Chapter 4 Marry me

Olivia’s stomach growled the moment she stepped out of the house. The night air was cold, but her anger was warmer than fire. She had walked for almost an hour, replaying every insult in her head, every cruel look her father had given her. She needed a distraction, something that didn’t hurt.

Her feet carried her back to the same restaurant she had visited that afternoon, the one where she had humiliated her blind date. The place looked even more inviting under the warm lights.

Without thinking twice, she pushed open the door and took a seat near the window.

“Good evening, miss,” the waiter greeted. “A table for one?”

“Yes,” Olivia said, smiling faintly. “And bring me your best meal. I’m celebrating my freedom.”

The waiter chuckled politely, though he didn’t understand.

Olivia ordered a feast: creamy pasta, roasted chicken, fries, and chocolate cake. She didn’t even care about the cost. She had some money saved up from working part-time at a flower shop, and tonight, she decided she deserved to use it.

When the food arrived, she dug in with pure joy. The first bite was heavenly, and for the first time all day, she smiled for real.

“Food really does fix everything,” she muttered between mouthfuls.

After she finished, feeling full and satisfied, she went to the restroom to wash her face. The fake moles and smudged makeup came off easily with a bit of soap and water. When she looked into the mirror, her real reflection stared back with bright eyes, soft skin, and lips still a little swollen from that kiss.

She felt her cheeks warm. “It was just to scare that jerk,” she told her reflection, though part of her didn’t believe it.

She left the restroom and pressed the elevator button to head down. The doors slid open with a soft ding, and the moment she stepped in, she froze.

Inside, sitting in a wheelchair, was the man she had kissed that afternoon.

“It’s you?” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Herbert Wyatt looked up slowly. His sharp features were the same, but his expression was different. His face was flushed, and sweat beaded on his forehead. The veins on his neck stood out as if he were fighting something inside him.

Olivia frowned, stepping closer. “Are you alright? You look unwell.”

His eyes darkened, the color in them almost burning.

Was he running a fever? Olivia’s instincts kicked in. “Wait here, let me,” she said, reaching out to touch his forehead.

Before her fingers could make contact, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

Her breath hitched. “W-what are you?”

He didn’t answer. His grip tightened for a moment as if he was struggling to control himself. Then, without warning, he pulled her forward.

Olivia stumbled, losing her balance, and fell right into his lap.

Her heart raced as she looked up at him. Their faces were suddenly inches apart, her palms pressed against his chest. His body was hot, burning even through his shirt.

Herbert stared down at her, his breathing ragged. It was her—the same girl who had kissed him that afternoon. Only now, without the fake moles, she looked even more breathtaking. Her eyes were bright and alive, her lips soft and pink, and her scent, that faint sweetness of freesia, was intoxicating.

He remembered that strange realization from earlier. He hadn’t had an allergic reaction to her. Her touch didn’t hurt. Her kiss didn’t make him weak. It made him feel alive.

For the first time in years, the pain and numbness that had plagued him were gone.

Herbert lifted a hand to the back of her head, his thumb brushing the base of her neck. “It really is you,” he murmured.

Olivia blinked, confused. “Wh-what are you talking about?”

Before she could move, he tilted her chin upward and captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss.

“Mmm.” Olivia’s muffled sound of surprise echoed in the small elevator.

Her eyes widened, and her body went rigid. His lips moved against hers with a warmth that made her forget to breathe. And then, oh God, he used his tongue.

Her knees went weak, her hands gripping his shoulders as her mind spun. This wasn’t like the kiss earlier. That one had been quick, impulsive. This one was consuming.

When the elevator doors opened, Herbert didn’t release her. In one swift movement, he scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing.

“Wait! Where are you taking me?” she gasped, her face burning red.

But he didn’t answer. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable as he carried her through a private hallway and into a quiet hotel room nearby.

The door clicked shut behind them.

Olivia groggily opened her eyes sometime later. Her head felt heavy, her pulse unsteady. The room was dim, and she was lying on a soft bed.

Something warm pressed against her back, a body.

Her shirt felt loose. She looked down and froze. Her white blouse was hanging open, the buttons undone. A deep blush crept across her face.

Before she could move, a hot hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer.

Her body tensed. His skin was bare, his chest against her back, firm and hot enough to make her breath hitch.

Their eyes met when she turned her head slightly.

He was awake, watching her. His dark eyes glowed under the faint light, deep and dangerous, like a predator silently studying its prey.

Up close, he looked younger than she had first thought, maybe under thirty, with features so striking that it almost hurt to look at him.

Olivia swallowed hard. “W-what are you going to do?” she stammered, her voice trembling.

Herbert leaned closer until his lips brushed her ear. His voice was low, smooth, and deep enough to send chills down her spine. “You took my first kiss,” he whispered. “You’ll have to take responsibility for that.”

Her breath caught. “Wh-what?” she stuttered, unsure if she heard him right.

He smiled faintly, his fingers tracing the side of her face. “You heard me.”

She blinked rapidly, her heart pounding. “How am I supposed to take responsibility?”

Herbert’s gaze softened for a moment, though his tone remained firm. “Marry me.”

Olivia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you just say?”

He didn’t repeat it. He didn’t need to. The intensity in his eyes said it all.

And as she stared at him, the mysterious, beautiful man who had turned her chaotic day upside down, her heart skipped again.

Was this fate… or the beginning of something she could never escape?