Jarrod looked at her. "Later, I misunderstood about you and him, so everything was put on hold. Looking back now, I really regret it."


    Elodie suddenly understood the Jarrod of that time.


    He must have felt utterly hopeless.


    After so many years of pining, his wish had finallye true, only for him to believe she was "deeply in love" with someone else.


    Yet he never vented his feelings to her, even considering setting her free.


    He had prepared so much, but couldn''t bring himself to say any of it, swallowing the bitter pill alone.


    "Are you an idiot?" Elodie said, but she knew that when you love someone that much, you''re bound to feel insecure. A man as proud as Jarrod wouldn''t want to tear down that facade and embarrass them both.


    He pinched her cheek, making her lips pout involuntarily. He leaned in for a kiss, but it wasn''t enough. He gave her lower lip a gentle bite before saying, "It just proves we''re fated to be together. Impossible to break apart. See? You were destined to marry me, destined to be entangled with me."


    "Destined?" Elodie raised an eyebrow. "Fated? Or was every step of the way just Mr. Silverstein''s ''meticulous nning'' and ''calcted moves''?"


    Thinking back, if Jarrod hadn''t done so much, things might have turned out very differently.


    Jarrod let out a low chuckle. "If you had been any more oblivious, I might have just raised Nadia by myself and then surprised you one day by having her call you ''Mom''."


    He had actually entertained that thought for a while.


    Sometimes, a person acts out of spite.


    He had been prepared to let things drag on just like that.


    At the mention of Nadia, Elodie''s heart softened.


    She immediately checked the time. "Should we video call home? I want to see Nadia."


    Jarrod pulled her hand back into his. "Today is just for the two of us. Nadia can wait."


    Not even Nadia was going to interrupt his ns for the day.


    Elodie hesitated. "But who''s looking after Nadia right now?"


    She was still a little worried.


    Jarrod nonchntly raised an eyebrow. "Octavia."


    Elodie was skeptical. "Is she reliable?"


    Jarrod swept Elodie into his arms and carried her towards therge bed by the floor- to-ceiling window. "She''s more experienced than you are. I dragged her along when


    I took those parenting sses. She knows everything she needs to. She''ll be looking after Nadia for a while."


    Nadia woke up four or five times a night.


    Elodie could just imagine Octavia on the verge of tears every day.


    As she was thinking, she found herself tossed onto the bed.


    She tensed for a moment but kept herposure. "Getting right to the main course?"


    ег


    Her words made Jarrodugh. He pinched the soft flesh of her chins "You want something to set the mood? Go on, give me some suggestions."


    Elodie had just been talking, but she didn''t expect him to actually y along.


    "I want fresh flowers, I want fireworks, I want fine wine, and I want love... endless love..."


    Jarrod watched her lips move, a faint smile ying on his own. He suddenly bent down and captured her mouth in a kiss, pressing her hands down by her sides and slowlycing their fingers together. He


    traced the lines of her lips and


    tongue, not with force, but with


    patience and tenderness.


    Elodie''s breath hitched. A current through her body, which was now enveloped in his scent. Her body gradually went limp, and her eyes grew hazy.


    ran


    Just as she was losing herself in the moment, Jarrod pulled back slightly and gave


    her another light kiss. "You want it, you got it."


    As he spoke, brilliant fireworks suddenly shot up outside the window.


    They exploded in the night sky, illuminating the entire room.


    Elodie turned her head in astonishment to look outside.


    The fireworks continued nonstop, as if the starry sky was being sttered with an


    endless canvas of beautiful colors.


    It was right there, so close.


    A grand spectacle just for her.


    Her heart was pounding in her chest.


    Jarrod lowered his gaze, maintaining his position above her. His once cool and


    serious eyes were now filled with nothing but tenderness.


    "Happy wedding, Mrs. Silverstein."


    "And..."


    "I love you."


    —Not for a day, not on a whim. I love you, and I will only ever love you, from beginning to end.


    --End of Main Story--