bring up something for them to talk about, a waiter promptly arrived at their table. Her fiancé handled their orders with her opinions. Once the waiter had their orders down, he tactfully left their table.

’’You picked a nice restaurant.’’ Ayana suddenly remarked as she glanced around the high-end interior of the restaurant.

The warm, ambient glow of the chandeliers above reflected in her eyes as she took in the intricate details around her. From the richly textured walls to the polished marble floors that gleamed under the soft lighting, every corner of the restaurant seemed to exude an air of effortless luxury.

’’You haven’t been here before?’’

’’I don’t think so.’’ Ayana replied, trying to recall high-end restaurants she had visited over the years, but her brain could hardly make up ten.

’’You must have been busy.’’

’’Well....’’ Ayana agreed without much words. She was indeed busy trying to assert her power in the Kingston corporation. But, she was sure that Axel must have been much equally as busy as her, if not more than her during those times and now.

Yet, he created time for them to have a dinner date together.

The waiter returned with their meals quite fast, and their dinner began for the evening.

Ayana started with the lobster bisque. Its rich, creamy texture was perfectly balanced with hints of sherry and fresh herbs. And Axel settled for smoked salmon atop some crisp crostini, paired with a splotch of citrus crème fraîche.

Ayana took her first bite. A rich and velvety flavor with an underlying warmth from the sherry seemed to melt in her mouth. The lobster was tender, adding a subtle sweetness that complemented the smooth broth.

She instinctively closed her eyes for a moment to savor the taste. The noise in her stomach also calmed down. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

’It’s so good.’ Her hazel eyes sparkled happily at the delicious meal. Indeed, one could never regret eating from a French restaurant.

*chuckle*

Ayana’s ears twitched at the soft chuckle opposite her, and her body momentarily froze as though caught in an unruly act.

Her ears became slightly warm as she suddenly remembered that she was not alone.

Good food could make someone forgot themselves for a moment.