Chapter 309

The evening air felt like a caress on my skin as I stared at my reflection, scrutinizing every detail of my appearance.

My dress—a vibrant red that Angela insisted brought out the ‘wildness’ in my hazel eyes—clung to my curves, revealing just enough to be sophisticated yet sultry. My makeup was light, accentuating my features without overshadowing them. Angela had worked her magic on my hair, giving it loose waves that framed my face like a golden halo.

“You look stunning, Liv,” Angela said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “Nathan’s not going to know what hit him.”

“Thanks, Angie,” I replied, unable to keep a smile off my face. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Angela smirked. “I hope you two have the night of your lives.”

“Oh, calm down,” I teased, blushing. “It’s just a date.”

“Yeah, but you two really need it,” she said gently. Our eyes met in the full length mirror. Her eyes, though soft and warm, were circled with exhaustion. Dark bags sat heavily under her eyes, and her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, which was unlike her.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked quietly, turning to face her. “You’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately. If you’re too tired, I don’t want to stress you out by asking you to babysit.”

Angela waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, please,” she said in an exaggerated manner. “Watching over your little Elliot and Aurora is like taking a break from everything else. And besides…” She looked around, hands on her hips, with a smirk on her face. “I don’t mind taking advantage of your big house.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I picked up some bath bombs for you since I know you like to sneak some baths in my jacuzzi upstairs,” I said with a chuckle. “Help yourself.”

Angela grinned. “Don’t mind if I do.”

As I spun around, taking one last look at myself in the mirror, a swarm of butterflies took flight in my stomach. It felt almost like a first date, and in a way, it was. Nathan and I had never truly dated; our relationship was confusing from the start, a whirlwind of heightened emotions and complicated circumstances.

“You know, when you think about it, this is kind of special,” Angela mused, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “You and Nathan never really got to do the whole dating thing.”

She was right. Our love had blossomed amidst chaos and struggle, leaving little room for the simple pleasures of dating. Tonight was a fresh page, a chapter yet to be written in our tumultuous love story.

Suddenly, before I could spiral further into my thoughts, the soft chime of the doorbell echoed through the house. My heart leapt into my throat. Showtime.

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I made my way to the front door. Angela shot me an encouraging smile, mouthing the words ‘good luck’ as I reached for the knob.

As the door swung open, my eyes met Nathan’s, and for a moment, the world stopped. His gaze traveled down the length of my body, his eyes widening as they settled on my hips.

“Wow, Olivia. You look... really hot.”

My cheeks flushed at his words, a warmth spreading through me at his unabashed admiration. “Thank you,” I stammered, suddenly very aware of how my dress hugged my hips.

I paused for a moment, taking in his appearance as well. He wore a tailored suit, all black with a neat black tie to bring it all together. It seemed as though my request to dress nicely wasn’t one-sided; wherever he was taking me must have been pretty fancy.

“Something wrong?” Nathan asked.

I shook my head. “Not at all. It’s just… You don’t look half bad yourself,” I murmured.

Offering me his arm, Nathan led me to the car. As we drove, the tension from the past few weeks seemed to melt away, replaced by a sweet sense of anticipation.

It was a long ride—well over an hour. But each time I began to inquire about where we were going and what time we would get home to the twins, Nathan would just smirk and turn up the music a little more.

“Just wait,” he said, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Everything is taken care of. Don’t worry.”

We wound up in another pack over an hour away—one that was much, much larger than hours. It was a small city, to say the least. As we found a spot to park outside the restaurant and stepped into the city streets, I was immediately assaulted by the sounds of car horns blaring, music playing, and people talking.

“This is… unexpected,” I said as Nathan led me toward two double doors. “What made you want to come all the way here?”

Nathan smirked. “Thought I’d make it special,” he said, his hand resting on the small of my back.

The inside of the restaurant was even more exquisite than I imagined. The inside was adorned with high brick walls, a long mahogany bar, and tables covered with white cloths and candles.

On one side, there was a small stage with live jazz music playing. Even the waiters were dressed in elegant vests and tailored outfits, and the other patrons looked wealthy. I had known that this pack was one of the wealthiest in the region, but I had only visited once myself.

As I took a seat at the elegantly set table, a sense of warmth enveloped me, as if the atmosphere itself was acknowledging the specialness of the evening.

Nathan looked handsome, the way that his tailored suit highlighted his broad shoulders being even more prominent in the dimly lit restaurant. The way he looked at me, it was as though we had entered a realm separate from our usual life—a sanctuary where the weight of recent struggles couldn’t reach us.

“What should we toast to?” Nathan asked, raising his glass of wine toward me.

“To… us,” I said, the simple words carrying a weight of emotion behind them. “To love, and to finding peace amidst the chaos.”

Nathan paused for a moment, thinking, before his lips curved softly upwards into a slight smile as our glasses clinked. “To us, then.”

Our conversation flowed naturally as we delved into our meals. Nathan ordered the steak, cooked to perfection, while I opted for a delicious-looking salmon dish. Each bite was a burst of flavor, a testament to the chef’s expertise, but it was the easy banter that stole the show.

“So, how does it feel to finally be able to drink wine again?” Nathan teased, taking a sip of his own drink.

“Like I’ve rediscovered a long-lost treasure,” I replied, savoring the rich aroma of the red wine before taking another sip. “I almost forgot how much I enjoyed it.”

“Well, you’re glowing tonight, so maybe it’s the wine—or maybe it’s just you,” Nathan said, his eyes meeting mine across the table.

I blushed at the compliment, touched by his words. “I have to ask… What made you want to do this tonight? After…” My voice trailed off.

Nathan was silent for a few moments. I saw something flash through his eyes, something that seemed like a hint of sadness or maybe even regret. “Let’s… just enjoy the night,” he said softly. “We can talk about it another time.”

“Alright,” I said, nodding. “I’m okay with that.”

Laughter and light conversation filled our small space in the crowded restaurant, but in that moment, it felt as if we were the only two people in the world. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was reminded of what life used to be like before the weight of countless challenges had landed on our shoulders. It felt like my sadness—our sadness—had finally met its match in the form of this simple, normal, yet profoundly intimate dinner.

After abstaining for so long because of the twins, the wine felt like a forbidden indulgence. Before I knew it, my glass was empty. The waiter was quick to refill it, although I already felt the effects from going so long without it.

“How are you feeling?” Nathan asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief as the waiter refilled my glass.

“I’m fine,” I slurred, my words laced with the carefree euphoria that only comes from alcohol. “Okay. Maybe a little tipsy.”

“Tipsy?” Nathan chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist as we exited the restaurant. “After one glass?”

I poked him playfully in the ribs. “Don’t judge me. I’m out of practice.”

We found ourselves wandering the quiet streets, the atmosphere between us light and playful. Nathan’s arm remained firmly around my waist, pulling me close as if afraid I’d float away. The simple touch sent tingles down my spine, every point of contact buzzing with electricity.

“Thank you for tonight, Nathan,” I said, my voice tinged with emotion. “Really. Thank you.”

He looked down at me, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “The night’s not over yet, Olivia.”

“Oh?”

Nathan’s lips quirked up into a mysterious smile. “I have a surprise for you.”