At five in the morning on Highway No. 3, traffic was still light, a far cry from the gridlock typical of holiday weekends.
Braden had timed this perfectly, taking Elise out at this early hour. Still sleepy, she was napping in the passenger seat.
Initially, he had thought of taking her straight to a hotel, but she had insisted on spending their wedding night at home, so he had scrapped the hotel plan.
Listening to her steady breathing beside him, he smiled softly. On the second day of their marriage, he felt incredibly happy.
He felt grateful that, after everything, she had come back to him and hadn't left.
With smooth driving all the way, they arrived in M City around seven-thirty. Braden stopped at a convenience store, gazing at Elise as she slept peacefully.
He remembered how cold her hands and feet had felt the night before, so he decided to step out and get her a warm drink to help her warm up.
Braden gently patted her shoulder. "I'm going to get you something to drink. What do you feel like having?"
Elise opened her eyes, still groggy, and murmured, "Mmm…"
That sound was so sweet, combined with her hazy gaze, it stirred something in him. He suddenly wanted to touch… other parts of her.
"Honey, what would you like to drink?" he asked softly, running his hand over the top of her head.
"Ah…" Elise, still in a sleepy haze, hadn't fully heard him, her murmurs only becoming more endearing.
He leaned close to her ear, teasing, "Are you trying to seduce me?"
Suddenly realizing they were still in the car, she jolted awake. "What? I don't have that kind of fetish, especially in the car!"
Braden raised an eyebrow, brushing his thumb over her lips. "And on that fake wedding day, wasn't there someone straddling me, saying she wanted to take off my clothes?"
"That's different! I was just trying to get your suit jacket cleaned!" Elise stammered, her cheeks turning apple-red with embarrassment.
Thinking back to that moment, she realized she'd actually been bold enough to sit on his lap in the park.
Braden tapped her nose, amusement in his eyes. "I'm just teasing. I meant, do you want something to drink? And if you're hungry, we can stop somewhere along the way."
Elise looked up with a playful smile, her lips curving up. "I'd love a hot milk tea."
"Don't you usually like matcha lattes?" Braden asked, a bit puzzled. He had her preferences down to a science.
He knew the type of games she liked, her favorite foods, her routines—he didn't miss a single detail. The only reason he'd gotten her hot milk tea last time was because they were out of matcha lattes.
"Because…" Elise lowered her head, biting her lip as a sweet warmth filled her heart. "Because the day you kissed me in the kitchen, you had bought me milk tea. It was our first kiss. It's a special memory…"
"So, you like the kitchen, huh?" Braden teased, lifting her flushed face. "Though I admit, I was thinking of something in the kitchen back then…"
"Alright, stop talking to me!" Elise turned her head away, swallowing her nervousness. "I'm so thirsty, I need a drink…"
"Then wait here." Seeing her shy smile, Braden finally let her off the hook and obediently got out of the car to buy her a hot milk tea.
After he got out, she watched him intently from the car as he walked into the store to get her the drink she wanted. Suddenly, her heart swelled with happiness.
It felt amazing to be loved by him.
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The round, chubby red umbrella top served as a roof, resting on a white cottage shaped like a mushroom. Elise couldn't resist the urge to take a photo as soon as she saw it.
After snapping a series of pictures with Braden, she let him hold her hand as he led her to explore other parts of the estate.
"In the dinosaur-themed park, there were statues of a T-Rex and a Brachiosaurus. They looked surprisingly lifelike at first glance, and as Elise got closer, she realized the T-Rex even had its own roar, which left her amazed.
"I heard there's a slide in the dinosaur area," Braden shared the info he'd looked up beforehand.
"Can I try it?" Elise was genuinely excited, her playful side coming out.
"That one's for kids only." Braden wrapped his arm around her waist, lightly brushing his hand over her stomach. "Only for kids."
Elise's eyes darted around, and she stammered, "I'm definitely not a kid..."
She understood his hint and knew he was flirting, but she couldn't believe he'd tease her like this.
Even with just the two of them there, she still felt shy!
"Then how about trying the big slide in the adventure park later?" Braden grinned to himself. He loved seeing her shy like this.
"Sure, but I want to eat first. I'm craving BBQ chicken wings, mac and cheese, and a hot fudge sundae…" Elise's mouth watered as her eyes narrowed, picturing all the food in her mind.
Braden looked at her with a hint of concern. "I don't mind you eating a lot, but if you eat all that at once, you might not feel so good. Your stomach's always been sensitive."
"But I really want to..." Elise pouted, wrapping her arm around his and leaning her face closer. "I really want it…"
"Then whatever you can't finish, I'll eat." Braden doted on her endlessly. "But promise me, if you feel uncomfortable, you'll tell me and not push yourself."
"I knew you'd take care of me best." Elise was over the moon, tiptoeing to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Do we have plans for tonight?"
"Right here." Braden patted her head. "There's a bed and breakfast here, so I brought you for an overnight stay."
"Speaking of which, we have an eight-day honeymoon leave. Have you thought about when we'll take it?" Elise almost forgot about it entirely.
"Just let me know when you want to plan things, and I'll take the time off too. I already checked out a few bridal shops online—we can go over them tonight. If you're unsure about any, we can look in person when we get back. And as for the wedding cakes, whatever you like is good with me." Braden had already thought through all the wedding details.
Elise stared at him, stunned. The gentler he was with her, the more grateful she felt that happiness could be found again, that she hadn't truly lost him.
Lost in thought, her eyes began to well up with warmth, something she hadn't even realized.
Noticing her expression, Braden asked with concern, "You look like… something's bothering you?"
"I just feel… grateful that you still want to cherish me… that you came back to me," Elise said, blinking as joyful tears fell softly.
"Silly girl." Braden wiped away her tears tenderly, kissing her warm cheek. "My overly sentimental little fool, didn't I already send you thirty-three roses?"
"The eleven roses…" Elise laughed through her tears, holding his hand tightly. "Were you secretly in love with me back then?"
"Maybe. When you got mad and ignored me, I was genuinely worried." Braden squeezed her hand, trying to warm it. "Would you like it if I fell for you first?"
"Of course. So it's decided."
"Then that's how it is. I love you, I love you so much right now, and it'll always be only you."
Out of nowhere, Elise blurted, "But can you get Tyree transferred? I really don't like him."
"Alright, I'll find a way to keep you safe." Braden held her tightly. "I'm sorry. You must have been so scared when he held you."
"It wasn't your fault, so don't apologize." Elise shook her head, her voice tinged with anger as she spoke about it. "I wasn't scared—I wanted to kick him!"
"Alright." Braden exhaled in relief. "As long as you're okay. As for his transfer, I'll ask Chairman Wu about it."
Elise looked at him curiously, puzzled. "Why not Gunnar? Isn't he the boss of H Technology?"
"He's not the easiest person to approach, honestly." Braden took a deep breath, releasing her from his embrace and gently squeezing her hand. "But don't worry. I'll handle it."
"Alright then… just be careful not to let him double-cross you. I just have a weird feeling about him…" Concern flickered in Elise's eyes, her heart filled with unease.
He kissed her smooth forehead. "It's okay, don't worry. Just stay by my side, alright? Let me handle the rest. I only want you to be happy, every single day."
Elise nodded. Though a hint of fear lingered, she trusted the man she loved would keep her safe.
