A Romantic Meal

"Is this really going to make you feel better?" Noah asked, draping one arm gently over Sophie's shoulder as they both gazed at the flickering lights below.

"Not really," Sophie replied, "but I needed him to go through everything I did, whether it was big or small."

She was still hurting, and the pain was fresh. How could she just let Nathan get away so easily?

Noah reached out, his long fingers gently lifting Sophie's chin. As he looked into her eyes, he saw a fragile woman, yet one who could handle emotional pain with remarkable clarity.

She had ended things swiftly, just like she promised she would, without any hint of deceit.

He noticed a pure instinct in her eyes, which left Noah feeling puzzled.

"When I was ordering, I got some foie gras. The waiter mentioned it was straight from France, so I figured it would be really good," Sophie said.

Noah released her from his gentle hold and broke into a surprised smile. "How did you know I like it?"

"It's not difficult to figure out my husband's tastes," Sophie replied as she signaled for the waiter to start serving their dishes. "Let's eat while we chat."

Noah couldn't help but notice her soft, pink lips that resembled delicate rose petals, and his gaze held a hint of danger.

"But I don't want to chat," he admitted, "I just want to kiss you."

Whoever called him the poison of the entertainment industry clearly hadn't met the woman in front of him. She, too, carried a poison that was strangely addictive.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Nathan was still standing in the same spot. Upstairs, in the restaurant, Sophie and Noah were thoroughly enjoying their meal.

Sophie preferred not to discuss her work with Noah, and he respected that. After helping her out a couple of times, he watched her manage things smoothly on her own this time. She was a strong woman, no doubt about it.

Even so, she was still Noah's wife, and as long as that was true, he would ensure that she was the one doing the bullying, not the other way around.

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, an hour had slipped by.

Downstairs, Nathan was still waiting, though his patience was wearing thin. Throughout this time, he kept trying to call Sophie, unaware that she had silenced all notifications and set her phone to do not disturb to savor this special moment with Noah.

Unbeknownst to Nathan, in the eyes of both Sophie and Noah, he seemed like a gatekeeper standing vigil under the tree.

Finally, the two finished their meal.

Noah glanced downstairs and asked, "Do you want to keep watching or come home with me now?"

Sophie cast a thoughtful look at Nathan, then turned her gaze to Noah, pondering her decision.

What choice did she make? Find out in the next chapter!