Tessa could tell that her face was as red as a tomato. It was as though her blood


    was scalding hot, ready to release some steam out of her pores. She felt as


    though she waspletely enveloped in a wave of heat brought on by passion.


    Stephen opened his eyes and loosened his hold on Tessa.


    Tessa''s breathing was stilling in soft pants as she looked at Stephen dazedly.


    His deep eyes felt like whirlpools, ready to draw her in and eat her whole.


    His voice was low, carrying with it a hint of content and satisfaction. "You''re right.


    It was sweet, but... you''re far sweeter than the candy."


    Tessa''s face flushed further upon hearing his words.


    Tessay in her bed after her shower that night. She was on an adrenaline high,


    unable to fall asleep.


    Her time together with Stephen seemed to be ying in her mind on repeat.


    They had kissed twice in just one day.


    It felt like a dream.


    It had been half a year since they broke up. Yet, so much had happened over the


    course of those six months.


    Of course, she could tell that Stephen had feelings for her. However, she had


    been trying to stop herself from reciprocating.


    Perhaps her iron hold on her emotions had gone ck because she was in


    Eraline, where no one knew who she was. Perhaps she was behaving this way


    because she did not have to worry about her father''s opinions.


    There was also a chance that the pain etched into her very soul was slowly fading


    away because of the tranquil scenery, allowing her a chance to finally breathe.


    Suddenly, she couldn''t resist giving up all control. She no longer wanted to


    shackle herself.


    The walls she had built around her emotions were gone. Now, all the emotions


    she had been trying so hard to hold back were surging forth like an unstoppable


    tidal wave.


    The embraces they had shared, the kisses under the gentle night breeze, the


    warm sensation pressing against her skin, and her pounding heart-all of it


    seemed to linger in her mind.


    Although she and Stephen had reconciled, there was also the matter of her


    father''s disapproval. She had no idea how to tell him about her decision.


    After all, the whole family-she, Samuel, and Seline-had suffered because of the


    Jacobsons. They had nearly died because of James. Therefore, it was no wonder


    that Samuel was now strongly against her getting back together with Stephen.


    When she thought of that, a sense of gloom slowly tainted the joy in her heart.


    She couldn''t let her father know about her decision for now.


    Meanwhile, Stephen felt as though he was floating on cloud nine.


    The taste of that peach-vored candy still lingered on his lips. It was so sweet


    that he knew he would remember this day forever.


    After a shower, Stephen couldn''t help but video call Tessa.


    Tessa promptly answered the call.


    She was already done with her shower and was lying on her bed. She was


    wearing a white silk nightgown as she asked, "Why the video call?"


    Stephen was sitting on a couch in


    his hotel room. He had just washed


    his hair and hadn''t gotten around to


    drying it just yet. Thus, droplets still


    hung on the tips of his hair.


    "I missed you. I wanted to talk to you and hear your voice," he murmured.


    Tessa chuckled. "We just parted ways earlier."


    Stephenined, "It''s been nearly an hour since then."


    She couldn''t help but think in amusement, "It''s only been an hour. When did he


    be so clingy?"


    Their rooms were only a floor apart. Stephen was currently staying in the


    executive suite, while Tessa and Wynn were in a double-bed room.


    Although they had reconciled, they were nowhere near the bed-sharing phase.


    Tessa needed time to adjust to the change. Plus, she didn''t want to rush things.


    Stephen respected that and had obediently returned to his own room after they


    parted ways.


    "You should rest early. I''ll see you tomorrow," Tessa coaxed gently.


    Stephen looked at her lovingly. "Alright. Goodnight, Tess."


    "Goodnight," she said in response.


    Tessa and Stephen explored Eraline''s famed tourist attractions over the next three


    days.


    They climbed up the snowy mountains together and held each other as they


    watched the sunset at the peak of the mountain.


    They went horseback riding, racing across the vast grasnds.


    They chased each other through the flower fields,ughing and shrieking with joy.


    They shared a passionate kiss under the moonlit sky.


    When they visited a vige, they


    donned the vige''s traditional


    ethnic clothing, holding hands as


    they danced around a bonfire. They


    sang their heart away, giggling over


    missed steps and cracked voices.


    The few days she had spent with


    Stephen in Eraline were some of the


    happiest and most carefree days


    she had experienced in a long, long


    time.


    Tessa threw herself back into her work almost instantly after she returned to


    Rivertown.


    Stephen began visiting her at Everbright Law Group more frequently.


    At one point, Marissa even ran into Stephen in the parking lot when she had


    decided to pay Tessa a visit at herw firm.