LOVE SPROUTS INSIDE OUR HEARTS

As Aubrey entered the chocolate shop, she was looking for chocolate as she walked around. She saw the big heart-shaped chocolate and wanted to take it, but her hand collided with the hand of someone else who also wanted to take the chocolate. They were both stunned and looked at each other.

"Xander, what are you doing here?"

What am I doing here? Of course I'm buying chocolate. Does she see I'm playing around here? Xander thinks Aubrey's question is not quite right.

"Of course I'm looking for chocolate..."

"Did you get some chocolate for someone?"

"No, I'll buy it for myself."

Aubrey made a dissatisfied face at Xander. What's wrong with her face? Why is she staring at me like that? Xander was perplexed by Aubrey's reaction.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

Aubrey points to the heart-shaped chocolate. "Do you want to eat this chocolate alone?"

Xander replied to her with a straight face. "Yes,"

Aubrey said, as she took the chocolate. "This chocolate is mine."

With a solemn expression on his face, Xander stared at her. Aubrey was uneasy seeing Xander's expression.

"Wh-What's the matter? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Xander said, as he moved his face closer to Aubrey's ear, "You look weird."

He then grabbed another chocolate and walked to the counter.

"W-Weird? What exactly does he mean by that?"

Aubrey feels dissatisfied, and she chases after him, who is walking to the parking lot after he pays at the counter.

"Hey, hold on a second."

Aubrey said as she yanked Xander's hand away. With a puzzled look, Xander feels weird. Why is she following me?

"Why are you following me? Do you need anything?"

"What makes you think I'm weird? What exactly do you mean?"

Did she chase me because she wants to know why I'm calling her weird? Hmmm... This is interesting. I should tease her more.

"Glutton."

"Glutton? You refer to me as a glutton. What makes you think I'm a glutton?"

"Hmmm... you ate and drank a lot that day at the party, and today you'd like to eat the chocolate by yourself."

"But, you also said you wanted to eat this chocolate alone."

"Oh, do you mean you want me to invite you to eat chocolate with me?"

Aubrey was shocked to hear Xander's words. What was he thinking? I don't really mean that way. He makes me embarrassed.

"N-No, I-I don't mean it that way. Sorry because I'm bothering you. Please excuse me."

She then turned away from Xander, but Xander grabbed her hand. His actions astound her. She looks at her hand being grabbed by him.

"What now? What's the problem?"

"Would you like to accompany me to the cafe?"

Did I hear it wrong? Did he say he wanted me to accompany him to the cafe? But why did he suddenly invite me?

"Did you invite me to accompany you?"

Xander gave a nod to her question. After a few minutes, they sat down in a cafe. Aubrey agreed to accompany Xander to the cafe. She was happy, but she just pretended with a straight face in front of him.

This cold guy invited me to accompany him. This was unexpected from him. She glanced at him while she sipped her Americano and remained silent. Xander enjoyed his cappuccino as well.

She steals a sneak peek at him while sipping her Americano. She looks at his eyes, nose, and lips and finds him attractive. Suddenly, Aubrey recalled Ember's story and wondered if Xander was a fox as well. Aubrey locked her gaze on him, and Xander noticed that Aubrey was staring at him.

"Does my face have something on it?"

"No, but I'm curious. Do you live in the same house as Jayden?"

"No, but I live near his mansion. It's just a few metres away. Hmm... I live in the same area."

"Is Jayden your employer? How long have you been working with him?"

"Employer? Hmm... you can just assume he's my employer."

"What do you mean? How long have you known him? How did both of you meet?"

Aubrey's question drew a frown from him. Did she interrogate me right now?

"Aubrey, why do you want to know?"

"Uh... uhm... I'm just curious."

"I'm sorry, but this is a personal matter. I can't tell you more."

From Xander's reaction, Aubrey knows he wants to hide the truth from her. She murmurs while looking at him.

"Hmmm... trying to keep it hidden."

"Pardon? Did you say something?"

"Nothing. Hmm... Xander, would you like to go see a movie with me?"

She wants to change the topic of their conversation. Because she thinks, if he wants to hide their secret, she can't force him to speak. She smiles cheerfully, waiting for his answer.

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

The smile on her face was gone after Xander declined her invitation. "Why?"

"I'm not free like you. I have a lot of work to do."

"Your life is far too serious. You require entertainment. If you work constantly, you may succumb to exhaustion and depression, and worst of all, you may die. You need to have fun once in a while to relieve stress in your life. It doesn't matter if it's a human or any other creature in the world. There must be entertainment. Let us enjoy our lives; let us live in peace and quiet."

Aubrey stated earnestly. Xander was taken aback by Aubrey's words and applauded, "Impressive."

Seeing Xander applaud makes her blush with embarrassment.

"What exactly did you mean? You've made me feel embarrassed."

"No! You appear to be impressive."

"But, I'm just telling you the truth."

"Yes, I'm aware. But, I'm swamped today. Maybe another day, okay?"

"Another day? Promise?"

Her face is beaming with a cheerful expression. Ehh... Was she happy? Her facial expressions change instantly.

"Yes, I will... promise."

"How about we exchange phone numbers?"

Aubrey suggested it, and she took out her phone while waiting for Xander's answer. Xander also took out his phone, and they exchanged their phone numbers.

Ember sat contemplatively on their room's balcony that night. Her hair fluttered in the gentle breeze. She questioned her feelings for Jayden and expressed them in her heart.

I'm in love again. I'm in love with him. With our current situation, what will happen to us in the future? Will we spend the rest of our lives together, or... aargh! My head hurts just thinking about it.

"Are you all right?"

Jayden asked while he approached her. She turned to look at him and smiled.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Jayden touched Ember's face and hair. He twirls her hair. Ember remained silent, her heart pounding. I'm married, but this feeling that I'm just falling in love feels amazing. Is my broken heart really healed because I'm in love again?

"You look absolutely beautiful."

Jayden smiled as he expressed his feelings. She blushes with embarrassment. After hearing his words,

"There is nothing extraordinary about me. I'm not particularly attractive."

"You are beautiful in my eyes. It's enough to be in my eyes; there's no need to be someone else's eyes."

"Hmmm... Are you attempting to seduce or flirt with me?"

"Hmm... both. But I mean it sincerely."

Jayden replied while he leaned back on the balcony. His hair fluttered in the gentle breeze as well. Ember looked at Jayden and bowed her head. It appears that I'm head over heels in love with him. Although we are married, why am I so nervous? Is this what it's like to fall in love after you've been married? Is this what my mother-in-law was referring to? My heart felt like it was going to burst. When I was with Zane, I never had this strong feeling inside my heart. Ember, who was looking perplexed, caught Jayden's eyes.

"Are you okay, Ember?"

"Uh... uhm.. I'm fine."

"What is the matter with you? Are you certain you're all right?"

Jayden asked her with a worried expression and placed his hand on her forehead. She feels an electric shock all over her body when Jayden touches her forehead. Her mind becomes blank.

"Not today, I'm still bleeding."

Ember words cause Jayden to startle and blush. Ember was surprised by her own words. She didn't realise she had said carelessly what was on her mind. Oh my god, what did I just say? Oh, I feel so embarrassed. I feel like I want to bury myself.

Jayden said hesitantly and shyly to her. He thought maybe she had misunderstood.

"Em-Ember... I didn't mean that, that you know...I mean, uhm..."

"Oh! I'm sorry. My thoughts are jumbled, and I'm not sure why. I'm not in my right mind. Let's go to sleep."

Ember stood up with a forced smile and ran into the room. Her behaviour astounded him. But he was happy, and he smiled happily as he gazed up at the starry sky, and he expressed his feelings,

"I suppose marrying someone you've never met isn't such a bad thing. Ember, I hope we can learn to live together even though we are so different."

PS-Next Title: VACATION