?Chapter 1560:
Chris reached over and flipped a nearby switch. In an instant, strings of fairy lights along the railings flickered to life, bathing the rooftop in a soft, magical glow—as though thousands of fireflies had awakened all at once. The cool night breeze brushed past them while the warm, dim light wrapped the space in an intimate hush.
They sat facing each other, both clearly carrying unspoken thoughts, yet neither brought up the distance that had grown between them. Chris rose smoothly, poured wine into Maia’s ss with practiced ease, and dropped in a few ice cubes that clinked crisply against the crystal.
Maia lifted her ss and touched it lightly to his. “Mr. Cooper, this ce is really beautiful,” she said, watching the wine swirl gently as a faint smile curved her lips. “I think this might be our very first rooftop date.”
She took a small sip. The rich warmth of the wine spread through her chest. Whether it was the lingering afterglow of the Heartbreak Elixir from earlier, the maic pull of the man across from her, or the seductive night air, a soft flush rose to her cheeks.
Chris held his ss but didn’t drink. His gaze remained locked on her face, almost entranced.
The gentle breeze yed with Maia’s hair, sending a few loose strands dancing across her cheek. She lifted a hand and tucked them behind her ear in a slow, graceful motion that carried an effortless allure. The line of her exposed neck—long, pale, and glowing softly under the warm lights—looked almost luminous. Her faintly flushed cheeks resembled the deepest hues of a sunset.
A sharp pang of longing struck Chris square in the chest, fierce and unexpected. Though his mind urged restraint and reason, every instinct screamed to close the distance between them, to pull her close. His breathing grew uneven, his throat working as he swallowed hard. He raised his ss and downed most of it in one go, hoping the cool liquid would douse the sudden fire inside him. His eyes tried to wander elsewhere, but they kept drifting back to her face like iron to a ma.
“Honey, you—” The endearment slipped out naturally, as instinctive as breathing.
The moment the word left his lips, Chris froze. His eyes widened. He coughed violently, choking on the wine. “Cough—I meant Ms. Watson.”
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He jerked his gaze away, ears burning a deep, embarrassed red, fingers clenching tightly around the stem of his ss. “I don’t know why I just… said that.”
The intimate word still lingered on his tongue, warm and startling. What was happening to him? The air between them suddenly felt thick.
Across the table, Maia’s eyes sparkled with quiet delight. Even if Chris had forgotten so much, some habits ran deeper than memory—etched into his very instincts, subconscious and unshakable.
She let out a softugh, leaning forward just slightly, her voice gentle and warm. “Mr. Cooper… you used to call me that all the time. Don’t you remember?”
Chris blinked. In the reflection of his dark eyes, Maia’s tender smile shone clearly. He tightened his grip on the ss.
.
.
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