?<strong>Chapter 564:</strong>
“Even if they fall now, new leaves will grow again. The beauty never really fades; it just takes its time returning.” As they stood there, the mist shifted and dissolved in the early light, leaving their reflections in each other’s eyes. Through Ken’s ink-dark irises, Allison glimpsed her face. For a fleeting moment, her heart sped up.
At that exact moment, the distant chime of a clock tower struck midnight. The toll reverberated through the quiet, scattering the birds perched on bare branches.
Ken lifted his eyes to the clock tower. “Midnight marks the start of a new day.”
His thoughts drifted briefly to Gordon at the café, who’d worn an uncharacteristically somber expression.
Then, with casual ease, Ken added, “By our agreement, this marks the beginning of our day together as a couple. Hard to believe how fast it came around.”
Outwardly, he lookedposed, but inside, his heart beat a little faster. How ironic, he thought. The man who’d always mocked love was now tangled in its web! A mere word or nce from her had him stumbling over himself.
Allison didn’t respond right away. Instead, she appeared lost in thought, as if weighing something in her mind. Then, looking up, she asked, “Would you want to go to the amusement park?”
It was a sudden suggestion, but she figured the ce might still be open thiste. Time might be tight, though, so they’d have to make a run for it.
“I remember there’s one nearby. It’s usually quiet at night—a nice, peaceful spot.”
Ken blinked, momentarily surprised by her suggestion, instinctively searching her face for any hint of mischief. The ember of his cigarette was almost extinguished as he leaned against the railing, his eyes meeting hers. Her smile was radiant, stripped of the fierce, sham beauty she wore in high-stakes games. With her long, wavy hair spilling down, she looked like a cover girl, effortlessly captivating.
“Sure,” Ken replied, his gaze drifting to the Ferris wheel visible in the distance. “Haven’t tried that before.” He paused, frowning slightly. “But… not sure if we’ll make it.”
“Don’t worry,” Allison replied. “If we run fast enough, we’ll make it just in time.”
Before he could think twice, she took his hand.
As they sprinted forward, the scenery blurred around them, the night wind singing in their ears, blending with the drum of his heartbeat. The soft fur of her coat brushed against his wrist, its fibers spreading warmth from her fingertips, as if they were gliding into the calm embrace of a spring night.
The glow of the streemps cast a warm, golden light over them, stretching their shadows long and entwined in a gentle, intimate dance.
Ken wondered if he was truly bing infatuated. A simple touch from her made him want to hold onto her forever.
In less than five minutes, they reached the amusement park entrance. It was nearly empty, only a few people lingering as the ce seemed to be closing soon. A staff member stood nearby, holding a camera. She smiled brightly as they approached, still hand in hand.
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