HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 74: The first date (2)

’’I take your reaction that you like the food.’’

’’.....’’ Ayana’s cheeks were stuffed with lobster, making it impossible to respond with words. She didn’t trust her voice at the moment, so she settled for a series of quick nods instead.

Axel found her reaction cute and smiled to himself as he cut out a piece of his smoke salmon on the plate.

’’I’m glad.’’ He said before taking a bite. Ayana watched him eating for a moment, then went back to her own meal without a word.

’’I’ve not had lobster in a long time.’’ She mentioned a while later, after taking a sip of water.

’’Really?’’ Axel glanced up at her.

’’Yes, I don’t really eat out unless I have business meetings. How does your salmon taste?’’

’’It’s...smoky?’’

’’That’s literally the name of the meal, Axel.’’

’’Well, I am describing the taste, aren’t I?’’ They chuckled lightly together as they engaged in more conversations.

The atmosphere was light and relaxing as the words flowed out more easily between them. They brought some affairs of their respective workplace since they have similar careers. Ayana mentioned some of her struggles and Axel being much experienced and older than her offered some sincere advice, which she appreciated deeply.

The earlier tension within Ayana melted away as she laughed and spoke out more with Axel. She had to admit that she was really enjoying the dinner date.

Axel had ordered them a full three-course meal, so they spent quite a long time at the French restaurant.

’I’m stuffed.’ Outside the restaurant, Ayana felt the small bulge of her stomach as she waited for her fiancé near the building. She had really eaten her fill for her belly to be this bloated. Even though she had always eaten in tiny portions, Ayana couldn’t put down her cutlery during her meal in the restaurant.

The dessert, though, had been her favorite part of the meal.

’I must come again sometime, maybe with Noah and Jason.’ She planned to bring her family next time that her schedule was not tight and when they were all free. The weekends seemed perfect for them to dine at the restaurant together.

She guaranteed that Noah and Jason would love this restaurant like she does now.

’’Sorry to keep you waiting.’’ Axel apologized, appearing in front of her. ’’We can go now.’’

Ayana nodded, ready to leave, but was caught off guard when Axel immediately reached for her hand without warning.

Her breath hitched at the sudden gesture, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she met his gaze in surprise. They held each other’s gaze for a moment before Axel turned away and lightly tug her forward. She allowed him and they began strolling down the quiet sidewalk together.

’I should prepare myself for something like this next time we meet.’ Ayana told herself, as she could feel the pounding of her heart against her chest.

’’~Oh my, did you see him? So handsome!’’ Two ladies passed by them and a voice, belonging to one of them was very audible.

’’Shh! You’re a bit too loud.’’

’’The lady with him looks a bit familiar, though. Have I seen her somewhere before?’’

’’You’re being too rude, Edna. She might be his girlfriend.’’

Ayana heard the other lady cautioning her friend. But her attention didn’t dwell on the ladies’ conversation, rather, she silently lifted her gaze to the person of their admiration.

At the restaurant, Axel had taken off his suit jacket and loosened his tie with a few top buttons. Right now, the suit jacket was folded on his other arm as they held hands.

Sensing her gaze, Axel lowered his to hers and asked. ’’Is something wrong?’’

’’Why didn’t you call for the car earlier?’’ She blurted out without thinking. After realizing how weird her words sounded, her eyes widened slightly and face immediately became hot.

Wasn’t she admitting that she was jealous? Ayana shyly dropped her gaze in embarrassment.

Axel stared at her for a moment before looking ahead. ’’I thought we should take a small stroll to digest our food. I didn’t ask for your opinion about this, I apologize.’’

’’No, you did nothing wrong.’’ Ayana immediately raised her gaze to him and denied his sudden apology. She suddenly noticed that the amount of times this man had always apologized to her was certainly more than five, if not ten.

’’Then....’’ He glanced down at her, waiting for the reason of her words.

’’...’’ Ayana still avoided his gaze. The embarrassment was still fresh within her. How could she say that she felt uncomfortable because of those ladies staring at him earlier?

Wasn’t she acting the same way she had done for Liam in her past life? Liam had always complained that her jealousy was a bit over the top.

Ayana’s heart dropped as she imagined how Axel would complain of her deep-rooted insecurities if she acted the same as her past self.

’’Did the words from that lady offend you?’’

’’.....!’’ Ayana only pursed her lips in response without looking at him. She neither agreed nor denied his words, and remained silent. That lady’s voice was indeed loud, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that her fiancé had heard those words.

’’Then, let’s return to the car.’’ Axel suddenly stopped on the spot. Ayana snapped her gaze up to him in surprise.

’’What? Why?’’ The light stroll was nice, wasn’t it?

Axel stared down at her. ’’You seem uncomfortable with our stroll, and that lady’s words offended you. It’s best if we returned now.’’

’’No.’’ Ayana did not think twice before rejecting his compromise. She absolutely did not agree. ’’You don’t need to do this for me. Let’s continue our walk.’’

’’But....’’

’’We can’t be standing on the way, Axel.’’ Ayana did not allow him to speak further and pointed out the questioning glances from the others pedestrian on them.

’’.....’’

Axel did not reply and only watched as Ayana took the lead this time. She led them down the sidewalk. Eventually, they continued walking side by side.

’’This is my personal problem.’’ She said a beat after. ’’It’s quite hypocritical for me to feel this way when I shut you out last time. However, that lady was speaking the truth. You’re indeed handsome.’’

And I don’t like how she stared at you.

Ayana finished in her heart.

It wasn’t only that lady but other young women among the pedestrians shyly glanced at Axel with their face flushed red. Indeed, her fiancé was that much of a looker.

’’I’m sorry....’’

"Stop apologizing." Ayana interrupted him firmly. "You’ve made it a habit to apologize every time we meet. You’ve done nothing wrong, Axel, and I don’t need an apology. As I said earlier, this is my personal problem."

’’...’’ A moment of silence settled between them until Axel spoke up. ’’So....you pay attention to me.’’

’’....What?’’ This time, Ayana turned her gaze to him, her confusion evident in her eyes.

Why wouldn’t I pay attention to you? Her eyes seemed to be asking this question.

"No, it’s just..." He glanced ahead, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I’m pleased to know you’ve been paying attention to me."

Ayana blinked, unsure of how to respond to his unexpected remark.

"Whatever you’re dealing with," He continued. "I want you to know that I’m here for you as a friend and your future husband."

Ayana’s chest tightened at his words.

She looked away, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself composed. Instead of speaking, she squeezed his hand lightly, a small but heartfelt gesture. "Thank you."

A beat passed, and then she spoke again, softer this time. "And... I’m sorry too."

Although she appreciated his patience and understanding, there was still a large part of her that believed she didn’t deserve someone like him.

Axel didn’t respond with words. Instead, he hummed quietly and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze in return. The couple enjoyed the rest of their light stroll in a somewhat comfortable atmosphere.

Among the pedestrians around them was a familiar face who recognized Ayana with shocked eyes.

’President Kingston?’ That person was Evelyn, who was having a meeting with some investors and her manager. She was very surprised to see a someone like President Kingston taking a stroll like an average person.

’Who is that man?’ Evelyn recalled the face of the man with President Kingston as she passed him by. Her face flushed slightly as she remembered how handsome he was, much more than nick-named Prince Liam.

To think there was a man that handsome. Evelyn had always known that the city and its dwellers would be deeper and more complicated than her small town.

’’Hey, are you walking or not?’’ Someone snorted lightly behind her and Evelyn quickly apologized, realizing she’d stopped in the middle of the walkway.

’’I’m sorry, ma’am!’’ She stepped aside for the person to pass.

’’If you are, why did you stop then? Tsk! you must have been watching that beautiful couple.’’ The middle-aged woman clicked her tongue and muttered under her breath, loud enough for Evelyn and the other pedestrians to hear. ’’Youngsters nowadays are very brazen and have deeper thoughts. In my own time, if I see a man like that taken, I wouldn’t bother to stare at him and just be on my way! ’’

Evelyn’s face burned in embarrassment as she understood what this middle-aged woman was implying to her.