There was a brief pause.
"I only need the material cost," Lucian replied.
Lana narrowed her eyes slightly.
"No. Twenty percent profit at least," she insisted. "Otherwise, I’ll feel like I’m taking advantage."
’Even though I already am...’ she admitted silently.
Lucian chuckled softly. "Alright. Twenty percent."
What he didn’t realize was...
That decision, simple as it seed, would one day bring him returns greater than most of his businesses combined.
Lana moved on, her curiosity pulling her toward another section of the room.
Another item. Another red cloth. This ti, she already had a faint guess.
"A painting...?"
She lifted the cloth. And froze. It wasn’t a landscape. It wasn’t abstract. It was her. Lana.
Captured in a mont so vivid it felt alive.
She was sitting on a bed, her silver hair cascading down softly, her blue eyes staring ahead... uncertain, guarded, almost fragile.
For a mont, it felt like she was looking into a mirror. "No... this ..."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out, brushing the surface. The faint texture of dried paint t her touch, grounding her.
’It’s not a photograph ...’
And then it hit her. This was from that mont.
The first ti Lucian had discovered her real hair color.
No one had taken a photo then. Which ant...
"You... really outdid yourself today," she murmured softly. "How did you even get sothing like this made? It’s too real ..."
A quiet chuckle followed.
"If soone else made it," Lucian replied, "they wouldn’t have captured it properly."
There was a brief pause. "I drew it."
Lana stilled. "You... drew this?"
Her gaze snapped back to the painting, studying it again, more carefully this ti.
The details, the emotion, the way her eyes held that subtle fear...it was too precise.
Too personal. ’This is... exactly how I felt back then ...’
For a mont, she fell silent, staring at the version of herself that didn’t know what the future held.
Then...
"Turn off the light."
She blinked. "What?"
"Just do it."
Frowning slightly, she reached out and switched off the lights.
Darkness settled over the room. And then, she gasped softly. The painting had changed.
A soft glow erged from it, the lines and colors shifting into sothing luminous.
The figure in the painting, she now seed alive with light, her expression different.
She was smiling.
Not the guarded, uncertain girl from before, but soone warr... soone softer.
’This... is now ...’
Her heart skipped.
The hair... still the sa silver. That was how she knew it was her.
And the expression...she paused.
A faint realization dawned.
’This... is how I looked yesterday maybe when I acted possessive...’
Lucian’s voice ca again, softer now, lower, carrying a warmth that brushed against her ears like a whisper.
"That’s one of your hottest expressions," he murmured.
Heat rushed to Lana’s cheeks instantly.
She clicked her tongue softly, a playful glint flashing in her eyes as she crossed her arms.
"If you’re going to flirt like this," she murmured, her tone carrying a teasing edge, "then you better be ready to take responsibility afterward."
A low chuckle echoed in her ears, rich and unhurried.
"Responsibility?" Lucian’s voice lingered, almost amused. "I wonder what kind you’re expecting... but for now, keep moving."
Lana couldn’t help but laugh, the sound light and unrestrained as she shook her head.
’This man... he’s becoming more and more shaless...’
Still smiling, she turned and walked toward the main wall, where a large curtain hung, concealing whatever lay behind it.
With a small breath, she pulled it aside. And froze.
Written boldly before her were the words...
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
For a mont, everything fell silent.
Even her thoughts stilled.
Lana stared at the question, her heart trembling faintly in her chest.
’How... did my life turn into this...?’
A faint ache surfaced within her, mories of her past life flickering... filled with loneliness, struggle, and endless shadows.
But this life...this life was different.
Slowly, unconsciously, a smile blood on her lips, soft and radiant.
"Yes," she whispered.
Almost instantly, Lucian’s voice ca, softer than before, carrying sothing deeper.
"Thank you... girlfriend,"
A quiet laugh escaped her as she tilted her head slightly.
"You’re welco... boyfriend."
"Since you said yes," he continued, a hint of excitent threading his tone, "are you ready for another surprise?"
Lana blinked, curiosity lighting up her eyes. "Another one?"
"Move toward the ’yes,’" his voice guided gently.
She did as told, her steps slow, anticipation building with each movent.
"There’s sothing there," he added.
Reaching out, she carefully tore along the marked spot.
A hidden compartnt revealed itself.
Inside...a delicate, beautifully crafted box.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she took it out, her heartbeat quickening.
A diamond ring rested inside.
It shimred under the soft light, each facet catching and reflecting brilliance like captured starlight.
Lana’s breath hitched. Slowly, almost reverently, she slipped it onto her ring finger.
The mont she did... Lucian’s voice felt closer. Much closer.
As if he were standing right behind her, leaning in, his breath brushing faintly against her ear.
"Thank you..."
Her heart skipped violently, warmth rushing through her entire body.
A soft smile curved her lips as she let out a quiet laugh.
"And here I thought you were just so cold, distant man," she teased gently. "Like a flower blooming on a mountain peak... far out of reach."
She paused, her fingers lightly brushing the ring.
"But now... you’re so romantic it’s almost unfair. I don’t think anyone else could compare."
Lucian laughed again, the sound deeper this ti.
"Well... not everyone gets to have you as their girlfriend."
Lana’s laughter followed, bright and genuine, filling the room completely.
"Still," Lucian added after a mont, his tone lowering slightly, "it’s a sha I can’t touch you right now... otherwise I would’ve kissed you."
Lana smirked faintly, tilting her head as she playfully stuck out her tongue.
"Then I apologize this wait might be a long one."
’He’s definitely watching ...’ she thought, her eyes flickering briefly around the room.
User Comments
0 comments from readers