Chapter 6: A Candlelit Moment.

Adex sat in the dining, drumming his fingers on the smooth wood. He rested his palm on his cheek, looking worried, and kept staring at the wall clock. The candle shone unsteadily, going on and off quickly. The flame wavered, creating changing light and shadows. 

He had been waiting, anticipating. Finally, the key turned in the lock. Lydia entered. Her heels tapping on the floor could be heard clearly and seemed to reflect through the room. She was breathtaking. She wore an elegant red dress that hugged her figure perfectly, shimmering under the warm light. Her dark brown curls cascaded over her shoulders, framing her smooth, radiant face. A warm, heart-melting smile spread across her lips, lighting up the entire space.

She walked smoothly and elegantly, each step showing confidence and style. Adex, seated at the dining table, couldn't help but admire her, an amused smile playing on his lips as he watched her approach.

At that moment, all his worries faded away, and his restless thoughts disappeared. He felt truly happy and relieved to see Lydia walk through the door, eagerly waiting for the warm welcome he had been hoping for.

Instead of the warm hug he had been hoping for, she quietly pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. She rested her hands on the table, her eyes fixed on him as she faced him. Her expression was unreadable."Happy birthday, my love." She said with a warm smile.

Adex's smile grew bigger, but a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes. He had expected Lydia to rush into his arms and press a kiss against his cheek like she always did. Instead, Lydia sat back in her chair, resting her hands on the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of the empty wine glass before her.

"What's going on, Lydia? Is this what I get on my birthday?" He paused and looked disappointed. "No hugs, no kisses? You just walked in as if I'm a random guy to you." He spoke with great curiosity.

Lydia chuckled and leaned slightly forward. "I'm sorry, my love. The trip was exhausting, but I just can't wait to celebrate you."

She spoke slowly, her face looking a bit down. Adex watched her closely, noticing that while she seemed happy to be with him, meanwhile, there was sadness hidden in her expression. He couldn't quite figure out what was wrong. He paused for a moment, trying to make sense of it, but nothing became clear.

He leaned forward and held out both hands as he gazed into her eyes. "Is everything alright, my love?"

"Everything's going to be Alright, " she replied, forcing herself to smile while maintaining her gaze on Adex.

"You don't sound like the Lydia I used to know, but I want to believe you had a stressful day and that's the reason for all this attitude. At the same time, I'm glad you're home," Adex said softly, offering a warm smile.

Lydia kept smiling despite having a sad expression on her face and maintained her gaze on Adex. She continued to look at him as if she didn't want him to leave her.

Adex poured wine into her glass, the deep red liquid swirling as he set the bottle down. The candlelight danced in her eyes, and for a brief moment, silence settled between them—comfortable yet charged with something unspoken.

Lydia glanced around the room and noticed the effort he had put into arranging the table and preparing dinner. She smiled slowly and said, "You didn't have to go through all this trouble," Lydia murmured, looking at the neatly arranged plates of food.

"Don't you love it?" he spoke while serving her food on her plate.

"I love it; I just don't want to lose it. I want it to continue, but we don't know what the future holds for us," she said softly.

"You're not going to lose it. I'll be there for you whenever you need me." Adex reassured her with a confident expression on his face.

Lydia smiled as she kept gazing at him. Once he finished serving her plate, Adex looked at her and noticed how intently she was watching him. He said, "It seems someone is missing me."

She smiled, but her eyes were sad. "I will miss you when I'm gone."

He was about to serve his plate when she spoke, causing Adex to drop the spoon and the plate and hold her hand closely. "No, no, my love. You're not going anywhere." He paused and breathed softly. "Remember I told you we're meeting my parents this weekend."

She smiled, looking puzzled. "You can't imagine how excited I was when you told me we were meeting your parents. I've been waiting for this day, and finally, it's coming to pass." She paused and gazed at him again with a soft smile. "I wish I had never missed that day." She sobbed softly.

Adex stood from his chair, moved closer to her, and hugged her closely.

"I think you're exhausted from the journey. You need to rest. How about taking a nap beside me, and we can continue our conversation later?"

Lydia slowly rubbed his face and kissed him slowly. "I love you," She whispered.

"I love you more," He replied.

Adex helped her rise from the chair and supported her waist as they made their way to the bedroom. She suddenly glanced back at the candles that illuminated the room and the cake on the table, surrounded by wine and glasses.

She sighed deeply and said, "No matter what the situation might turn out to be, we'll forever be great spouses. You taught me how to love; you taught me how to believe in men again. I will never regret meeting you." Lydia said this in a warm tone.

Adex looked confused as he glanced at her, unsure of what to say. Since her arrival, he had realized that she was speaking in parables, and he had been trying to make sense of what all her words meant. He couldn't bear to think of anything worse, but at the same time, he was completely taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor. He shook off the thought and walked her to the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed, turned off the light, and then lay down beside her under the duvet.