Together Apart: Her White Moonlight Has Returned Too-Chapter 126: First Kiss in the Snow

The tea in Vera Yves’s hand almost spilled, but Miles promptly helped her steady it.

Miles looked at him with a smile, "Grandpa, you’ll scare Vera like that."

"Vera has been brave since childhood, how could she be scared?" Old Master Monroe glanced discontentedly at Miles, "You’ve lived to be thirty and finally done something to make your grandpa happy! I always said, a good girl like Vera should be my granddaughter-in-law."

Vera’s cheeks flushed slightly, "Grandpa Monroe!"

"You young people always say that a relationship that doesn’t aim for marriage is just messing around!"

Old Master Monroe spoke calmly, "You two have known each other for almost thirty years. Since you’ve decided to be together, don’t dawdle. There’s less than two months until the New Year, though time is tight..."

"Grandpa, Vera and I are indeed dating with marriage in mind," Miles’s voice held a hint of helplessness, "but we also want to enjoy the process of being in love."

"How long do you plan to enjoy it?" Old Master Monroe asked seriously, "I’m getting old. If you two enjoy it for a few years, where will I find great-grandchildren?"

Seeing the topic diverging further, Vera stood up, "I’ll go check if the dishes are ready."

Once Vera left, Old Master Monroe became even more assertive, "As long as I’m here, I’d like to see who dares oppose Vera becoming my granddaughter-in-law."

"Grandpa, Vera and I aren’t in a rush to get married."

"You’re not in a rush, but I am! What if Vera gets snatched away?"

Old Master Monroe’s face darkened, "Also, about your ex-girlfriend, let me tell you, now that your Grandpa Yves isn’t around, Vera is like my real granddaughter. If you dare to let her down, don’t blame me for disowning you as my grandson!"

"Grandpa, I assure you, I would never let Vera down."

After lunch, Miles accompanied Old Master Monroe for a game of chess. Vera watched and occasionally offered advice to Old Master Monroe, who won several games in a row and was in a good mood. He scolded, "You went abroad for a few years and only filled your head with foreign ideas. Look at how your chess skills have declined!"

Miles chuckled, "With Vera backing you up, how would I dare to win?"

Vera’s cheeks flushed slightly, "Who’s stopping you from winning?"

"Who was it who lost a chess match as a child and bit my arm, leaving teeth marks? It still hurts when I think about it now."

Vera felt a bit embarrassed, "I wouldn’t bite you now."

Old Master Monroe stood up with a smile, "Alright, I’m going to take a nap. You two enjoy yourselves."

Once Old Master Monroe left, Vera sat across from Miles, "Why did you have to bring that up in front of Grandpa? It was just that one time I bit you."

Miles looked at her with gentle eyes, "I still remember thinking, you looked quite cute when you pounced on me."

At that time, she was truly frustrated with losing. After all, she practiced for so long with Grandpa and still couldn’t beat him!

She was also annoyed with him; he knew she wanted to win, and even when her eyes were red, he wouldn’t go easy on her!

After being checkmated for the umpteenth time, she angrily pounced on him. Her expression must have been "fierce," yet he found it cute.

Turns out he also saw her with a rose-tinted filter.

Vera couldn’t help but smile, "Alright, let’s play."

The chess room wasn’t large, the two sat on tatami mats near a heater; the chessboard was by the window with a view of the gently falling snow outside.

After three rounds, Vera was thoroughly beaten. Miles demonstrated just how much he held back earlier.

Vera gritted her teeth, struggling to keep her composure. Losing wasn’t the issue; what was unbearable was that each game ended in under five minutes, leaving her feeling utterly crushed by his skill!

"Miles, you did that on purpose!"

Miles looked at her with a smile, innocently asking, "Did what on purpose?"

Vera finally couldn’t help but pounce on him, pretending to choke his neck. Miles took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, their faces close. The room seemed to become silent, the only sound the soft hiss of the heater.

Vera tried to pull away, but Miles wrapped her arms around his neck.

Their breaths mingling, Vera watched as he slowly leaned in, his lips finally covering hers, warm and soft.

His lips were softer and wetter than she had imagined, with a faint minty scent.

This was the kiss she had once longed for, a dream come true after many years, yet memories of another person uncontrollably flashed through her mind.

It was that person who transformed her from an innocent girl into a real woman.

Those kisses, those intimacies, in her memory were all tied to that person.

Life is long, and over time she could erase the marks he left on her.

Miles noticed the moisture on her face, gently wiping it away, asking softly, "Vera, why are you crying?"

Vera showed a gentle smile, leaning into his embrace, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, "I’m just so happy."

Miles chuckled, rubbing the top of her head, as they both watched the snowflakes fluttering outside the window.

After having dinner at the old house, Miles took Vera back to her apartment. Just downstairs, he received a phone call.

"Vera, a classmate of mine returned from abroad and asked me to join a gathering."

"If you drink, make sure to find a designated driver, or call me after for a ride."

"This bunch is quite wild, it won’t end too early. I’ll text you once I’m home."

Miles saw her in the door before leaving.

Vera watched some TV, took a shower, and was interrupted by the ringing of her phone, an unknown landline number.

"Is this Ms. Vera Yves?" the caller inquired. "Your boyfriend is drunk, could you come to pick him up?" He gave her an address not far from her apartment’s bar.

Miles has only been gone for over an hour, and he’s already drunk?

Vera tried calling Miles, but no one answered.

She changed her clothes and drove out.

At the bar, Vera directly approached the counter, the bartender asked, "Ms. Vera?"

Vera nodded; wasn’t Miles supposed to be at a gathering? Why’s he drinking here?

The bartender pointed to a man slumped over, completely inebriated, "Your boyfriend drank and kept calling your name."

Vera looked where he pointed, and upon seeing the man’s profile, her face darkened.

"You’ve got the wrong person, I’m not his girlfriend."

She turned to leave, but the bartender quickly said, "An ex, then."

"Ex-husband."

The bartender looked shocked, "An ex-husband, even more reason not to leave him. Several women hit on him; if you leave, who knows who might pick him up."

"Then kindly call the police for him."

Vera said, walked away.

But her wrist was caught.

Vera tried to pull free, lowering her voice, "Let go!"

Winston Valentine staggered from the bar stool, losing his balance, and almost fell onto Vera.

Vera quickly grabbed a glass of alcohol the bartender had set down and splashed it in his face, "Are you sober now? If not, I’ll splash you again!"

Winston held onto her wrist, refusing to let go, as he wiped the alcohol from his face.

Vera glared at him coldly, "Let go!"

Winston dragged her outside.

Even the bartender was stunned; wasn’t he drunk just a moment ago?

Outside the bar, Winston finally released her, walking towards a car. Only then did Vera notice the car key in his hand.

Seeing him sitting in the passenger seat, Vera chased after him, holding the car door, "Get out!"

"Is this how you treat a neighbor who got stabbed twice for standing up for you?"